| Education:
Ph.D. in Oceanography, University of Washington, 2004.
M.S. in Oceanography, University of Washington, 1999.
coursework in Plant Pathology, Cornell University, 1994-1995.
B.S. summa cum laude in Biology, minor in German, University of Massachusetts, 1994.
Research Experience:
Summer 2004 - present.
- I am currently working as a research scientist and coordinator for the Pacific Northwest Center for Human Health and Ocean Studies. One of my Center research projects is to uncover the genes involved in the production of domoic acid in Pseudo-nitzschia cells and understand the conditions that induce toxin production. For more information on this and other current research projects, please visit the Research Interests section of my homepage.
Fall 1999- Summer 2004.
- In the Marine Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory (MMBL) at the University of Washington, I conducted my Ph.D. research with Dr. E. Virginia Armbrust on photorespiration in diatoms. I developed molecular probes using qRT-PCR for genes involved in photorespiration, the Calvin cycle, and nitrate utilization to investigate the effects of environmental conditions on these pathways. Techniques included: RNA and DNA extraction, reverse transcription, real-time PCR, cloning and sequencing, diatom culturing, and microscopy. Also during this time, I participated in the annotation of the first diatom genome (Thalassiosira pseudonana). I acquired a working knowledge of genomics and an excellent understanding of diatom physiology.
Fall 1996- Fall 1999
- At the University of Washington, I conducted my Masters research with Dr. Peter A. Jumars. I researched the population genetic structure of two bivalve species in Puget Sound (Protothaca staminea and Macoma balthica). I was interested in the effects of Puget Sound circulation on the dispersal on invertebrate larvae. I used protein electrophoresis and enzyme staining (allozyme analysis) for this project. I also did numerous field collections (including short cruises within Puget Sound and to the San Juan islands) and bivalve dissections.
Spring- Summer 1995
- At Cornell University, under the direction of Dr. Eric Nelson, I researched the mechanisms involved in the biological control of Phytophthora capsici. Microorganisms were isolated from the soil and root environment, and tested for inhibition of fungal growth. Microassays, greenhouse assays and field experiments were used to test biocontrol and pathogenicity.
Fall 1994
- At Cornell University, I worked as a Graduate Research Assistant for Dr. Eric Nelson, investigating the causal agent of a devastating epidemic on spinach plants grown in a hydroponic system. I also isolated a number of bacteria and nonpathogenic fungi in the hopes of finding a natural antagonist in the system that might be used for biological control. Through this research, I became familiar with the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) used in hydroponics systems.
Summer 1994
- Also at Cornell University, I worked under the direction of Dr. Steven V. Beer on the effects of varying environmental and inoculum parameters on the development of the hypersensitive response in tobacco and tomato.
Fall 1992 - Spring 1994
- Under the direction of Drs. Edward Klekowski and Arthur Stern at the University of Massachusetts, I investigated the characteristics and genetics of the response of Rhizophora mangle (red mangrove) seedlings to wounding and introduction of a fungal pathogen. In doing this research I learned and utilized scanning electron microscopy (SEM), paraffin sectioning and staining, light microscopy, and darkroom techniques.
- During the Summer of 1993, I also worked with Dr. Peter Hepler on the above research using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Teaching Experience:
Winter 1998
- At the University of Washington, I worked as a teaching assistant for Dr. Bruce Frost in an upper-level undergraduate course entitled Biological Oceanography (Ocean 433). Responsibilities included grading, discussions with students during office hours, and lecturing in the professor's absence.
Summer 1991
- At Naugatuck Valley Technical-Community College, I worked for Prof. Fred Anderson as a teaching assistant in a first-level chemistry class. Responsibilities included preparing experiments before the class and helping students in the laboratory.
Fellowships, Awards, and Honors:
Awarded The Luigi Provasoli Award by the Phycological Society of America for best paper of the year in Journal of Phycology (2005); Awarded an NSF Graduate Fellowship by the National Science Foundation (Spring, 1995); Received the Sage Graduate Fellowship by the Fellowship Board of the Graduate School of Cornell University (Fall, 1994); Awarded the Sigma Xi Academic Achievement Award and membership into Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society (Spring, 1994); Selected for and participated in the Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology (Summer, 1993); Elected a Hughes Junior Fellow in the Life Sciences of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (Spring, 1993); Inducted into Phi Beta Kappa (Spring, 1993); Awarded Honors Research Fellowship (Spring, 1993); Inducted into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (Spring, 1993); Received the Ray Ethan Torrey undergraduate scholarship (Spring, 1993); Named a William F. Field Alumni Scholar (Spring, 1993); Accepted into Alpha Lambda Delta (Spring, 1992); Inducted into the Golden Key National Honor Society (Spring, 1992); Accepted into the Commonwealth Scholar Honors Program at the University of Massachusetts (Fall, 1990).
Publications:
Parker, M.S., T. Mock, and E.V. Armbrust. (2008). Genomic Insights Into Marine Microalgae. Annual Review of Genetics. In press.
*Marchetti, A., M.S. *Parker, E. Lin, and E. V. Armbrust. (2008). A novel ferritin identified in bloom-forming marine pennate diatoms. Nature. In revision. *These authors contributed equally to this work.
Bowler, C. et al. (2008). The Phaeodactylum genome reveals the dynamic nature and multi-lineage evolutionary history of diatom genomes. Nature. In revision.
Worden, A. et al. (2008). Molecular underpinnings of ocean forests: the genomes of Micromonas pusilla. Nature. In prep.
Dusek, E., C. Simenstad and M.S. Parker. (2008). Variability in clearance rates of a toxin-producing diatom by intertidal benthic suspension feeders. submitted.
*Kroth, P. G., A. Chiovitti*, A. Gruber*, V. Martin-Jezequel*, T. Mock*, M. S. Parker*, M. S. Stanley*, A. Kaplan, L. Caron, T. Weber, U. Maheswari, E. V. Armbrust, and C. Bowler. A model for carbohydrate metabolism in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum deduced from comparative whole genome analysis. (2008) PLoS ONE 3:e1426. Full Text Link *These authors contributed equally to this work.
Montsant, A. A. E. Allen, S. Coesel, A. De Martino, A. Falciatore, M. Heijde, K. Jabbari, U. Maheswari, M. Mangogna, E. Rayko, M. Siaut, A. Vardi, K. E. Apt, J. A. Berges, A. Chiovitti, A. K. Davis, M. Z. Hadi, T. W. Lane, J. C. Lippmeier, D.Martinez, M. S. Parker, G. J. Pazour, M. A. Saito, K. Thamatrakoln, D. S. Rokhsar, E. V. Armbrust, C. Bowler. (2007) Identification and comparative genomic analysis of signaling and regulatory components in the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana. Journal of Phycology 43:585-604.
Parker, M.S. and E.V. Armbrust. 2005. Synergistic effects of light, temperature and nitrogen source on transcription of genes for carbon and nitrogen metabolism in the centric diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana (Bacillariophyceae). Journal of Phycology 41:1142-1153. Full Text Link *N.B. This paper was highlighted in the following review: Allen, A.E. 2005. Defining the molecular basis for energy balance in marine diatoms under fluctuating environmental conditions. Journal of Phycology 41: 1073–1076.
Armbrust, E. Virginia, John A Berges, Chris Bowler, Beverley R. Green, Diego Martinez, Nicholas H. Putnam, Shiguo Zhou, Andrew E. Allen, Kirk E. Apt, Michael Bechner, Mark A. Brzezinski, Balbir K. Chaal, Anthony Chiovitti, Aubrey K.Davis, Mark S. Demarest, J. Chris Detter, Tijana Glavina, David Goodstein, Masood Z. Hadi, Uffe Hellsten, Mark Hildebrand, Bethany D. Jenkins, Jerzy Jurka, Vladimir V. Kapitonov, N. Kröger, Winnie W.Y. Lau, Todd W. Lane, Frank W. Larimer, J. Casey Lippmeier, Susan Lucas, Mónica Medina, Anton Montsant, Miroslav Obornik, Micaela Schnitzler Parker, B. Palenik, Gregory J. Pazour, Paul M. Richardson, Tatiana A. Rynearson, Mak A. Saito, David C. Schwartz, Kimberlee Thamatrakoln, Klaus Valentin, Assaf Vardi, Frances P. Wilkerson, and D. S. Rokhsar. 2004. The genome of the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana: Ecology, evolution and metabolism. Science 306: 79-86
Abstract Link
Full Text Link
Parker, M.S., E.V. Armbrust, J. Piovia-Scott and R G. Keil. 2004. Light regulation of a photorespiratory gene (glycine decarboxylase) in the centric diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii (Bacillariophyceae). Journal of Phycology 40:557-567. Full Text Link
Parker, M.S., P.A. Jumars and L. L. LeClair. 2002. Population genetics of two bivalve species (Protothaca staminea and Macoma balthica) in Puget Sound , Washington . Journal of Shellfish Research. 22(3): 681-688.
Weir, A.M.; Schnitzler*, M.A.; Tattar, T.A.; Klekowski, E.J. Jr. ; Stern, A.I. 1996. Wound periderm development in red mangrove, Rhizophora mangle (L.). Intl. J. Plant Sci. 157(1): 63-70.
Schnitzler*, M.A. 1994. The anatomy of fungal resistance mechanisms in Rhizophora mangle (L.), red mangrove. Undergraduate Honors Thesis. University of Massachusetts, Honors Program.
* maiden name = Schnitzler
Conferences:
Parker, M.S.; Marchetti, A.; Lin, E.O.; Armbrust, E.V. 2007. Iron storage by ferritin in marine pennate diatoms – Part I: Discovery of a ferritin gene in diatoms and comparative sequence analyses. American Society for Limnology and Oceanography Meeting, Santa Fe, NM.
Parker, M.S.; J. Newton; P. von Dassow; R.L. Marohl; K.E. Holtermann; C. Berthiaume; V.S. Iverson; M.L. Wrabel; K. Hubbard; B.Gilmore; C.Williams; G. Rocap; E.V. Armbrust. 2006. Phytoplankton community responses to nutrient amendments in Hood Canal, WA. American Society for Limnology and Oceanography Summer Meeting, Victoria, B.C.
Holtermann, K.E.; M.C. Horner-Devine; J. Silver; C. Williams; G. Rocap; J. Newton; P. von Dassow; R.L. Marohl; E.O. Lin; C. Durkin; B. Russo; B.P. Johnson; M.S. Parker; E.V. Armbrust. 2006. Microbial community shifts in response to nutrient amendments in a hypoxic fjord (Hood Canal, WA). American Society for Limnology and Oceanography Summer Meeting, Victoria, B.C.
Parker, M.S.; E.V. Armbrust, R. Kudela, H. Rodrigues, B. Jenkins, E.O. Lin, V. Iverson, C. Berthiaume, G. Rocap. 2006. Gene expression associated with domoic acid production and silicate limitation in the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia australis. Ocean Sciences Meeting, Honolulu, HI. Eos. Trans. AGU, Vol. 87, no. 36, suppl., Sep 2006.
Parker, M.S.; Armbrust, E.V.; Piovia-Scott, J.; Keil, R.G. 2004. The importance of photorespiration to carbon and nitrogen metabolism in diatoms. U.S. Department of Energy Biotechnology Investigations - Ocean Margins Program (BI-OMP) All Investigators Meeting, January 8 thru 9, 2004 at University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez.
Parker, M.S. and Armbrust, E.V. 2002. Photorespiratory gene expression under changing light conditions in the centric diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii. Ocean Sciences Meeting, Honolulu, HI. Eos. Trans. AGU, 83(4), Ocean Sciences Meet. Suppl., Abstract OS42A-97.
Hamill, B.J.; Cherrier, J.; Parker, M.S.; Armbrust, E.V. 2002. Effects of diatom photorespiration on surface-ocean DOC. Ocean Sciences Meeting, Honolulu, HI. Eos. Trans. AGU, 83(4), Ocean Sciences Meet. Suppl., Abstract OS42A-98.
Parker, M.S. and Armbrust, E.V. 2001. Expression of a photorespiratory gene in the centric diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii. American Society for Limnology and Oceanography Meeting, Albuquerque, NM.
Parker, M.S.; Armbrust, E.V.; Lau, W.W.Y.; Keil, R.G.; Hamill, B.J.; Cherrier, J. 2001. Photorespiration in the centric diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii. U.S. Department of Energy Biotechnology Investigations - Ocean Margins Program (BI-OMP) All Investigators Meeting in Savannah, GA.
Parker, M.S. and Armbrust, E.V. 2000. Identification of a glycine decarboxylase gene in Thalassiosira weissflogii: A probe for photorespiration in diatoms. Phycological Society of America Meeting. Journal of Phycology 36(3): 53.
Parker, M.S. and Jumars, P.A. 1999. Population genetics of Protothaca staminea & Macoma balthica in Puget Sound, WA. Journal of Shellfish Research.
Service and Volunteer Work:
Biological Oceanography student representative to the Oceanography faculty, 1998-1999.
Biological Oceanography student representative to the Earth Sciences 10-year review, 1999.
Volunteer work at the Nationalparkamt Schleswig-Holsteinisches Wattenmeer in Toenning, Germany (the office for a national park located in a tidal flats region of northern Germany), Spring 1996.
Hobbies and Interests:
Skiing, SCUBA diving, outdoor sports and activities, music, travel, reading
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