Anna W. Baker
awbaker@wisc.edu
Interests: Photobiology, Protein Structure and Function, Bacterial adaptation
Education
B.S. from Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, Illinois
Department of Biology, August 2011
G.P.A.: 3.85
In progress: Ph.D., Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Expected Graduation 2016
Research Experience
Graduate Research Assistant, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Principal Investigator: Katrina Forest
Department of Bacteriology, December 2011-present
Thesis Project: The mechanism and role of red light sensing by bacteriophytochromes in Ramlibacter
tataouinensis.
Summer Research Intern, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Principal Investigator: Caroline Harwood
Department of Microbiology, Summer 2010
The effects of light intensity on the expression of a light-harvesting complex in Rhodopseudomonas
palustris with mutated RpBphP2 and RpBphP3 photoreceptors.
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL
Principal Investigator: Emina A. Stojkovic
Department of Biology, 2009-2011
Structure and function of bacterial red-light photoreceptors; emphasis on increasing fluorescence in
RpBphP3 from Rhodopseudomonas palustris; expression of fluorescent RpBphP3 mutants in mammalian
cell lines.
Work Experience
Anticipated: Biotechnology Internship, Summer 2014.
Lab Assistant, Northeastern Illinois University, 2008-2010. Prepared equipment, biological specimens,
and solutions for laboratory courses. Maintained microbe library and prepared media. Calibrated and
repaired common laboratory equipment.
Teaching Experience
Teaching Assistant, Prokaryotic Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Fall 2012. Led
weekly discussions on primary research papers covering transcription, translation, and DNA replication
for a class of 50+ biology upperclassmen and graduate students. Participated in exam writing and
grading.
Peer Leader, Biochemistry, Northeastern Illinois University, Fall 2010. Provided in-class guidance to
biology upperclassmen working on group writing assignments and supervised students during the
laboratory portion of the course.
Writing Tutor, Ecology, Northeastern Illinois University, Spring 2010. Provided scientific writing assistance
and review to biology upperclassmen as part of a major-specific university-wide Writing Intensive
Program.
Selected Presentations
A.W. Baker and K.T. Forest. 2012. Near-infrared fluorescent biomarker development using a novel
bicovalent chromophore approach in bacteriophytochromes. WARF Discovery Challenge, Madison,
Wisconsin (poster)
A.W. Baker, K.C. Toh, J.T. Kennis, E.A. Stojković. 2009. Engineering an infrared fluorescent marker for in
vivo tissue imaging using bacteriophytochrome RpBphP3 from Rhodopseudomonas palustris. SACNAS
Conference, Dallas, Texas (poster)
M. J. Banks, A. W. Baker, C. E. Meissner, M. V. Yebra, J. T. M. Kennis, K. Moffat and E. A. Stojković.
2010. Specific Chromophore-Protein Interactions in Bacteriophytochromes RpBphP2 and RpBphP3 from
Rhodopseudomonas palustris. Biophysical Society Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California (poster)
A.W. Baker, K.C. Toh, J.T.M. Kennis, E.A. Stojković. 2010. Engineering an infrared fluorescent marker for
in vivo tissue imaging using bacteriophytochrome RpBphP3 from Rhodopseudomonas palustris. Iota
Sigma Pi Aurum Iodide Chapter Undergraduate Woman Student Chemistry Symposium, Chicago, Illinois
(podium)
A. W. Baker, D. Salgado, J.T.M. Kennis, E.A. Stojković. 2010. Structural and sequence analyses of an
infrared fluorescent tissue marker. SACNAS Conference, Anaheim, California (poster)
A. W. Baker, D. Salgado, J.T.M. Kennis, E.A. Stojković. 2011. Structural and sequence analyses of an
infrared fluorescent tissue marker. American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Annual
Meeting, Washington, D.C. (poster)
Selected Awards
NIH Biotechnology Training Program Predoctoral Fellowship, University of Wisconsin-Madison 2011-2014
Magna Cum Laude, Northeastern Illinois University 2011.
Honorable mention, Undergraduate Poster Competition, American Society for Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology Annual Meeting 2011.
Undergraduate Competitive Travel Award, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Annual Meeting 2011.
Biophysical Society Award for Best Undergraduate Presentation in Biochemistry. SACNAS Conference,
Anaheim, California 2010.
Fran Seabright Award for excellence in undergraduate research. Iota Sigma Pi Aurum Iodide Chapter,
2010.
DuPont Award for Best Undergraduate Presentation in Biochemistry. SACNAS Conference, Dallas, Texas
2009.
Memberships
American Society for Microbiology, 2012-present.
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 2010-present.
Alpha Chi Honors Society Illinois Zeta Chapter. 2010-present.
References
Prof. Katrina Forest, Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Email: forest@bact.wisc.edu
Prof. Emina Stojković, Department of Biology, Northeastern Illinois University
Email: e-stojkovic@neiu.edu
Prof. Caroline Harwood, Department of Microbiology, University of Washington
Email: csh5@u.washington.edu
Prof. Richard Gourse, Chair, Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Email: rgourse@bact.wisc.edu