PhD Level Scientist

Amanda C. Ortiz, PhD, MS (she/hers/ella)

********@****.*** • Durham, NC

Summary: fields. seek mentoring I’ve held. employment My unique atypical I am a lived across fast students. learning, experiences fields Altogether, like driven, education, as a collaborative daughter this informs non-of profits immigrants, and my motivation, versatile focused woman molecular on initiative, homelessness of color biologist and and results and a with first-addiction oriented rigorous generation recovery, problem-research college bioethics, solving expertise student approach health have across caused equity intersecting in every and me role to EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA CRUZ & NASA AMES RESEARCH CENTER Santa Cruz, CA Doctorate – Molecular, Cell, Developmental Biology + Microbiology & Environmental Toxicology Spring 2024 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO San Diego, CA

Micro Master of Business Administration – Innovation for Scientists with PhDs Fall 2024 SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY & UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco, CA Master of Science – Biology – Physiology Spring 2018 SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY San Francisco, CA

Bachelor of Science – Biology – Zoology Spring 2016 Selected Technical Skills Inter- & Intrapersonal Skills & Qualities

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Longitudinal Building, In GraphPad In Grant National History interdisciplinary Expertise their Entry but Experience quality thinking Experience reports Experience sharing Experimental troubleshooting, interpretation, Effective data) and Design, troubleshooting Interviewing analyzing vivo depth desire publications completion in level writing (and track mice, of and on written, literature Institutes technical organizing in initiating, Prism, to answers, social programming with with value interpreting medical evaluating study learn and zebrafish) skills, across planning, communication graphical, reviewing and writing writing, JMP, collaboration media through keep searches communication more of experience experience cultivating and pre/records funding results Health, Excel detailed, projects, execution, – & study on managing post (revising all statistical in R, oral cases, Canva for and vitro 508 Python, – mechanisms private assessments HIPPA results, and statistical presentation cross creating clear summarization planning compliant reports, (and Data cell optimization, understanding big (experimental analysis Jupyter funders – records compliant PowerPoint determining data culture) departmental, analysis, surveys, analysis and confidential such sets or and Notebook) of achieving as for progress, critical the design, for grants

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Desire Social Self-Successful Self-Strong Desire Self-Bi- Unique Clear, Confident Ambitious, Comfortable Motivated understand than Effective education people Understanding and Experienced mentor weekends cultural, identities starter aware starter, one kind, justice feedback to initiative lived to communication perspective understand in e.others to to at with motivated, timely and g. that Bi- idle- seeking travelling shifting with experiences, multi-make mitigate and funders, (as of lingual productive growth to and they avoidant, when equity atypical I mentorship and understand share important tasking, leadership mentorship schedule are people problems dedicated, direct (businesspeople, local Spanish) possible mindset, lens multi- many) across overcame journeys, proactive planning, or and communication deadlines and to international and faceted, skills affecting expertise, work introspective their resilient desire improve lived challenges making psychology holidays politicians, requiring to experiences society strengths, become deadlines and and more lay a SCIENTIFIC TRAINING & EXPERIENCE

Duke University – School of Medicine Durham, NC

Postdoctoral Research Scientist July 2024 – Present Identifying My culture to enteroendocrine peptide reveals in gut-the strong gut-brain experiments. a YY unifying brain background the in signaling, response mechanisms axis cells protein research. Using connected and allowed to across nutrients eating my that I bacterial me discovered microbes microbes to associated to the as quickly they vagus cell utilize interacting a reach culture ailments. receptor integrate. nerve. in the the expertise, I small correlated and with gut, 1 I publication identified microbial to gut intestine reach I cells optimized cells the and in in element and activation the preparation brain revived colon. colon—a the and that protocol This a via influence stalled trigger first bacterial work, to in project feeding work feeding using understanding proteins and due germ-behavior behaviors added to to free issues satiety the a through and microbiological microbiome's with transgenic hormones human cell mice, like role lens University of California, Santa Cruz – Microbiology & Environmental Toxicology Santa Cruz, CA PhD Candidate – Graduate Student Researcher February 2021 – June 2024 Characterizing I Quinolone genome specific research operations, mechanisms antibiotics. led a multifaceted mutations sequencing insights Resistance Two mentored but genetic publications also with to project data resistance informed Determining junior clinical mechanisms from on are researchers, antibiotic needs, 352 clinicians against in progress. clinical Region in providing uropathogenic fluoroquinolones. resistance on and isolates (QRDR)effective collaborated real-. (and ABR) By world antibiotic E.integrating developed coli in I relevance. with also that uropathogenic use conducted confer bioinformaticians. Minimum benchwork and In antibiotic supported addition E. interviews Inhibitory coli with to infections, resistance the This optimizing clinical with development Concentration work applications, patients focusing from not novel patient only and of lab on (identified new MIC) mutations protocols, physicians I isolates analyzed assays key in I whole to to managed the resistance link connect lab National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – Synthetic Biology Moffett Field, CA PhD Candidate – Graduate Student Researcher October 2018 – February 2021 Early My early confirmed have new may diseases interdisciplinary the research origins insights have been development earth in supported crucial that of humans. prion-explored into life Archaea, team and the amyloid in of The the early role life. potential prion consisting emergence ancient research While of proteins life amyloids, prions survival. treatments harmful organisms, of involved in in of an evolution, proteins methanogens life, engineer, Understanding in possibly for humans, optimizing harbor amyloid-typically as an their linked prion-architect, (prion archaea) lab prion based linked unique like to amyloids protocols, LUCA mechanisms diseases. a proteins. as to designer, properties—infectiousness conduits infectious (the support presenting 1 These last publication, a in of chemist neurological universal microbes microbes survival results at conferences, and Molecular to suggest common during could physicist. stressful diseases, and also stress. that ancestor)Biology and non-inform environments This and prion working My Mendelian their study and project amyloid therapies . Our potential Evolution. sheds with work investigated inheritance— proteins an for light provided role prion on in may both the and University of California, San Francisco – Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases San Francisco, CA Master of Science Graduate Student Researcher June 2016 – June 2018 Drug I models, understand disturbances. phenotypic interactions, also led provided projects discovery: which data multi-tested focused I zebrafish have optimized high-to target molecular target high on throughput husbandry, drug predicting CNS novel combinations targets. homology effects, protocols screening polypharmacology adhering particularly Leveraging with through and novel humans. to worked IACUC deep chemical-in neuroactive SSRIs By learning with in standards. integrating neuroactive and genetic bioinformaticians opioids, compounds and I epistasis the trained systems compounds and Similarity their for and experiments, pharmacology to future mentored unpredictable develop Ensemble using CNS high-AI-and ailment new Approach driven with throughput screened side lab phenotypic therapeutics members. effects workflows (SEA)over screening like, we 12,1 screens, addiction that publication, predicted 000 linked in compounds. we zebrafish and aimed receptor Nature mood to I Communications.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH EXPERIENCE

Title IX – Educational Opportunities Program Santa Cruz, CA PhD My Here, audiences and addition, projects marketing interest procedures Candidate I designed from I such trained can to concept help effectively as at – and Intern undergraduates, new all victims delivered levels to staff completion. communicate of and and sexual informative collaborated students grad assault I also key students, on partnered content, messages, and navigating with learn staff, a including team with about while Title and to faculty faculty. create sex-IX working flyers, situations, based and and I media, led with students discrimination refine virtual consistently other Instagram content outside and campus in-by policy posts, met person of actively groups. STEM deadlines, inspired and presentations to presentations, incorporating explore me and May to independently how work on 2021 feedback. Title for media, at – diverse this June IX art, policies office. pushed In 2023 and Ciencia Puerto Rico Remote

Program Specialist February 2024 – Current

I moving ecosystem logistics. social seeking work media with parts training I oversee for Ph.content, necessary training D. based scientists project and and on to website principles coordination, successfully employing to drive updates. initiatives of scientists, scientific launch communications, I also a that Chan communication, demonstrating support strengthen Zuckerberg program and scheduling the my diversity, Initiative-scientific strategy, leadership while equity, managing funded workforce. in leading cross-and training applications inclusion I functional creative played program a tasks (DEI)key teams and aimed role like . evaluations and in developing at organizing managing enhancing for flyers, scientists complex all the the Foothill College – Science Learning Institute Los Altos, CA & Remote Program Manager – Outreach and Education February 2024 – August 2024 I primary particularly equal matched enhanced access goal selected and in to was STEM resources supported to students expand classes like its with internship and premier tutors internships among and internship opportunities underrepresented STEM that professionals. aligned program. for with students. Analyzing groups—and I their helped I interests, led data develop efforts prepare from and to an the provided students train equitable previous mentors, for ongoing application year the promote application and support. reviewing evaluation the program— process the rubric, budget, to ensure my Matriculating, Influencing, Networking, Triumphing (MINT) Program Santa Cruz, CA Outreach Program Coordinator June 2021 – October 2022 As safety, worked graduate generation to mentor program whether with school the college coordinator, other undergraduates. they as students, well resources were as I oversaw community female who across We wanted identifying, the also campus mixers. MINT have to pursue program college to non-I also put binary, graduate together had fairs at a the and program allies Women’s school, educational local of women field to with pair Center, trips graduate panels, undergraduate or in to a place the expand workshops students. LGBTQIA that horizons welcomes students I for trained + community. finding and who students and to internships provide lacked supported As who the mentors networking. need program and the graduate more applying and/coordinator, or support were students to first and I Women’s Community Clinic (Now Lyon Martin) San Francisco, CA Outreach Program Manager June 2016 – December 2017 Led groups safer for created public audiences, ADJUNCT overdose initiatives sex health in a supplies, Needs San ensuring PROFESSOR situations, initiatives, Francisco. addressing Assessment and our clean I work and I also organized homelessness ROLES needles Survey policy trained influenced changes. and and to others women-a led through public data small I in used collection its identified policy a teams use. public my on Using data to workflow and health women's distribute science a homeless harm and health skills to reduction women's essential track individuals. to and visualize our health harm approach items progress, Trained reduction such and lens, that present which as focusing in food, emphasizes in administering informed San our hygiene on Francisco. findings supporting dignity grant supplies, Narcan to applications, diverse and marginalized wound (respect. Naloxone) care, I UC San Santa University - - - Instructor Instructor Instructor Santa Francisco Clara Cruz of of of of University San Record Record Record State – Teaching Francisco University BIOL BIOL BIOL – undergraduate Assistant 231 115 115 – undergraduate - and –Human – Biological undergraduate –undergraduate 116- Physiology courses, Medical Sciences courses, Microbiology courses, March Lecture Advising courses, December 2022 August & January & – Lab, Lecture BIOL June 2020 2021– BIOL 2022, 337 2021– and – 114 August January – Evolution quarters Lab Spring – Human 2024, 2024 2024, semesters Anatomy, semesters quarters BIOTECH INTERNSHIPS

Infinite Elements – Research and Development San Francisco, CA Research Associate August 2022 – February 2023

Reprogramming I was recruited by extremophile ex-NASA colleagues microbes to to help sustainably launch a startup, extract rare initially earth in elements the Bay Area, from later electric relocating vehicle to batteries El Paso, Texas. Here, as current I developed methods methods are unsafe using and microbes environmentally to break down harmful. electronic waste, metals, and rare earth elements from EV batteries, Codexis, Inc. – Chemical and Molecular Engineering Redwood City, CA Doctoral Student – Research Intern May 2022 – September 2022 Optimizing I enhanced mRNA-of contributed functioning based enzyme T7 to in under RNA vitro the exhibited polymerase testing diverse transcription and improved conditions. characterization variants applications capping for improved rates, such of T7 as increased RNA in mRNA vitro polymerase transcription vaccines. versatility, variants The and of aim mRNA greater to was develop to therapies thermostability, create a more a more efficient robust making mutant polymerase it suitable enzyme. capable for The Genentech, a member of the Roche Company – Research and Development South San Francisco, CA Master of Science Graduate Level Intern June 2018 – September 2018 Deciphering I protein offer and investigated cell new binding culture therapeutic novel the to partners relationship explore drug opportunities. targets of potential APOL1. between to reach Certain links I employed APOL1, chronic between binding chronic kidney techniques kidney interactions infection kidney proteins including disease may and involved African contribute western (CKD)in sleeping, and CKD blotting, to CKD, African and sickness co-and African sleeping immunoprecipitation, targeting driving sleeping sickness these protein sickness. interactions by APOL1 identifying microscopy, could MENTORSHIP & DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION WORK AND TRAINING

- 2021, - of - Foothill - Science Lead Mentor UCSC’s UC Santa 2022, Graduate Community Support Womxn’s to Cruz, 2023 students Student 2022 Network College Center - via Mentor 2022 Graduate the 2021 MINT Science for - 2022 Research the Student Graduate Learning Mentor & Mentoring- Program Institute, 2020, Program - Instructional Teaching - Representing - - Title Center Center Title IX IX Graduate for for for Coordinator Graduate Equity Innovations Innovations Support UCSC Student 2021 Certification Fellow Student 2021 In In Intern Teaching Teaching 2021 - 2022 Advisory 2021 2021, and and 2022, Board Learning Learning UCSC Member ((CITL) CITL)

- 2020 - Koch - through - San - Francisco - San San - - SEPAL YMCA Science Graduate Anti-Tutor K-Science 12 Francisco Jose Francisco of - Racist STEM 2021 After & PBSE, Spectrum UCSC City Internship Grad 2018- Teacher student Pedagogy School College Curriculum 2014 2018 UCSC 2020, Student 2019 Program policy, Program (- -Program 2020 K-2021, 201*-****-**** 8th Working Mentor Consultant - grade) advocacy, - 2022, 2021 Balboa 2021 (Teacher SIP) via Group 2023 at Graduate High Cultivamos liaison at Celsius at Member, Saint School, Aptos to Student & Peter’s Middle the Excelencia Beyond, San PBSE, Dean Francisco School, Mentor, School, UCSC San Paul at State University, San Francisco 2012 – 2013