Lisa L. Drake
1200 S. Horseshoe Dr. Foster Hall rm. 220
Las Cruces, NM 88003
Phone: (505) 690-9840
Email: drlisa@nmsu.edu
EDUCATION:
Present
Ph.D. Candidate in Biology (subfield: Cell and organismal biology)
New Mexico State University (NMSU), expected diploma spring 2015
2011
Master of Science in Biology (subfield: Cell and organismal biology)
New Mexico State University (NMSU)
2008
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, Minor in Forensic Science.
New Mexico State University (NMSU)
2004
High School Diploma
Capital High School Santa Fe, NM, Valedictorian
RECENT HONORS AND AWARDS:
2012
Outstanding Graduate Student Award, NMSU
2011
Biology Department Teaching Award, NMSU
2009-present Biology Department Teaching Assistantship, NMSU
2004-2009
New Mexico Scholars Scholarship, NMSU
2004
Los Alamos National Laboratory Scholarship, Bronze recipient
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:
2009-present GRADUATE STUDENT, New Mexico State University.
Advisor: Immo A. Hansen (Biology)
Project: Preformed molecular biology lab techniques to study and characterize membrane
transporters in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
-Mosquito dissection, RNA isolation, RT-PCR, qPCR, SDS-PAGE, Western blot,
gel extraction, mosquito microinjection with dsRNA, gene cloning into expression
vectors, Xenopus laevis oocyte microinjection and protein expression, computer
skills including Graphpad Prism, experience working with avian malaria, Plasmodium
gallinacium and animal models (chickens) in a BSL-1 laboratory, Environmental
Health and Safety (EHS) trained as well as radiation safety trained.
- Laboratory performance included maintenance and upkeep of Aedes aegypti, Aedes
albopictus, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Anopheles quadrimaculatus mosquito culture,
experience working with the bed bug, Cimex lectularius.
2011
SAPPHIRE ENERGY SUMMER INTERN, Las Cruces, NM
Supervisor: Robert McBride, Ph.D.
Lisa L. Drake
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Project: Crop protection and laboratory research assistant on the Research and
Development team for algae-based green crude oil production.
- Assisted in algae mini-pond experimental data collection.
- Tasks included collection of pH, temperature, depth, optical density, total organic
carbon and Photosynthetic Activity Monitor (PAM) readings, qPCR data, and
microscopic observations for each algae pond.
PUBLICATIONS:
2014
Benoit JB, Hansen IA, Szuter EM, Drake LL, Burnett DL, Attardo GM.. (2014). Emerging
roles of aquaporins in relation to the physiology of blood-feeding arthropods. J Comp
Physiol B. Jun 19. doi: 10.1007/s00360-014-0836.
2014
Benoit JB, Hansen IA, Attardo GM, Michalková V, Mireji PO, Bargul JL, Drake LL, Masiga
DK, Aksoy S. (2014). Aquaporins are critical for provision of water during lactation and
intrauterine progeny hydration to maintain tsetse fly reproductive success. PLoS Negl Trop
Dis. Apr 24. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002517.
2014
Hansen IA., Attardo GM, Rodriguez SD, Drake LL. (2014). Four-way regulation of
mosquito yolk protein precursor genes by juvenile hormone-, ecdysone-, nutrient-, and
insulin-like peptide signaling pathways. Front Physio. Mar 20;5:103.
2013
Rodriguez SD, Brar RK, Drake LL, Drumm HE, Price DP, Hammond JI, Urquidi J,
Hansen IA. (2013). The effect of the radio-protective agents ethanol, trimethylglycine, and
beer on survival of X-ray-sterilized male Aedes aegypti. Parasites and Vectors.
doi:10.1186/1756-3305-6-211.
2012
Drake LL, Price DP, Aguirre SE, Hansen IA. (2012). RNAi-mediated gene knockdown and
in vivo diuresis assay in adult female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. JoVE. Jul 14;(65):e3479)
2012
Carpenter VK, Drake LL, Aguirre SE, Price DP, Rodriguez SD, Hansen IA. (2012). SLC7
amino acid transporters of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti and their role in fat body
TOR signaling and reproduction. J Insect Physiol. Apr;58(4):513-22.
2011
Price DP, Nagarajan V, Churbanov A, Houde P, Milligan B, Drake LL, Gustafson JE,
Hansen IA. (2011). The fat body transcriptomes of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti,
pre- and post- blood meal. PLoS One. 6(7):e22573.
2011
Hansen IA, Boudko DY, Shiao SH, Voronov DA, Meleshkevitch EA, Drake LL, Aguirre
SE, Fox J, Attardo GM, Raikhel AS. (2011). AaCAT1 of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes
aegypti: A novel histidine-specific amino acid transporter from the SLC7 family. J Biol Chem.
286, 10803-13.
2010
Drake LL, Boudko DY, Marinotti O, Carpenter VK, Dawe AL, Hansen IA. (2010). The
aquaporin gene family of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. PLoS One. 5(12):e15578.
PRESENTATIONS AND POSTERS:
2014
“Expression and functional characterization of aquaporins in the yellow fever mosquito,
Aedes aegypti”. Three Minute Thesis Competition, Las Cruces, NM, March 2014. (Lisa L.
Drake, Stacy D. Rodriguez, Immo A. Hansen)
Lisa L. Drake
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2013
“The functional characterization of aquaporins 1, 4, and 5 of the yellow fever mosquito,
Aedes aegypti”. NMSU Biosymposium, Las Cruces, NM, March 2010-2014. (Lisa L. Drake,
Stacy D. Rodriguez, Immo A. Hansen)
2012
“Functional Characterization of Aquaporins in the Disease Vectors Aedes aegypti and Culex
quinquefasciatus”. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Knoxville, TN,
November 2012; Reno, NV, November 2011; Entomological Society of America Southwest
Branch Annual Meeting, Las Cruces, NM, February 2013. (Lisa L. Drake, Sarah E. Aguirre,
Immo A. Hansen)
2008
“Aquaporins in the Malpighian tubules are essential for water transport in the yellow fever
mosquito, Aedes aegypti”. American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Annual
Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, December 2011; Atlanta, GA, November 2010; Washington
D.C., November 2009. ((Lisa L. Drake, Stacy D. Rodriguez, Immo A. Hansen)
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
2009-present TEACHING ASSISTANT, Biology Department, NMSU.
Courses: Cell and Organismal Biology Laboratory (BIOL 211GL), Molecular Biology
Techniques Laboratory (BIOL 302)
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES:
2011-present Entomological Society of America member
REFERENCES:
Dr. Immo A. Hansen
Department of Biology
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM 88003
Telephone: (575) -646-7719
E-mail: immoh@nmsu.edu
Dr. Kathryn Hanley
Department of Biology
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM 88003
Telephone: (575) -646-4583
E-mail: khanley@nmsu.edu
Dr. Dimitri Boudko
Department of Physiology & Biophysics
Rosalind Franklin University
Chicago, IL 60064
Telephone: (847) 578-8359
Email: dmitri.boudko@rosalindfranklin.edu
Dr. Robert McBride
Sapphire Energy
Lisa L. Drake
Las Cruces, NM 88007
Telephone: (858) 366-2331
Email: Robert.mcbride@sapphireenergy.com
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