Scientist / Manager Scientist

WORK EXPERIENCE

United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA),

Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH),

Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories (OSEL),

Division of Biology (DB)

Staff Fellow Research Microbiologist 2009-Present

-Co-Primary Investigator

-Efficacy testing of contact lens cleaning solutions

-Effects of contact lens materials on cleaning solutions

-Endotoxin testing

-Primary Investigator

-Protocol development, Acanthamoeba testing

-Sterilization and Disinfection

-Standards review and comments

-ISO Standards

-ANSI Standards

-AAMI Standards

The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

Graduate Research Associate 2006-2008

-Efficacy testing of contact lens cleaning solutions

-Water testing/analysis for presence of amoebae

-Isolation, PCR, sequencing and genotyping of amoebae from tissue and environmental

samples

-Virulence/pathogenicity testing using novel invertebrate models

-Training and supervision of undergraduate researchers

Graduate Teaching Associate

-Population Genetics

Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL

Graduate Research Associate 2004-2005

-Surrogate testing

-Distinguishing pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains of Acanthamoeba using genetic markers/PCR

-Determining the prevalence of naked amoebae in the domestic water of S. Florida

-Response testing of various strains of Acanthamoeba to cleaning solutions and temperature

Nova Southeastern University, Davie, FL

Graduate Teaching Assistant: 2003-2005

-Microbiology

-Anatomy and Physiology II

-Biology I

Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program

Sea Turtle worker 2005

-Located and relocated sea turtle nests

-Assisted in sea turtle strandings

Florida Safari Adventures, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Lead Environmental Educator 2003-2005

-Lead environmental field trips for students of all ages

-Training and supervision of new instructors

-Design and implement new programs into established curriculum

JRJ Management Company, Ltd.

IT Specialist 2000-2003

Executive Assistant

Silver Lakes Middle School, North Lauderdale, FL

8th Grade Science Teacher 1998-1999

EDUCATION

The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 2006-2008

PhD in Microbiology in the Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology

Dissertation: “Analysis of the Susceptibility, Prevalence, and Pathogenicity of the Opportunistic

Pathogen Acanthamoeba”

Nova Southeastern University, Davie, FL 2003-2006

M.S. in Marine Biology and Marine Environmental Science

Thesis: “The Importance of Strain Differences in the Opportunistic Pathogen Acanthamoeba”

University of Texas, Austin, TX 1993-1998

B.S. in Applied Learning and Development

Minor in Biology

PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS

Tu, E., C. Joslin, M. Shoff. 2010. Successful Treatment of Chronic Stromal Acanthamoeba Keratitis With Oral Voriconazole Monotherapy. Cornea. Jul 9. [Epub ahead of print].

Visvesvara G., M. Shoff, R. Sriram, G. Booton, M. Crary, P. Fuerst, C. Hanley, M. Garner. 2010 Isolation, morphologic, serologic and molecular identification of Acanthamoeba T4 genotype from the liver of a Temminck's tragopan (Tragopan temminckii). Vet Parasitol. Jun 24;170(3-4):197-200. Epub 2010 Mar 6

Joslin C., E. Tu, M. Shoff, R. Anderson, F. Davis. 2010 Shifting distribution of Chicago-area Acanthamoeba keratitis cases. Arch Ophthalmol. Jan;128(1):137-9.

Shoff, M., C. Joslin, E. Tu, L. Kubatko, P. Fuerst. 2008. Efficacy of contact lens systems against recent clinical and tap water Acanthamoeba isolates. Cornea. Jul; 27(6):713-9.

Shoff, M., A. Rogerson, K. Kessler; S. Schatz, D. Seal. 2008. Prevalence of Acanthamoeba and Other Naked Amoebae in South Florida Domestic Water. Journal of Water and Health. 6(1): 99-104.

Shoff, M., A. Rogerson, S. Schatz, and D. Seal. 2007. Variable responses of Acanthamoeba strains to three multipurpose lens cleaning solutions. Optometry and Vision Science (OVS). March 2007. 84(3): 202-207.

Joslin, C., E. Tu, M. Shoff, G. Booton, P. Fuerst, T. McMahon, R. Anderson, M. Dworkin, J. Sugar, F. Davis, L. Stayner. 2007. The association of contact lens solution use and Acanthamoeba keratitis. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 144(2): 169-180.

Tu, E., C. Joslin, J. Sugar, G. Booton, M. Shoff. 2008. The Relative Value of Confocal Microscopy and Superficial Corneal Scrapings in the Diagnosis of Acanthamoeba Keratitis. Cornea. Aug; 27(7):764-72.

Tu, E., C. Joslin, J. Sugar, M. Shoff, G. Booton. 2008. Prognostic Factors Affecting Visual Outcome in Acanthamoeba keratitis. Ophthalmology. Nov; 115(11):1998-2003.

Sriram, R., M. Shoff, G. Booton, P. Fuerst, and G. Visvesvara. 2008. Acanthamoeba spp. cysts survive desiccation for more than 20 years. Emerging Infectious Diseases. J. Clin Microbiol. Dec; 46(12): 4045-8.

Booton, G., C. Joslin, M. Shoff, E. Tu, D. Kelly, and P. Fuerst. 2008. Genotypic Identification of Acanthamoeba sp. Isolates Associated with an Outbreak of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK). Cornea. Jul;28(6):673-6..

Tu, E., C. Joslin, L. NIjm, R. Feder, S. Jain, and M. Shoff. 2009. Polymicrobial Keratitis: Acanthamoeba and Infectious Crystalline Keratopathy. American Journal of Ophthalmology. Jul;148(1):13-9.

Tu ,E, Joslin, C, Shoff , M, Lee J, Fuerst, P,. 2009. Sequential corneal infection with two genotypically distinct Acanthamoebae associated with renewed contact lens wear. Eye (Lond). 2009 Nov 27

Tu, E., C. Joslin, and M. Shoff. 2008. Treatment of Chronic Stromal Acanthamoeba Keratitis with Voriconazole. Arch Ophthalomol. Submitted.

PEER REVIEWED ABSTRACTS

Shoff, M., A. Lucas, J. Brown, V. Hitchens. 2010. The Effects of Contact Lens and Lens Cases on Disinfection Activity in Multipurpose Contact Lens Solution against S. aureus. American Society for Microbiology. Abstract I-1736, San Diego, CA.

Joslin, C., E. Tu, M. Shoff, G. Booton, P. Fuerst, L. Stayner, D. Faith. The Association Between Acanthamoeba Keratitis and Contamination of Water Supplies. 2008. American Academy of Optometry. Abstract 2008SA-24675. Anaheim, CA.

Joslin, C., E. Tu, M. Shoff, G. Booton, P. Fuerst, L. Stayner, F. Davis. The Association Between Acanthamoeba keratitis and the Presence of Acanthamoeba in Water Supplies Sampled From the Home. 2008. ISEE-ISEA. Abstract 08-A-641. Pasadena, CA.

Sriram, R., M. Shoff, G. Booton, P. Fuerst, and G.S. Visvesvara. Acanthamoeba spp., genotype T4 cysts are resistant to desiccation for at least 20 years. International Conference on

Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2008. Atlanta, Georgia.

Shoff, M., C. Joslin, E. Tu, and P. Fuerst. Taurine effects on Acanthamoeba survival in American Academy of Optometry. 2007. Tampa, Florida.

Tu, E., M. Shoff, C. Joslin, L. Kubatko, P. Fuerst. Investigation of the Role of a Taurine-Containing Lens Disinfection Solution in the Ongoing Acanthamoeba Keratitis Outbreak. 2007. OMIG Abstract 18.

Shoff, M, C. Joslin, G. Booton, E. Tu, and P. Fuerst. Prevalence of Acanthamoeba in Chicago Area Tap Water in XII International Conference on the Biology and Pathogenicity of Free-Living Amoebae. 2007. Wako, Japan.

Booton, G., C. Joslin, M. Shoff, E. Tu, D. Kelly, P. Fuerst. Molecular Identification of Acanthamoeba sp. Isolates in an Acanthamoeba Keratitis Outbreak in XII International Conference on the Biology and Pathogenicity of Free-Living Amoebae. 2007. Wako, Japan.

Shoff, M., C. Joslin, G. Booton, E. Tu, P. Fuerst. Prevalence of Acanthamoeba in Chicago Area Tap Water. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences 2007; 48: E-Abstract 338.

Tu, E.Y., C.E. Joslin, M.E. Shoff, G.C. Booton. Differential Rates Of Isolation From Two Laboratories During An Ongoing Outbreak Of Acanthamoeba Keratitis. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences 2007; 48: E-Abstract 753.

Joslin, C., E. Tu, M. Shoff, L. Stayner, P. Fuerst, G. Booton. “Domestic Tap Water Exposure and the Association with Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK).” Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences 2007; 48: E-Abstract 752.

Booton, G., C. Joslin, M. Shoff, E. Tu, D.Kelly, and P. Fuerst. “Genotypic Identification of Acanthamoeba sp. Isolates Associated with an Outbreak of Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK).” Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences 2007; 48: E-Abstract 3234.

Seal, D., M. Shoff, A. Rogerson, K. Kessler, S. Schatz. 2006. Prevalence of Acanthamoeba and Other Naked Amoebae in South Florida Tap Water. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences 2006; 47: E-Abstract 2409.

Seal, D., M. Shoff, A. Rogerson, S. Schatz, H. Park, T. Beattie, A. Tomlinson, and G. Booton. 2005. Varying Susceptibility of Corneal and Environmental Strains of Acanthamoebae to Multipurpose Solutions using a Novel Method. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences 2005; 46: E-Abstract 916.

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Shoff, M., A. Rogerson, D. Seal. 2007. Author’s Response to Editor. Optometry and Vision Science. October 2007. Vol 84, No 10. 996-997.

INVITED TALKS and PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Contact Lens Microbiology Workshop. FDA, January 22-23, 2009. Anti-Acanthamoeba Methods.

Ohio State University Optometry School. February 2007. Seminar: Acanthamoeba: What it is and why you should know about it.

Ohio State University Department of Ophthalmology. Grand Rounds, August 2007. Prevalence of Acanthamoeba in Chicago area tap water.

Reviewed manuscripts for the Journal of Parasitology

Reviewed manuscripts for Optometry and Vision Science

Reviewed manuscripts for Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology

AWARDS/FELLOWSHIPS

VISTAKON Student Travel Fellowship 2007

MEMBERSHIPS

International Society of Protistologists

American Society for Microbiology

The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology

American Association for the Advancement of Science

Sigma Xi

FDLI

ADDITIONAL SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

DNA extraction

PCR

PCR purification

Cloning

Preparation and analysis of sequencing data

Microscopy

Statistical Analysis

Axenic methods

Laboratory supply ordering

Maintenance of culture records

Tissue culture

Conceive, propose, plan, and conduct research investigations

Supervise undergraduate researchers

Isolate protists from environmental and tissue samples

Prepare reports for publication and present findings

Investigate pathogenicity and susceptibility of pathogens

Maintain bacterial and protist cultures

Data management

Environmental water testing

Pathogen detection using culture and molecular methods

MS Office

MEGA

Systat

JMP 7

Bioedit

BSL-1

BSL-2

Sterilization

Disinfection

Endotoxin testing

GLP

QA

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