Keely Massar
Yalding,Kent
Summary
Completing a PhD in Microbiology identifying novel antifungals to inhibit Rhizopus soft rot growth on sweet potatoes. Eager to research further in the genetics field to expand laboratory skills and knowledge.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
Work history
PhD Studentship in Microbiology
Dr. Rebecca Hall
University of Kent, Canterbury
01.2023 - Current
- Worked with filamentous fungus Rhizopus arrhizus and R. stolonifer
- Identified new Rhizopus strains using DNA Extraction, PCR, BLAST, and SnapGene
- Developed new assay for measuring Rhizopus soft rot progression in sweet potatoes (named sweet potato infection assay)
- Used FDA library to identify new compounds to use against Rhizopus spp. and found six potential compounds to use
- Screened six potential compounds further using MIC tests, checkerboard assays, filipin staining, and testing in the sweet potato infection assay and narrowed compounds down to one good drug candidate
- Identified new Gluconobacter species and tested live culture and supernatant against Rhizopus growth
- Characterized unknown antifungal molecule in Gluconobacter supernatant through heat and pH stability testing, flow cytometry, and spinning supernatant through 3kDa and 1kDa filters
- Used NMR to identify unknown antifungal molecule and found potential molecule to investigate further
- Used sweet potato infection assay to measure Gluconobacter supernatant effectiveness at preventing Rhizopus soft rot
Seasonal Demonstrator
University of Kent
Canterbury, Kent
09.2023 - 03.2025
- Demonstrated on practicals and was responsible for teaching groups of 20-50 undergraduate students and marked practical reports from students
- Immunohistochemistry 2023 - taught students microscope skills
- Immunology 2023 - taught students microscope skills and how to use haemocytometer
- PCR and electrophoresis 2023-24 - demonstrated twice and was lead demonstrator for 2024 practical in charge of setting up PCR machines and running UV gel docs. Also taught students how to set up gel electrophoresis experiments and primer design
- Medical Microbiology 2024-25 - helped students with bacterial culture identification tests including gram staining, catalase testing, and antimicrobial resistance identification
- Cell Cycle 2024-25 - assisted students with microscopes
Master of Science Dissertation Project
Dr. Josie Parker
Swansea University
09.2021 - 06.2022
- Worked with Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans in polymicrobial biofilm testing
- Developed method of dissolving manuka honey for testing against individual species and in biofilms
- Used Growth Curves and Total Viable Count tests to measure species growth with and without antimicrobials
- Used Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) tests and Adherence Inhibition Biofilm Assays to measure resistance in S. aureus and C. albicans
- Tested manuka honey as an antimicrobial against S. aureus and C. albicans individually and combined in vitro in MIC and biofilm assays
- Compared manuka honey antimicrobial effectiveness to effectiveness of clinical antimicrobials
- Presented research in Viva Voce to panel of researchers and in research group meetings
SPIN Internship
Dr. Miranda Walker
Swansea, City and County of Swansea
06.2020 - 07.2020
- Arranged and compared parasite DNA sequences in BLAST, Clustal Omega and MEGA X
- Built Maximum-Likelihood, Neighbour-Joining and UPGMA phylogenetic trees with Jukes-Cantor and Maximum Composite substitution methods
- Identified novel parasite species from DNA sequences provided
- Presented weekly project reports to supervisor
Education
PhD - Microbiology
University of Kent
Canterbury 01.2023 - 01.2026
Master of Science in Genetics -
Swansea University
Swansea 2018 - 2022
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme -
Cobham Hall School For Girls
Gravesend 2016 - 2018
Skills
- Experience culturing organisms at containment level 2
- Able to develop and optimize new experimental procedures
- Proficient in assays testing antifungal activity in vitro and in planta
- Can carry out and teach DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis and microscopy skills
- Experience using R and GraphPad for graph making and statistical analysis for data presentation
- Regularly presents work in lab and supervisory meetings and at conferences and seminars
Conferences
BMS Annual Scientific Meeting and Student Research Conference 2025 - 10 minute talk titled "Gluconobacter: a novel biocontrol against Rhizopus soft rot"
University of Kent SNS PGR Summer Conference 2025 - Second prize for talk "Gluconobacter: a novel biocontrol in Rhizopus soft rot"
BSPP Plant Pathology 2024 - Poster Titled "Identification of novel Rhizopus soft rot treatment in sweet potatoes"
Genetics Matters 2020
Genetics Matters 2019
Round Square International Conference 2017
Additional Experience
Advanced Career Development Course Award 2022 - Swansea University Employability Academy
Communications Officer for Biochemistry and Genetics Society 2020 - Swansea University
National Citizen Service Graduate 2017
Bethlehem Home Volunteer 2017 - Kingston, Jamaica
References
First Reference : Dr. Rebecca Hall, Senior Lecturer in Microbial Adaptation, Primary Supervisor. School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury. r.a.hall@kent.ac.uk
Second Reference : Dr. Helen Cockerton, Industrial Research Fellow and Lecturer, Secondary Supervisor. School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury. h.cockerton@kent.ac.uk
Timeline
Seasonal Demonstrator
University of Kent
09.2023 - 03.2025
PhD Studentship in Microbiology
Dr. Rebecca Hall
01.2023 - Current
PhD - Microbiology
University of Kent
01.2023 - 01.2026
Master of Science Dissertation Project
Dr. Josie Parker
09.2021 - 06.2022
SPIN Internship
Dr. Miranda Walker
06.2020 - 07.2020
Master of Science in Genetics -
Swansea University
2018 - 2022
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme -
Cobham Hall School For Girls
2016 - 2018
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