Research Scientist (Plant and Environmental Sciences)
Open To Work
Michael Itam
Clemson University
Clemson,South Carolina
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Scientific ResearcherEnvironmental ScientistAssistant ProfessorEnvironmental Protection SpecialistSustainability ManagerWork Type
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Clemson, South Carolina, USOpen to relocation:
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Career advancementWork-life balanceFlexible work hoursSummary
Dedicated scientist with over 10 years of research experience with strong expertise in plant and environmental sciences, scientific writing, and innovative data collection using smart tools. Proven ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams and adapt to evolving project needs. Skilled in experimental design, statistical analysis, and advanced laboratory techniques. Known for delivering impactful results and consistently driving projects to successful completion.
1
Certification
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Postdoctoral Researcher, College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences
2 Years 8 Months- Digitalizing data collection and transcription using Android Apps and managing genomic databases for fruit trees.
Postdoctoral Research Associate, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
1 Year 2 Months- Evaluated abiotic stress tolerance in barley and winter wheat using dynamic imaging systems and metabolomics.
- Characterized drought adaptation in cool-season turfgrass species using high-throughput chambers known as Dynamic Environmental Photosynthetic Imagers (DEPI).
- Identified winter-tolerant barley varieties using physiological methods, including RNA damage assay.
- Characterized wheat adaptation to winter desiccation in Michigan to promote yield.
- Managed multi-location field trials and greenhouse experiments for collaborative projects.
- Developed and managed several resources including protocols, genomic data analysis pipelines, and research materials.
Postdoctoral Researcher, Arid Land Research Center
9 Months- Conducted research to transfer heat tolerance alleles from wild wheat germplasm into bread wheat.
- Modified a simple tip method for speed breeding for bread wheat.
- Developed four pairs of near-isogenic lines for fine mapping and QTL validation for heat tolerance.
- Conducted qRT-PCR for allele discrimination for near-isogenic lines using TaqMan probes.
Research Assistant
2 Years- Conducted literature reviews to support research projects and enhance knowledge base.
- Assisted in data collection and analysis using statistical software to ensure accuracy.
- Collaborated with faculty on research proposals, facilitating project development and funding acquisition.
- Coordinated laboratory schedules and maintained equipment for efficient workflow management.
Education
Ph.D. - Plant Physiology And Environmental Science
Awarded best presenter: Academic Communication of Science I
- Awarded best presenter: Academic Communication of Science II
- JSPS Scholarship Recipient for postdoctoral research 2022
- MEXT Scholarship Recipient for graduate school 2018–2021
- Ranked in Top 5% of class
- Ph.D. Thesis: Elucidation of Aegilops tauschii contribution to heat and drought tolerance diversity in bread wheat through genomics and metabolomics
Master of Science - Plant Physiology And Environmental Science
MEXT Scholarship Recipient 2015-2018
- Member Japanese Society of Breeding
- Ranked in Top 5% of class
- M.Sc. Thesis: Metabolite profiling for drought response in Norin 61, a Japanese spring wheat cultivar
Master of Science - Natural Resources Management
- Awarded the United Nations University-Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA) wastewater remediation project fund
- Awarded the UNU-INRA certificate of proficiency for bioremediation
- M.Sc. Thesis: Ethnobotany of vetiver grass and its effectiveness in wastewater treatment for urban agriculture
Bachelor of Science - Applied Biology (Ecology)
- B.Sc. Thesis: Ethnobotanical and taxonomic classification of traditional leafy vegetables in Ugep
- GPA: CGPA 4.3/5
Skills
Agronomy: Design advisor for digital tools for Ag data collection – FieldBook and Breeding Information Management Systems; high throughput photosynthesis systems; data collection using drones (multispectral systems); soil data sensor installation and analysis.
Genomics/mol. Biology: Genotyping
GWAS
QTL analysis
SNP marker dev.
RT-qPCR
agrobacterium-mediated. trans.
CRISPR genome editing. LI-COR
canopy temperature
chlorophyll content
carbon-13 isotope ratio.
Metabolomics: LC-MS
GC-MS
amino acid
fatty acid
sugar determination.
Computational data analysis skills: R
GenStat
PlantBreeding Tools
GraphPad Prism
Linux
cloud computing
etc.
Languages: English (professional proficiency)
Japanese (conversational)
Igbo (conversational)
Lokaa (native)
Pidgin Eng. (native).
Scientific writing
Project management
Teaching experience
Interdisciplinary collaboration
Qualitative research
Quantitative research
Lab experiment coordination
Research proposals
Team management
Accomplishments
- Author of Early detection of Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass responses to drought stress by measuring chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, published in Crop Science in 2023.
- Author of Genomic analysis for heat and combined heat–drought resilience in bread wheat under field conditions, published in Theoretical and Applied Genetics in 2022.
- Author of Metabolic and physiological responses to progressive drought stress in bread wheat, published in Scientific Reports in 2021.
- Achieved field data proficiency by utilizing the BIMS and FieldBook software for rapid data collection and translation.
Affiliations
- American Society for Horticultural Science
Certification
- Basic Wheat Improvement Course at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Mexico, March to June 2021.
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Japanese
Limited Working
Igbo
Limited Working
Lokaa
Native or Bilingual
Pidgin English
Native or Bilingual
Interests
Exploring famous landmarks
historical sites
and cultural attractions in a new destination.
Reading
I participate in various sports activities for physical activity
camaraderie
and personal growth.
Gardening
Timeline
Postdoctoral Researcher, College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences
Clemson University
10.2023 - Current
Postdoctoral Research Associate, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Michigan State University
07.2022 - 09.2023
Postdoctoral Researcher, Arid Land Research Center
Tottori University
10.2021 - 07.2022
Research Assistant
Faculty of Biological Sciences, Ebonyi State University
09.2013 - 09.2015
Tottori University
Ph.D. from Plant Physiology And Environmental Science
Tottori University
Master of Science from Plant Physiology And Environmental Science
Ebonyi State University
Master of Science from Natural Resources Management
Ebonyi State University
Bachelor of Science from Applied Biology (Ecology)