Lydia Jeanne Baker, Curriculum Vitae
Lydia Jeanne Baker
Ph. D. Candidate, University of Hawai’i at Manoa
Department of Oceanography
1950 East West Road, Honolulu HI 96822
E-mail: bakerlyd@hawaii.edu
Lab: (808)956-0572
EDUCATION
Ph. D. Candidate, University of Hawai’i at Manoa, School of Ocean Earth Sciences and Technology (2009-present).
M.S., Biological Oceanography (May, 2012). Fully funded by the Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and
Education, an NSF Science and Technology Center.
B.S., Environmental Science Policy and Management, Molecular Environmental Biology with emphasis in
Microbiology, University of California Berkeley, (2005).
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Oceanography, University of Hawai’i at Manoa (2009-present).
Using flow cytometry and whole genome amplification, followed by isolation of various genes using
cloning methods, studied the dynamics of diatom-bacterial interactions in the open ocean at the cell-to-cell
level. Techniques include the use of Geneious, BLAST, ARB, and Mothur.
Staff Research Associate (2006-2007), Lab Manager (2008-2009) Department of Environmental Science, Policy,
and Management, University of California, Berkeley.
Diagnose samples showing symptoms of Sudden Oak Death using molecular methods. Use phenol
chloroform extraction, Geneclean ® Turbo, and real time SYBR® green and Taqman® PCR to process
samples. Work closely with collaborating laboratories, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, county
representatives, and the public to identify areas affected by Phytophthera ramorum. Evaluate the
relatedness the Venice Museum of Natural History’s collection of fungal specimens using genomic
sequencing. Expert use of ABI 3130 Genetic Analyzer, Sequencher, BLAST, and ClustalW.
Laboratory Assistant I, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California,
Berkeley (2004-2006)
Investigated relationship between insect vector and occurance of Almond Leaf Scorch in northern
California. Worked with academic researchers to find accurate and cost-effective method for finding
Xylella fastidiosa in insect and plants. Techniques: immunocapture, PCR, DNA digests, sterile culturing,
inoculation, and field sampling.
Assisted in studies on the control the populations of invasive Argentine ants and quantify the impact of
mealybugs in Napa, California vineyards. Maintained ongoing experiment testing the affect of hindering
ant populations in vineyards containing mealybugs.
Laboratory Volunteer, Department of Plant and Molecular Biology, University of California, Berkeley, (2005).
Study the affect of AHDS on microbial growth in an anaerobic environment using HPLC, light
spectrometry, and cell counts.
Isolated perchorate-reducing microorganisms able to oxidize novel substance from various soil samples.
Directed Undergraduate Research Project, Department of Plant Biology, University of California Berkeley, (2005).
Isolated and characterized heterotrophic diatoms from environmental samples using culturing methods,
PCR, HPLC analysis of pigments, DNA purification, Sanger sequencing, and gene databases BLAST ®
and RDP II.
PUBLICATIONS
Osmundson TW, Robert VA, Schoch C, Baker LJ, Smith A, Robich G, Mizzan L, Garbelotto MM. (in review).
DNA barcoding the Venice fungal herbarium to address gaps in fungal biodiversity knowledge and to study the
performance of ITS as a barcode for the macrofungi. PLOS I.
Mascheretti S, Croucher P, Kozanitas M, Baker L, Garbelotto M. (2009). Genetic epidemiology of the Sudden Oak
Death pathogen Phytophthora ramorum in California. Molecular Ecology, 18, 4577-4590.
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Lydia Jeanne Baker, Curriculum Vitae
Linzer R, Baker L, Garbelotto M. (2009). Three sympatric Phytophthora pathogens in an emerging forest disease:
competition and coexistence on an epidemiologically significant host. In "Population biology, invasiveness and
coinfection of exotic forest pathogens in two temperate-forest pathosystems", dissertation of R. Linzer, Ch. 4.
HONORS AND AWARDS
ASLO Travel grant to attend Aquatic Sciences Meeting at Lake Biwa Japan (2012).
C-MORE Travel grant to attend science communication workshop for graduate students and post-docs
(COMPASS) hosted at MBARI (2011).
University of California Berkeley Alumni Association, Leadership Scholarship, (2001-2003).
Rotary International Scholastic Achievement Scholarship, (2001).
SPECIAL TRAINING
Science Writing Workshop for Students in the Ocean and Earth Sciences, delivered by Professional Development
Training Program, C-MORE, Oct 2, 2012.
Proposal writing for microbial oceanographers, workshop, March 4, 2011, Honolulu, HI.
Training for the Flow Cam® flow cytometer and BD Influx flow cytometer. 2011. Honolulu, HI.
Analysis of microbial sequence data using ARB. 2009. Honolulu, HI.
MEETING PRESENTATIONS
Baker, L. J., Kemp, P. F., (2012) The bacteria diatom metaorganism: comparing the bacterial assemblages on a
variety of host cells usng single-cell whole genome amplification. American Society for Limnology and
Oceanography Meeting, Lake Biwa, Japan.
Baker, L. J., Kemp, P. F., (2011) Exploring the bacteria diatom metaorganism using single celled whole genome
amplification. American Society for Limnology and Oceanography Meeting, San Juan, PR.
Garbelotto, M., Vettraino, V., Sukno, S., Baker, L., Smith, A. (2007) A comparative analysis of diagnostic
approaches for Phytophthora ramorum. Sudden Oak Death Science Symposium III, Santa Rosa, CA.
Harnik, T., Baker, L., Garbelotto, M., (2007) Screening different Phytophthora ramorum hosts for limitations of
detection level using various molecular techniques. Sudden Oak Death Science Symposium III, Santa Rosa, CA.
Garbelotto, M., Vettraino, V., Sukno, S., Baker, L., Smith, A. (2007) A comparative analysis of diagnostic
approaches for Phytophthora ramorum. Sudden Oak Death Science Symposium III, Santa Rosa, CA.
WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES
EU-US Short Course on Marine Bioinformatics, sponsored by Micro B3, June 18-29, 2012, Bremen Germany.
Science Communication Workshop for C-MORE Graduate Students and Post-Docs, delivered by COMPASS, May
23, 2011, Moss Landing, CA, USA.
Redefining microbial genomics: The power of sequencing individual cells, workshop, Sept 19-21, 2010, Boothbay
Harbor, ME, USA.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Center for Microbial Oceanography Research and Education (CMORE), 2009-present.
Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) 2010- present.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
TGs granting comitttee. Using funds from TGs meetings, created a grant for ocean and earth sciences projects in
Hawaii K-12 schools. Organized a multidisciplinary committee to review grants, reviewed committee’s
recommendations, and tracked teacher progress (July 2012-present).
C-MORE EDventures Committee. Edventures provides venture capital for research and education activities, (Jan
2011-May 2012).
TGs organizing Committee. TGs provides a weekly interdisciplinary meet-up on the UH campus and is sponsored
by Na Kama Kai, the Graduate Student organization of the School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology,
University of Hawai’i at Manoa (May 2010-present).
Managing editor, Eco-DAS. Managed the production of the chapters resulting from the Ecological Dissertations in
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Lydia Jeanne Baker, Curriculum Vitae
the Aquatic Sciences meeting, Honolulu, HI, USA. (2010 and 2012 meetings).
Organized C-MORE Journal Club for undergrad, grad, and post-doc researchers (May-Dec 2011)
REVIEWING
Limnology and Oceanography: Methods
STUDENT ADVISING
(Provided training and supervision for graduate and undergraduate student researchers)
German Alvarez-Valdez, Undergraduate Student, UH Manoa (2012).
Melina Kozanitas, Graduate Student, UC Berkeley (2008-2009).
Jordan Zachritz, Graduate Student, UC Berkeley (2008-2009).
Nicole Wong, Undergraduate Student, UC Berkeley (2009).
Natalie Lowell, Undergraduate Student, UC Berkeley (2009)
AT-SEA EXPERIENCE
RV Ka'imikai - o – Kanaloa, C-MORE cruise, Station ALOHA. May 24-29, 2010.
RV Kilo Moana, Hawaii Ocean Time-series cruise, Station ALOHA. July 7-11, 2010.
RV Melville, C-MORE cruise, Arica Chile to Easter Island. Nov 18-Dec 14, 2010.
RV Kilo Moana, HOT cruise, Station ALOHA. Feb 27-Mar 3, 2011.
RV Kilo Moana, Hoe Dylan, Station ALOHA. Aug 4-14, 2012.
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