Graduate Research Assistant

Aaron C. Malkowski (He/Him)

+1-609-***-**** ******@*******.***

Languages: English, German (Basic Proficiency)

Technical Skills: Serological Assays, Mammalian Cell Culture, Clinical Bacteriology Laboratory techniques, Microsoft Excel, Elementary R programming, Oral and Written Presentation of Data

Education

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Master of Public Health focused on Infectious Disease Epidemiology

West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Bachelor of Science in Immunology and Medical Microbiology

GPA: 3.83

Expected May 2023

May 2021

Research and Work Experience

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Graduate Research Assistant, Baker Institute for Feline Health

-Test more than 50 pet foods for the presence of pathogenic bacteria and parasites using FDA protocols.

-Screen clinical fecal samples for the presence of Campylobacter species.

October 2022 – Present

Biosafety Summer Intern

-Assist with laboratory safety assessments.

-Perform risk assessments of 3 infectious organisms as part of the Cornell University Select Agents Program.

June 2022 – August 2022

Research Intern

-Assess the availability and quality of Continued Medical Education (CME) opportunities about tick-borne diseases.

-Develop and summarize a database of tick-borne disease CME opportunities.

February 2022 – June 2022

COVID-19 Community Survey Lead

-Recruit community participants for a survey about COVID-19 in Tompkins County, NY.

-Instruct participants in the process of collecting their own nasal swab samples.

-Guide junior research members in the procedures of the study and sample collection.

January 2022 - Present

COVID-19 Pandemic Response Officer

-Maintain safety on campus during COVID-19 pandemic.

-Contact COVID-19 positive cases to inform them of isolation expectations.

-Facilitate early identification of contacts to minimize impact on the community.

September 2021 - Present

West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Undergraduate Research Assistant

-Performed serological assays to aid in development of a novel therapeutic against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

-Managed and analyzed a database of 30,000 patient samples to identify trends in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections

Research Apprenticeship Program

2017-2019

Immunology and Microbiology Departmental Internship

2019-2021

STEM Section Reviewer

-Edited, curated, and prepared paper submissions for the STEM section of West Virginia University’s peer-reviewed undergraduate research journal.

October 2020 – May 2021

Undergraduate Research Ambassador

-Encouraged students to pursue research opportunities within the university

-Promoted research around campus as a member of the Research Apprenticeship Program

August 2018 – May 2019

Publications

Review of Continuing Medical Education in Tick- Borne Disease for Front-Line Providers. Malkowski AC, Smith BSRP, Macqueen D, Mader EM. Published February 2, 2023, Primer.

Defining the mechanistic correlates of protection conferred by whole-cell vaccination against Pseudomonas aeruginosa acute murine pneumonia

E. Sen-Kilic, C.B. Blackwood, A.B. Huckaby, A.M. Horspool, K.L. Weaver, A.C. Malkowski, W.T. Witt, J.R. Bevere, F.H. Damron, M. Barbier. Published November 16, 2020, Infection and Immunity.

Intranasal Peptide-Based FpvA-KLH Conjugate Vaccine Protects Mice from Pseudomonas aeruginosa Acute Murine Pneumonia

E. Sen-Kilic, C.B. Blackwood, D.T. Boehm, W.T. Witt, A.C. Malkowski, J.R. Bevere, T.Y. Wong, J.M. Hall, S.D. Bradford, M.E. Varney, F.H. Damron, M. Barbier. Published October 23, 2019, Frontiers of Immunology.

Presentations

Aaron C. Malkowski, Emily Mader, Laura Harrington. Is there enough educational material about diseases spread by ticks?

This abstract was presented at Cornell University’s First Annual Public and Ecosystem Health Symposium in 2022.

A.C. Malkowski, A.M. Horspool, E. Sen-Kilic, S.L. Breslow, M. Barbier. Characterizing monoclonal antibodies as a novel Therapeutic for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.

This abstract was presented orally at the West Virginia University 2020 Virtual Undergraduate Spring Research Symposium

C.B. Blackwood, E. Sen-Kilic, D.T. Boehm, J.M. Hall, T. Wong, K.L. Weaver, A. Malkowski, E. Airing, W.T. Witt, F.H. Damron, M. Barbier. Can Bordetella pertussis act as adjuvant, antigen, or immunogen for vaccination against Pseudomonas aeruginosa?

This abstract was presented by C.B. Blackwood at the Allegheny Branch of the American Society for Microbiology 2019 meeting held in Loretto, PA, as well as the 2019 Bordetella Meeting.

C.B. Blackwood, E. Sen-Kilic, D.T. Boehm, J. Hall, T. Wong, K. Weaver, A. Malkowski, E. Airing, W.T. Witt, F.H. Damron, M. Barbier. Development of Multivalent Acellular Vaccine Targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa Iron Acquisition Systems.

This abstract was presented at 2019 Van Liere Research conference, 2019 Mid-Atlantic Microbial Pathogenesis Meeting, and the 2019 PBM Meeting.

A.C. Malkowski, A.M. Horspool, S.L. Breslow, E. Sen-Kilic, C.B. Blackwood, F.H. Damron, M. Barbier. Determining the Functions of Monoclonal Antibodies Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

This abstract was presented as a poster at the West Virginia University 2019 Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium.

A.C. Malkowski, E. Sen-Kilic, J. Bevere, C. Blackwood, F.H. Damron, M. Barbier. The Development and Characterization of FpvA Polyclonal Antibodies against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

This abstract was presented as a poster at the West Virginia University 2019 Undergraduate Spring Research Symposium and the 2019 Van Liere Research Conference. Awarded 3rd Place Honors at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.

A. Malkowski, E. Sen-Kilic, C. Blackwood, D.T. Boehm, M.A. Wolf, F.H. Damron, and M. Barbier. Identification of new Bordetella pertussis vaccine antigens.

This abstract was presented as a poster at the Allegheny Branch of the American Society for Microbiology 2018 meeting. Awarded 3rd Place Honors.

A. Malkowski, E. Sen-Kilic, C. Blackwood, M. Barbier. Antibody response to whole cell and acellular vaccines against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

This abstract was presented as a poster at the West Virginia University 2018 Undergraduate Spring Research Symposium.

Conferences

West Virginia University 2020 Virtual Undergraduate Spring Research Symposium

West Virginia University 2019 Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium

West Virginia University 2019 Undergraduate Spring Research Symposium

2019 Van Liere Research Conference

Allegheny Branch of the American Society for Microbiology 2018 meeting

West Virginia University 2018 Undergraduate Spring Research Symposium

Community Service Experience

West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Immunology Department Peer Tutoring

Volunteer tutor for underclassmen in courses required for degree completion, such as physics, chemistry, math, and biology.

February 2020 – May 2021

A Moment of Magic

Volunteered with the 501c(3) non-profit organization to provide creative programming for medically vulnerable children.

January 2018 – May 2021

Training Coordinator (2019)

West Virginia Summit Quidditch Team

Volunteer coach for the team, organizing players on and off-pitch as well as ensuring travel to tournaments around the country.

September 2017 – January 2020

Coach (2018-2020)

Awards and Certifications

HIPAA Training Certified (KPH Healthcare Services)

Case Interview and Contact Tracer’s training (John Hopkins University)

2019 WVU Undergraduate Research Symposium 3rd Place Poster Presentation

2018 ABASM 3rd Place Poster Presentation

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