Melanie Spero
1714 Adams St. Apt. 4
Madison, WI 53711
spero@wisc.edu
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Education:
University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
Anticipated Graduation: 2013, Ph. D. in Microbiology: Microbiology Doctoral Training Program
Description: Researcher in Timothy Donohue’s lab: Department of Bacteriology
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Graduation: May 2008, GPA: 3.757
B.S. in Biotechnology (Microbial Technology Option), Minor in Biochemistry
Honors & Awards:
2010 Genomic Sciences Meeting Student Travel Grant
The Rutgers University 2008 Undergraduate Commencement Speaker (May 2008)
Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honors Society (2007)
Dean’s List (2005-2008)
Cook College Honors Program (2004-2008)
Big East Scholar-Athlete (2004-2008)
Grants & Scholarships:
NIH Biotechnology Training Grant (2008-2011)
Aresty Research Grant for Undergraduates (2007)
Rutgers National Scholarship (2004-2008)
Cook College Honors Scholarship (2004-2008)
Women’s Crew Athletic Scholarship (2007-2008)
Class of 1922 Scholarship (2007-2008)
Hamo Hachnasarian Scholarship (2005-2007)
Athletics:
Rutgers University Women’s Varsity Crew (2004 – 2008)
Big East bronze medal: Varsity Four Event (2006)
The 20 More Award (2008)
Research Experience:
University of Wisconsin Thesis Project in Microbiology with Dr. Timothy Donohue:
2008 – Present
Description: Studying the physiological roles of two respiratory chain isozymes (complex I) in the
photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides
Techniques: Cloning (gene deletion, point mutations), aerobic and anaerobic bacterial
growth analysis, NADH oxidation assay, 5’ transcript mapping, Western blot analysis
Rutgers University Thesis Project in Plant Biology with Dr. Eric Lam:
2006 – 2008
Thesis Title: Developing a Novel System for Measuring the Redox Potential
Inside Nuclei of Arabidopsis thaliana
Description: Involves the transformation of Arabidopsis to express a ratiometric,
redox-sensitive GFP localized to the nucleus to act as a real-time, in vivo indicator of the
nuclear redox state
Techniques: Cloning, bacterial and plant transformations, plant segregation analysis,
fluorescence microscopy, western blot analysis
Rutgers University Summer Research Project in Biochemistry with Dr. William Ward:
2007
Description: Protein purification of GFP and aequorin from crude jellyfish extracts to
study in vivo molecular interactions
Techniques: Column chromatography (HIC, SEC, IEC, IMAC, HPLC)
Teaching Experience:
University of Wisconsin Teaching Assistant
Fall 2009, Spring 2010
Course: Microbiology 304: The Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory
Description: Prepared and presented all lectures, lead discussions, prepared parts of exams, graded
lab reports and other assignments, demonstrated basic microbiology lab techniques, and
worked with students one-on-one.
University of Wisconsin PEOPLE Program Instructor
Summer 2009, 2010
Description: Taught a weeklong microbiology course to Wisconsin high school students from
underprivileged backgrounds, with the goal of encouraging students to obtain a college
education and fostering an appreciation for science.
Rutgers University Tutor at Douglass Writing Center
2006
Description: Tutored students in Exposition and Argument and research writing courses