As a research technician in the Barker Lab at Northern Arizona University, I am heavily involved in the soil detection of Coccidioides, the causative fungal pathogen of Valley fever, in Arizona. I lead field expeditions to known and unknown positive site locations across Arizona, conduct Coccidioides DNA analysis via qPCR, and aid in ABSL-3 lab work. My Master's research explored the association between Coccidiodies posadasii and biological soil crust in Arizona.
Who Am I?
Master's Research
I am currently conducting research on the relationship between Coccidioides and biological soil crust in the arid and semi-arid ecosystems of Arizona. Coccidioides is a soil-inhabiting fungal genus and is the causative agent of Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis).
With intensive environmental changes in dryland desert ecosystems, biocrust prevalence has depleted exponentially due to a multitude of factors: climate variability including longer dry seasons, a decrease in annual rainfall, and an increase in soil disturbance due to human and animal activity. These soil disturbances are believed to be the same as the disturbances that allow Coccidioides infectious spores (arthroconidia) to get into the atmosphere. Based on biocrust soil stability research, we hypothesize that healthy biocrust depletes the prevalence of arthroconidia entering the atmosphere and its dispersal to new locations.
The results of this study could be used to implement restoration efforts to reestablish biocrust and soil stability in the Arizona desert ecosystems to reduce the health risks of Valley fever, associated with land degradation.
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From left, Dr. Bridget Barker, an associate professor in the department of biological sciences at Northern Arizona University, Marieke Ramsey, a graduate student at NAU, and Anita Antoninka, an assistant research professor in the school of forestry at NAU, review biocrust soil experiments in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on Aug. 6, 2021.
Photo by Brandon Quester | AZCIR
Education
2021-2023
Northern Arizona University - Flagstaff, Arizona
Masters of Biology
Advisor: Dr. Bridget Barker
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2017-2021
Northern Arizona University - Flagstaff, Arizona
Bachelor's in Microbiology; Minor in Chemistry
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Experience
May 2021-Present
Barker Lab, Pathogen and Microbiome Institue,
Northern Arizona University
Working on detection of Coccididioides in soil samples from across Arizona
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August 2021-Present
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Northern Arizona University
In charge of teaching two sections of the BIO205 Microbiology Lab
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August 2020-December 2020
Biochemistry Supplement Instructor, Northern Arizona University
Facilitated supplement instruction to help improve student retention on course concepts
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January 2020-December 2020
Undergrad Research Assistant, EnGGen Lab, Northern Arizona University
Assisted in the germination scoring of seeds from invasive and noninvasive cottonwood tree species from the Gila River and the Little Colorado River in Colorado as well as conducting RNA extractions from germinated seeds.
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Collaborators
Committee Members
Faculty Advisor:
Associate Professor, College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences
Northern Arizona University
Tel. 928-523-6074
Email: Bridget.Barker@nau.edu
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Dr. Anita Antonkinka
Assistant Research Professor, School of Forestry
Northern Arizona University
Tel. 928-523-2669
Email: Anita.Antoninka@nau.edu
Dr. Nancy Johnson
Regents' Professor, School of Earth and Sustainability, Department of Biological Sciences
Northern Arizona University
Tel. 928-523-6473
Email: Nancy.Johnson@nau.edu
Photos
Scoring stability class of reintroduced biocrust in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, AZ
Soil sampling for Valley fever in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, AZ
Surveying biocrust transect in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, AZ