Emily Williams
Tempe,AZ
Summary
Over fifteen years working in a higher education research setting. Strong program management on large-scale research projects. Highly proficient in planning, practice, and implementation of goals. Ensures a safe and secure laboratory work environment through the implementation of environmental health and safety best practices. Lifelong learner. Excellent collaboration skills. Ability to compile and organize data and effectively communicate technical information. Hardworking and reliable. Highly organized, proactive and punctual with team-oriented mentality.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Safety Partner
Arizona State University Environmental Health and Safety
Tempe, AZ
01.2022 - Current
- Evaluates safety practices for biological, chemical, and radiological materials, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations
- Prepares reports to document findings and provides guidance to laboratory responsible parties to ensure the safe handling of hazardous materials, including biohazards, chemicals, and radioactive materials
- Certification in HAZWOPER, Laser Safety, and Radiation Safety
- Currently pursuing Registered Biosafety Professional Certification
- Collaborates with researchers to correct unsafe conditions and practices
- Assists in site visits to evaluate biosafety programs in university laboratories including assessment of appropriate personal protective equipment, decontamination methods, and the safe use and storage of biological materials
- Evaluates Institutional Biosafety Committee disclosures including hazard assessment, protocol, and disposal review
- Operates specialized equipment used for gas detection and radiation detection
- Serves as a member of the department emergency response team
- Acting Secretary of Arizona Biosafety Alliance.
Sr. Laboratory Coordinator
Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ
01.2017 - 01.2022
- Accomplished scientific objectives by planning, evaluating, and implementing laboratory research projects
- Administered the receipt and evaluation of environmental samples including initial culture set-up, DNA extraction, PCR, and Sanger sequencing to characterize lab strains
- Supervised a team of employees with a focus on the maintenance of stock cultures of Daphnia sp
- And Scenedesmus obliquus for use in research projects
- Managed laboratory safety of research projects including evaluation and control of hazards associated with handling, storage, use, and disposal of organisms including bacterial species, Paramecium, and Daphnia
- Operated and trained researchers on the safe use of standard biological laboratory equipment such as centrifuges, biosafety cabinets, and autoclaves
- Communicated with laboratory stakeholders concerning safety-related matters as the Environmental Compliance Officer
- Reviewed and evaluated all laboratory research projects for inclusion in the laboratory Institutional Biosafety Committee disclosure
- Developed professional growth opportunities for undergraduate trainees including mentorships and projects
- Contributed to team effort by accomplishing related activities as needed
- Collaborated with a broad range of researchers and specialists in the university.
Lead Laboratory Microbiological Technician
Indiana University Department of Biology
Bloomington, IN
01.2010 - 01.2016
- Lead technician on a Department of Defense grant studying mutation rates in prokaryotes
- Accomplished scientific objectives by planning and implementing mutation accumulation experiments for a wide range of bacterial species
- Responsible for biosafety of mutation experiments including assessing multiple species, proper use of PPE, decontamination methods, use of specialty equipment, and storage
- Performed laboratory protocols such as media and agar preparation specific to species, aseptic technique, growth measurement, preservation, and DNA extraction
- Collaborated with a broad range of researchers in the university
- Maintained species information database.
Research Associate - Daphnia Lab
Indiana University Department of Biology
Bloomington, IN
01.2004 - 01.2010
- Managed the daily operation of zooplankton live animal laboratory for genetic research
- Responsible for developing and managing the Daphnia laboratory biosafety program including safe handling of zooplankton cultures and molecular biology practices
- Supervised a team of employees maintaining stock cultures of Daphnia sp
- And Scenedesmus obliquus for use in research projects
- Contributed to research projects including genetic mapping and crossing, phenotypic evaluation, DNA extraction, and allozyme analysis
- Maintained database of population and lab strains.
Stream Crew Leader
National Forest Service-Hoosier National Forest
Hoosier National Forest
06.2003 - 08.2003
- Managed a team of researchers assessing the habitat of streams located in Hoosier National Forest
- Evaluated physical parameters such as flow rate and water chemistry
- Monitored biotic integrity through surveys of macroinvertebrate species and taxonomic identification of fishes
- Documented findings in the National Water Resource Database.
Education
Master of Science - Environmental Science
Indiana University
08.2004
Master of Arts - Anthropology
Indiana University
05.2002
Bachelor of Arts -
University of Arizona
05.1997
Skills
- Certification in HAZWOPER, Radiation Safety, and Laser Safety
- Strategic Planning
- Customer Relationship Building
- Creative and Critical Thinking
- Policy Knowledge
- Establishing Effective Relationships
- Collaboration and Teamwork
Publications, Honors, and Awards
Wu K, Cheng ZH, Williams E, Turner NT, Ran D, Li H, Zhou X, Guo H, Sung W, Liu DF, Lynch M, Long H. Unexpected Discovery of Hypermutator Phenotype Sounds the Alarm for Quality Control Strains. Genome Biol Evol. 2021 Aug 3;13(8):evab148. doi: 10.1093/gbe/evab148. PMID: 34180992; PMCID: PMC8350357. Ye, Z., Williams, Zhao, C., Burns, C. and Lynch, M. The rapid, mass invasion of New Zealand by North American Daphnia “pulex.” 2021. Limnology and Oceanography 2021: 9999 1-12. Long H, Sung W, Kucukyildirim S, Williams E, Miller SF, Guo W, Patterson C, Gregory C, Strauss C, Stone C, Berne C, Kysela D, Shoemaker WR, Muscarella ME, Luo H, Lennon JT, Brun YV, Lynch M. Evolutionary determinants of genome-wide nucleotide composition. Nat Ecol Evol. 2018 Feb;2(2):237-240. doi: 10.1038/s41559-017-0425-y. Epub 2018 Jan 1. PubMed PMID: 29292397. Long H, Behringer MG, Williams E, Te R, Lynch M. Similar Mutation Rates but Highly Diverse Mutation Spectra in Ascomycete and Basidiomycete Yeasts. Genome Biol Evol. 2016 Dec 1;8(12):3815-3821. doi: 10.1093/gbe/evw286. PubMed PMID: 28173099; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5521736. Long H, Kucukyildirim S, Sung W, Williams E, Lee H, Ackerman M, Doak TG, Tang H, Lynch M. Background Mutational Features of the Radiation-Resistant Bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans. Mol Biol Evol. 2015 Sep;32(9):2383-92. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msv119. Epub 2015 May 14. PubMed PMID: 25976352; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5009958. Sung W, Ackerman MS, Gout JF, Miller SF, Williams E, Foster PL, Lynch M. Asymmetric Context-Dependent Mutation Patterns Revealed through Mutation-Accumulation Experiments. Mol Biol Evol. 2015 Jul;32(7):1672-83. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msv055. Epub 2015 Mar 6. PubMed PMID: 25750180; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4476155. Lynch M, Seyfert A, Eads B, Williams E. Localization of the genetic determinants of meiosis suppression in Daphnia pulex. Genetics. 2008 Sep;180(1):317-27. doi: 10.1534/genetics.107.084657. Epub 2008 Aug 9. PubMed PMID: 18689898; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2535684. Sung, W., E. Williams, M. Lynch. Mutation Accumulation in Bacillus subtilis: Wild Isolate Reveals Deletion Bias and Genome at Mutation Equilibrium. Poster. Evolution Meeting 2013. Chancellor’s Fellowship Prestigious academic award based on outstanding academic achievement and standardized test scores
Postgraduate Education
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 2005-2017, Environmental Health, Toxicology, Occupational Health, Microbiology, Genetics, Molecular Biology
Publications
Unexpected Discovery of Hypermutator Phenotype Sounds the Alarm for Quality Control Strains, Wu K, Cheng ZH, Williams E, Turner NT, Ran D, Li H, Zhou X, Guo H, Sung W, Liu DF, Lynch M, Long H., Genome Biol Evol, 08/03/2021, 10.1093/gbe/evab148, 34180992, PMC8350357 The rapid, mass invasion of New Zealand by North American Daphnia 'pulex.', Ye Z, Williams E, Zhao C, Burns C, Lynch M., Limnology and Oceanography, 2021, 9999 1-12 Evolutionary determinants of genome-wide nucleotide composition, Long H, Sung W, Kucukyildirim S, Williams E, Miller SF, Guo W, Patterson C, Gregory C, Strauss C, Stone C, Berne C, Kysela D, Shoemaker WR, Muscarella ME, Luo H, Lennon JT, Brun YV, Lynch M., Nat Ecol Evol, 02/2018, 10.1038/s41559-017-0425-y, 29292397 Similar Mutation Rates but Highly Diverse Mutation Spectra in Ascomycete and Basidiomycete Yeasts, Long H, Behringer MG, Williams E, Te R, Lynch M., Genome Biol Evol, 12/01/2016, 10.1093/gbe/evw286, 28173099, PMC5521736 Background Mutational Features of the Radiation-Resistant Bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans, Long H, Kucukyildirim S, Sung W, Williams E, Lee H, Ackerman M, Doak TG, Tang H, Lynch M., Mol Biol Evol, 09/2015, 10.1093/molbev/msv119, 25976352, PMC5009958 Asymmetric Context-Dependent Mutation Patterns Revealed through Mutation-Accumulation Experiments, Sung W, Ackerman MS, Gout JF, Miller SF, Williams E, Foster PL, Lynch M., Mol Biol Evol, 07/2015, 10.1093/molbev/msv055, 25750180, PMC4476155 Localization of the genetic determinants of meiosis suppression in Daphnia pulex, Lynch M, Seyfert A, Eads B, Williams E., Genetics, 09/2008, 10.1534/genetics.107.084657, 18689898, PMC2535684 Mutation Accumulation in Bacillus subtilis: Wild Isolate Reveals Deletion Bias and Genome at Mutation Equilibrium, Sung W, E. Williams, M. Lynch., Poster, 2013
Volunteer Experience
- Arizona Master Naturalist, 2020-present, Co-facilitated a course on the ecology of the Sonoran desert., Participated in community science projects including the monitoring of Mediterranean pine beetle traps and the Urban Saguaro census., Over 300 hours of volunteer work logged., Currently on the Board of Directors and Chair of the Membership Committee.
- Sojourner House, Financial Literacy Class Facilitator, 2018-2020, Studied personal finance curriculum with women recently displaced by domestic violence to aid in the attainment of the skills and confidence to take control of their finances.
- Middleway House Crisis Line, 2012-2017, Provided confidential support and resources for callers in distress., Trained in active listening, crisis response, and sexual assault advocacy.
Accomplishments
- Wu K, Cheng ZH, Williams E, Turner NT, Ran D, Li H, Zhou X, Guo H, Sung W, Liu DF, Lynch M, Long H. Unexpected Discovery of Hypermutator Phenotype Sounds the Alarm for Quality Control Strains. Genome Biol Evol. 2021 Aug 3;13(8):evab148. doi: 10.1093/gbe/evab148. PMID: 34180992; PMCID: PMC8350357. Ye, Z., Williams, Zhao, C., Burns, C. and Lynch, M. The rapid, mass invasion of New Zealand by North American Daphnia “pulex.” 2021. Limnology and Oceanography 2021: 9999 1-12. Long H, Sung W, Kucukyildirim S, Williams E, Miller SF, Guo W, Patterson C, Gregory C, Strauss C, Stone C, Berne C, Kysela D, Shoemaker WR, Muscarella ME, Luo H, Lennon JT, Brun YV, Lynch M. Evolutionary determinants of genome-wide nucleotide composition. Nat Ecol Evol. 2018 Feb;2(2):237-240. doi: 10.1038/s41559-017-0425-y. Epub 2018 Jan 1. PubMed PMID: 29292397. Long H, Behringer MG, Williams E, Te R, Lynch M. Similar Mutation Rates but Highly Diverse Mutation Spectra in Ascomycete and Basidiomycete Yeasts. Genome Biol Evol. 2016 Dec 1;8(12):3815-3821. doi: 10.1093/gbe/evw286. PubMed PMID: 28173099; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5521736. Long H, Kucukyildirim S, Sung W, Williams E, Lee H, Ackerman M, Doak TG, Tang H, Lynch M. Background Mutational Features of the Radiation-Resistant Bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans. Mol Biol Evol. 2015 Sep;32(9):2383-92. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msv119. Epub 2015 May 14. PubMed PMID: 25976352; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5009958. Sung W, Ackerman MS, Gout JF, Miller SF, Williams E, Foster PL, Lynch M. Asymmetric Context-Dependent Mutation Patterns Revealed through Mutation-Accumulation Experiments. Mol Biol Evol. 2015 Jul;32(7):1672-83. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msv055. Epub 2015 Mar 6. PubMed PMID: 25750180; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4476155. Lynch M, Seyfert A, Eads B, Williams E. Localization of the genetic determinants of meiosis suppression in Daphnia pulex. Genetics. 2008 Sep;180(1):317-27. doi: 10.1534/genetics.107.084657. Epub 2008 Aug 9. PubMed PMID: 18689898; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2535684. Sung, W., E. Williams, M. Lynch. Mutation Accumulation in Bacillus subtilis: Wild Isolate Reveals Deletion Bias and Genome at Mutation Equilibrium. Poster. Evolution Meeting 2013. Chancellor’s Fellowship Prestigious academic award based on outstanding academic achievement and standardized test scores
Affiliations
Arizona Master Naturalist 2020-present
Membership Committee Chair. Co-facilitated a course on the ecology of the Sonoran desert. Participation in community science projects including the monitoring of Mediterranean pine beetle traps, Maricopa Park Butterfly Monitoring, and the Urban Saguaro census. Over 500 hours of volunteer work logged. Currently on the Board of Directors.
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Safety Partner
Arizona State University Environmental Health and Safety
01.2022 - Current
Sr. Laboratory Coordinator
Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University
01.2017 - 01.2022
Lead Laboratory Microbiological Technician
Indiana University Department of Biology
01.2010 - 01.2016
Research Associate - Daphnia Lab
Indiana University Department of Biology
01.2004 - 01.2010
Stream Crew Leader
National Forest Service-Hoosier National Forest
06.2003 - 08.2003
Master of Science - Environmental Science
Indiana University
Master of Arts - Anthropology
Indiana University
Bachelor of Arts -
University of Arizona
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