6 Cypress Point
Collinsville, IL 62234
(618)-979-4129 cell
MICHELLE HARRIS
michelle.alice.harris@gmail.com
1Brookings Dr.
Campus Box 1134
St. Louis, MO 63130
EDUCATION
2009-Present
Washington University in St. Louis
Candidate for Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry
Concentration: Biophysical
Overall GPA: 3.75/4.0
 Biophysical Concentration: Interdisciplinary concentration to prepare the student to study
biological problems from a physical chemistry approach. Required curriculum combines
traditional graduate level physical chemistry courses and graduate level biophysical, biochemical,
and/or bioengineering courses.
2005-2009
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Bachelor of Science, May 2009
Major: Integrative Biology Honors Concentration
Minor: Physics
Overall GPA: 3.55/4.0
 Integrative Biology Honors Major: Class of fifteen students per year taking program-exclusive
coursework as well as accelerated courses in a variety of other disciplines, including chemistry,
physics, and mathematics. The coursework and extra requirements are significantly greater than
what is necessary for the standard university biology major.
ACADEMIC RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2010-Present
PhD candidate at Holten lab Washington University in St. Louis
 Working under Drs. Christine Kirmaier and Dewey Holten on
o Studying the directionality of electron transfer down the normally active and inactive
branches of the photosysnthetic reaction center with a bactriochlorophyllbacteriopheophytin heterodimer, in place of the native bacteriochlorophyll dimer.
o Using femtosecond laser transient absorption spectroscopy to measure electron transfer
rates and yields.
o Data analysis using Origin.
 Working under Drs. Dewey Holten and Paul Loach from Northwestern
o Studying energy transfer in biohybrid light-harvesting complexes.
o Performing static spectroscopic studies to measure fluorescence spectra, quantum yields
and energy transfer efficiencies from emission excitation versus absorptance spectra.
o Performing time-resolved fluorescence and femtosecond transient absorption
spectroscopy to measure energy transfer rates and yields
o Data analysis using Origin and Surface Xplorer.
2006-2009
Researcher at Cheeseman lab at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
 Worked closely with then graduate student M. Dassayanake to sequence phenylalanine ammonia
lyase gene in Rhizophora mangle.
 Well versed in PCR, Gel electrophoresis, DNA extraction from agarose gel, Nanodrop technology,
RNA extraction, SDS-PAGE, Native PAGE and activity staining, project-relevant biochemical
assays, and protein purification techniques, i.e. ammonium sulfate fractionation and molecular
weight filters.
 Working under Dr. John Cheeseman on an independently designed and executed project
concerning an unknown protein(s) that consumes hydrogen peroxide and produces hydrogen in the
presence of NADH in R. mangle and analogous protein(s) in soybean, Glycine max.
2008- 2009
Researcher at Feng lab at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
 Analyzed Odorrana tormota calls under Dr. Albert Feng using custom program, Selena, in order
to show relationship between calls of a specific individual.
 Assisted then graduate student S. Yang by performing immunohistochemical assays in order to
characterize specific auditory neurons in the brain of tree frogs.
 Proficient in biocytin staining.
 Completed and presented an independent senior project which consisted of assembling
photographed brain slices into a 3-D images using Adobe Photoshop for preliminary work and
December 2008
Amira for 3-D visualization. The 3-D image will be used to analyze the structure of O. tomota’s
brain in comparison to brains of other frogs.
Study abroad in Curacao under Rhanor Gillette through University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
 Two week intensive course on marine biology and behavior
 Resided at the Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity Research Institute
 Included multiple dive and snorkel trips
 Helped clean up a local reef
 Completed an independent project on polarized light sensitivity of ghost crabs
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Fall 2008
Teaching Assistant at Universtiy of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign
 Chem 101: General Chemistry Lab I
 Weekly lab alternating two classes of roughly 20 students
Fall 2009
Teaching Assistant for Dr. Kit Mao at Washington University in St. Louis
 Chem 151: General Chemistry Laboratory
 Weekly lab of twenty students
 Included lab report and exam grading
Spring 2010
Teaching Assistant for Dr. Dewey Holten at Washington University in St. Louis
 Chem 445: Instrumental Methods in Physical Chemistry
 Four hour lab on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
 Working individually with two or three students per lab
 Intensive studies on absorption and emission as well as time-resolved optical spectroscopy
Fall 2010
Teaching Assistant for Dr. Kit Mao at Washington University in St. Louis
 Chem 151: General Chemistry Laboratory
 Three bi-weekly labs of twenty students
 Included exam grading
Spring 2011
Teaching Assistant for Dr. Dewey Holten at Washington University in St. Louis
 Chem 445: Instrumental Methods in Physical Chemistry
 Four hour lab on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
 Working individually with two or three students per lab
 Intensive studies on bomb calorimetry as well as time-resolved optical spectroscopy
SCIENCE OUTREACH
2010-Present
Photosynthetic Antenna Research Center, an EFRC at Washington University in St. Louis
 Helped develop a learning module with Rachel Ruggirello:
http://parc.wustl.edu/files/parc/EnergyConsumption_AlternativeSolutions_0.pdf
 Lead outreach discussion at Rosati-Kain High School environmental club meeting on renewable
energy in spring 2010.
 Assisted Rachel Ruggirello with science outreach which exposes high school students to realworld applications of renewable energy sources and solutions in spring 2010.
 Assisted Rachel Ruggirello and Maplewood Junior High School with science outreach which
teaches sixth graders about renewable energy sources and solutions in spring 2011.
April 2011
Women in Science Workshop at Washington University in St. Louis
 Day long workshop for 9th grade girls
 Ran Egg Launch Activity
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
July 2013-Present
Photosynthetic Antenna Research Center, a DOE EFRC at Washington University in St. Louis
 Responsible for coordinating meetings of graduate students and post docs online through adobe
connect.
2010-2012
Marcus Lecture Committee at Washington University in St. Louis
 Student run yearly lecture
 Graduate students select future committee members who serve for 2 years.
 Committee comprised of four 2nd year graduate students and four 3rd graduate students.
SKILLS
Computing Skills
 LoggerPro, PAUP* 4.0, MacClade, PopG, Sequencher, Excel Data Analysis, Kaleidagraph,
Photoshop, Amira, ImageJ, Squeak, Pymol, Mathematica, Origin, PhotoChemCad, and Surface
Xplorer
Language Skills
 Functionally fluent in Spanish and Italian
Extracurricular Skills
 Advanced open water SCUBA diver
PUBLICATIONS
“Integration of Multiple Chromophores with Native Photosynthetic Antennas to Enhance Solar Energy Capture and Delivery,” M. A.
Harris, P. S. Parkes-Loach, J. W. Springer, J. Jiang, E. C. Martin, P. Qian, J. Jiao, D. M. Niedzwiedzki, C. Kirmaier, J. D. Olsen, D.
F. Bocian, D. Holten, C. N. Hunter, J. S. Lindsey and P. A. Loach. Chem. Sci. 2013, DOI: 10.1039/C3SC51518D
“Protein Influence on Charge-Asymmetry of the Primary Donor in Photosynthetic Bacterial Reaction Centers Containing a
Heterodimer: Effects on Photophysical Properties and Electron Transfer,” M. A. Harris, C. A. Luehr, K. M. Faries, M. Wander, L.
Kressel, D. Holten, D. K. Hanson, P. D. Laible and C. Kirmaier. J. Phys. Chem. B, 2013, 117, 4028-4041.
“Palette of Lipophilic Bacteriochlorins for Construction of Biohybrid Light-Harvesting Architectures,” K. R. Reddy, J. Jiang, M.
Krayer, M. A. Harris, J. W. Springer, E. Yang, J. Jiao, D. M. Niedzwiedzki, D. Pandithavidana, P. S. Parkes-Loach, C. Kirmaier, P.
A. Loach, D. F. Bocian, D. Holten, and J. S. Lindsey. Chem. Sci. 2013, 4, 2036-2053.
“Biohybrid Photosynthetic Antenna Complexes for Enhanced Light-Harvesting,” J. W. Springer, P. S. Parkes-Loach, K. R. Reddy, M.
Krayer, J. Jiao, G. M. Lee, D.M. Niedzwiedzki, M. A. Harris, C. Kirmaier, D. F. Bocian, J. S. Lindsey, D. Holten, and P. A. Loach J.
Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 4589-4599.
PRESENTATIONS
August 2013
International Congress on Photosynthesis Research – Poster Presentation: Biohybrid Antenna Complexes
with Native Peptide Analogs and Tunable Synthetic Chromophores.
August 2013
Light Harvesting Satellite Meeting – Invited Speaker: Biohybrid Antenna Complexes with Native Peptide
Analogs and Tunable Synthetic Chromophores.
August 2013
Photosynthetic Antenna Research Center Yearly Meeting – Poster Presentation: Biohybrid Antenna
Complexes with Native Peptide Analogs and Tunable Synthetic Chromophores.
July 2013
Department of Energy Energy Fronteir Research Center Meeting– Poster Presentation: Biohybrid Antenna
Complexes with Native Peptide Analogs and Tunable Synthetic Chromophores.
April 2013
American Chemical Society 245th National Meeting and Exposition – Speaker and SciMix Poster
Presentation: Biohybrid Antenna Complexes with Native Peptide Analogs and Tunable Synthetic
Chromophores.
November 2012
Midwest Photosynthesis Conference – Speaker: Biohybrid Antenna Complexes with Native Peptide
Analogs and Tunable Synthetic Chromophores.
July 2012
Photosynthetic Antenna Research Center Yearly Meeting – Speaker: Biohybrid Antenna Complexes with
Native Peptide Analogs and Tunable Synthetic Chromophores.
October 2011
American Chemical Society Regional Midwest Conference – Poster Presentation: Probing the effect of the
electron density distribution in the primary electron donor on the directionality of charge separation in
photosynthetic reaction centers.
AWARDS
July 2012
Photosynthetic Antenna Research Center Yearly Meeting: best poster talk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDcn5aEewqg&feature=youtu.be