University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC – August 2018 to present PhD Candidate in Environmental Health Sciences Laboratory of Dr. Kasie Raymann Vice President of the Graduate Student Association (GSA) – August 2020 to May 2022 Advanced to candidacy April 2020 Dissertation – "Male honey bee microbiomes and antibiotic treatments influence reproductive health in honey bees" Defense - April 19, 2024 Expected graduation – May 2024
North Dakota State University, Fargo ND – August 2014 to May 2018 Bachelors of Science in Biological Sciences – 2016 Dean’s list Minor in Psychology Minor in Chemistry
USDA AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program. “Investigating the impacts of in-hive treatments on the reproductive health of queens and drones”. PI: Kasie Raymann, Co-PI: David Tarpy, Significant Contribution: Alexis Hoopman ($682,500.00) 2022-2025
USDA AFRI Predoctoral Fellowship. “The unintended antibiotic target: honey bee microbiome and fecundity”. PI: Alexis Hoopman. Sponsor: Kasie Raymann($180,000.00) May 2021 – May 2024
= $862,500 of USDA funding to support my dissertation research
Honors and Awards
Poster Award at NC Microbiome Symposium May 2023 Best Microbiology Oral Presentation at the Association of Southeastern Biologists Annual Conference March 2023 Travel Award ($109) January 2023 2nd Place Physiology, Biochemistry, and Toxicology Poster Competition, November 2022 Entomological Society of America 2022 Annual Meeting Travel Award ($210) July 2022 GSA 2022 Group of Excellence - 3rd year in a row April 2022 John T. Ambrose Honey Bee Student Researcher 2021, North Carolina State Beekeepers Association November 2021 Berry Fund Endowment for Outreach and communication via environmental science ($500) July 2021 UNCG Graduate School Fellowship ($2500) Summer 2021 GSA 2021 Group of Excellence – 2nd year in a row April 2021 Student Research Support Grant ($500) February 2021 GSA 2020 Group of Excellence April 2020 Student Research Support Grant ($420) January 2020 Travel Award ($250) January 2020 Student Research Support Grant ($400) September 2019 Morehead Planetarium IMPACTS program acceptance award ($135) August 2019 Student Research Support Grant ($510) January 2019 Student Research Support Grant ($500) August 2018 UNCG Moore Fellowship ($3000) July 2018 First place at the Northern Plains Biological Symposium March 2018 Second place at the NDSU EXPLORE Undergraduate Research Showcase November 2017
Research and Employment Experience
PhD Candidate, Dept of Biology, UNCG May 2018 – Present Mentor: Dr. Kasie Raymann, Dept of Biology, UNCG Overview: The impacts of antibiotics on honey bee microbiomes and reproductive health Key Responsibilities: RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, DNA extraction, PCR, qPCR, library preparation and sequencing, rearing germ-free bees, in-vitro rearing honey bees, aseptic dissection and microbiome preservation, microscope dissection, artificial insemination, drone health measurements, triple quad mass spec, hive management, sperm viability analysis, use of BeePlus, statistics and bioinformatics Research Assistant, Dept of Biological Sciences, NDSU August 2017 – May 2018 Mentor: Dr. Julia Bowsher, Dept of Biological Sciences, NDSU Outline: The impact of pesticides on the honey bee reproductive system, specifically spermatozoa Key Responsibilities: Creating field-relevant doses of Glyphosate, hemocytometer cell counts, Live/Dead assay in combination with mitochondrial staining, investigation cell death mechanism, florescent microscopy on an automated microscope, drone dissection with testis removal, apiary management and hive inspections, use of HiveTracks Pollination Nation Summer Research Program, NDSU/USDA-ARS May 2017 - August 2017 Mentors: Dr. Julia Bowsher, Dept of Biological Sciences, NDSU & Dr. Arun Rajamohan, Insect Genetics and Biochemistry Research, USDA-ARS Outline: Participated in Undergraduate Research Experience (REU) over the summer of 2017 Key Responsibilities: Live/Dead assays using florescent microscopy, mixing specialized buffer, DMSO and glyphosate concentrations, motility assay using 1-5 motility scoring, introduction to R statistical analysis, field experience managing honey bee colonies, chalk talk experience with department and mentors
Antibiotic Discovery Course Research Project, NDSU January 2017 - May 2017 Mentor: Dr. Wendy Reed, Dept of Biological Sciences, NDSU Outline: Diet impact on gut microbiome and antibiotic resistance in honey bees Key Responsibilities: Fed honey diet variations to bees in solitary, microscope dissections and exterior dissection technique, plated gut on agar against strains of bacteria, performed spread patch, streak and master plating techniques, ran PCR and gel electrophoresis on selected bacterial colonies, BLAST to identify bacteria species, exposer to JMP statistical program, practiced lab safety protocol and notebook keeping
Head Medical Assistant/Case manager, PND September 2014 - December 2017 Location: Prairie Naturopathic Doctors, Moorhead MN Outline: Worked as the training medical assistant then case manager for a Naturopathic clinic Key Responsibilities: Promotion to weight loss specialist to provide healthy life style coaching to patients, assisted in the hiring and interview process for new staff, provided training for all new medical assistants since October 2014, wrote and implemented new medical procedures and policies, cross trained in all departments to maximize efficiency, perform vitals, intake, charting and numerous tests and procedures on patients Key Achievements: Received training in Portland, OR to start a weight loss program, considered head medical assistant with training and managing responsibilities, assisted many appreciatory patients to regain and maintain their health
Memberships
Carolinas Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (CSETAC) 2023 - 2024 Association of Southeastern Biologists (ASB) 2023 - 2024 Entomological Society of America (ESA) 2022 - 2024 American Society of Microbiology (ASM) 2020 - 2024 UNCG Graduate Student Association 2018 - 2024 North Carolina Beekeepers Association 2018 - 2024 The Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) 2017 - 2018 Insect Cryobiology and Ecophysiology (ICE) at USDA-ARS Fargo/NDSU 2017 - 2018 Pollination Nation at NDSU 2017
Manuscript Reviews
Apidologie Journal November 2021 Annals of the Entomological Society of America July 2020 Apidologie Journal June 2019