Rachel Metry
San Diego,USA
Summary
Dynamic and results-driven professional with extensive experience at UC San Diego, excelling in molecular biology techniques and laboratory management. Proven ability to mentor peers and enhance collaborative learning environments. Skilled in PCR and data analysis, with a strong commitment to maintaining safety and integrity in research settings.
Overview
2
2
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Teaching Assistant
Biological Sciences, UC San Diego
La Jolla, California
10.2023 - 04.2025
- Managed routine laboratory maintenance, including buffer and reagent preparation, glassware cleaning, material restocking, chemical and equipment inventory management, and performing basic equipment maintenance.
- Trained and mentored new volunteers in laboratory protocols, safety procedures, and experimental techniques.
- Executed molecular and developmental biology experiments, including PCR, CRISPR-Cas9 microinjections for transgenic generation and mRNA overexpression, molecular cloning (all steps), fluorescence screening of genetically modified larvae, confocal microscopy imaging, and image processing.
Laboratory Assistant
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
La Jolla, California
08.2023 - 01.2024
- Provided academic support for struggling students while maintaining academic integrity.
- Assisted in teaching specialized course material to 300+ students in a direct and personalized manner.
- Led structured discussion and/or laboratory sections for 25-35 students at a time while fostering a productive environment for collaborative education.
- Managed grading for exams, quizzes, and homework assignments for 300+ students in a timely manner.
Shift Lead
Yogurtland Co.
San Diego, California
06.2023 - 09.2023
- Directed a team of 4 to ensure the consistent adherence to health codes and company standards in a face-paced environment.
- Resolved customer concerns and de-escalated conflicts with professionalism, enhancing customer satisfaction.
- Coordinated shipments and kept inventory of supplies to and from the shop in an efficient manner that minimized delays.
Research Assistant
Biological Sciences, UC San Diego
La Jolla, California
01.2023 - 04.2023
- A study aimed to assess anthropogenic effects on microbial communities structures across Southern California beaches.
- The study conducted focused on the sand biodiversity and community structure across two popular and unpopular beaches in San Diego, California.
- Samples were collected from all four beaches and microbes were sequenced for their cellular 16S rRNA to measure diversity and taxonomic distribution to be analyzed under Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH).
Education
Master's of Science -
University of California, San Diego
San Diego, CA07.2025
Bachelor of Science - Ecology, Behavior, And Evolution
University of California, San Diego
San Diego, CA06.2023
Skills
Laboratory Techniques
- Molecular Biology: PCR, DNA/RNA isolation, gel electrophoresis, protein isolation, molecular cloning, microbial sampling, in situ hybridization (HCR), high-throughput assays, microinjection
- Ecology & Conservation: Mark-and-recapture, belt transects, camera trapping, egg/hermit crab/vegetation sampling, belt transects, camera trapping, soil and water sampling
- Bioinformatics: Metagenomic analysis, DNA sequencing, 16S rRNA analysis
- Microscopy: Confocal microscope, High-throughput confocal microscope, stereoscope (TL imaging) , fluorescence microscopy
- General: buffer preparation, aseptic techniques, safety practices, experimental design, inventory managemen
Data Analysis & Programming
- InCarta (Molecular Devices)
- Microsoft Office Suite
- RStudio
- Terminal (Macintosh)
Aquatic Husbandry
- Maintaining habitats for sea urchinswater quality, temperature, salinity, etc
- aquatic animal upkeep (general cleaning, feeding)
- culturing of sea urchin embryos to sexual maturity
Certification
- Laboratory Hazard Certification
- UC Preventing Harassment & Discrimination
- UC Cyber Security Awareness Fundamentals
- PADI Open Water Certification
Publications Presentations
Tjeerdema, E., Lee, B., Metry, R., and Hamdoun, A., Discovery of developmental windows of drug sensitivity using high content screening of Pgp-knockout sea urchin embryos., 12/12/23,
Metry, R., Evaluating Microbial Diversity Across Local Beaches., Microbiomes Across Environments Symposium, La Jolla, CA, 03/01/23, Platform
Metry, R. & Vucellic-Frick, G. Evaluating the different size distributions of hermit crabs between Ostional and San Juanillo Beaches. Tropical Field Ecology Symposium, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, 07/01/22, Platform.
Metry, R. & Hamdoun, A., Apoptosis as a Biomarker for Cytotoxicity., Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry Southern California. 04/01/24, Poster.
Lee, B., Jenniches C., Tjeerdema, E., Metry R., Renaudin, G., Jackson, E., and Hamdoun, A., Fully automated hybridized chain reaction (HCR) on sea urchin embryos., In preparation,
Metry, R. & Hamdoun, A., Scaling Up Sea Urchin Science: Microscopy, Screening, and Husbandry. Guest Speaker at Introduction to Biology Labs., 01/01/25, Platform
Metry, R. Improving Sea Urchin as a Model in Toxicology with High Throughput Screening. Thesis Defense. Scripps Instiution of Oceanography, 05/07/25.
Research
HIGH-THROUGHPUT CHEMICAL SCREENING TOOL DEVELOPMENT La Jolla, CA
Scripps Institution of Oceanography Sept 2023 – Present
- Developed 2 HTS assays to screen 100+ marine pollutants simultaneously for increased chemosensitivity in embryos.
- Trained AI model to segment embryos, scoring 1500+ images in 6 hours with 96% accuracy for large image data sets.
- Improved sea urchin husbandry practices to optimize the development of genetic tools for HTS screening
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF RAINFORESTS AND WILDLIFE Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Bioma Sea Turtle Conservation June 2022 - Aug2022
- Biosurveys of 2 rainforests and 3 beaches to monitor tree densities and invertebrate populations for local commerce.
- Biomonitoring survey of Olive Ridley egg-laying behavior to implement BMP for policies and regulations in egg harvesting.
ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACTS ON LOCAL BEACHES San Diego, CA
UCSan Diego Jan. 2023 - April 2023
- Collected microbial samples from 3 beaches and sequenced 16S rRNA to apply metagenomic analysis of diversity and taxonomic distribution under Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis.
- Collected water samples to measure nitrate, ammonia, salinity, pH, and temperature for each site for water quality analysis.
- Found that disturbance was a sufficient indicator of microbial community structure.
Affiliations
- KSDT Radio Sound Mixer (2021-2023)
- Provost Honors ( 2022-23)
- UC San Diego Mentor Program (2021-present)
- St. Peter St. Paul Summer Counselor (2019-present)
- Alpha Omicron Pi, Vice President of Membership Integrity (2021-2022)
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Teaching Assistant
Biological Sciences, UC San Diego
10.2023 - 04.2025
Laboratory Assistant
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
08.2023 - 01.2024
Shift Lead
Yogurtland Co.
06.2023 - 09.2023
Research Assistant
Biological Sciences, UC San Diego
01.2023 - 04.2023
Master's of Science -
University of California, San Diego
Bachelor of Science - Ecology, Behavior, And Evolution
University of California, San Diego
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