Michael Manzella - Curriculum Vitae

Employment History

• Ph.D. Candidate in the labs of Dr. Gemma Reguera and Dr. Kazem Kashefi at Michigan State University (Summer 2009 – Present )

• Identification and isolation of nanowires from Fe(III)-reducing organisms that grow at temperatures up to 121°C and applying the knowledge gained to the development of novel, biobased nanodevices for bioremediation. 

• Collaborative effort with physicists and engineers to use scanning probe techniques and for the development of nanodevices.

• Rotation in Dr. Gemma Reguera’s Lab at Michigan State University (Spring 2009 – Summer 2009)

• Used genetic techniques to create a gene knockout in an environmental bacterium, Geobacter sulfurreducens, which is responsible for the reduction of Fe(III) oxides as well as soluble toxic metals and radionuclides.

• Summer Undergraduate Research Program at the University of Pittsburgh in Dr. Neal DeLuca’s Lab (Summer 2007 – Fall 2007)

• Performed cell culture and chromatography techniques in order to purify the transcription factor ICP4 from HSV1 infected cells. 

Teaching Experience

• MMG-302 (Introductory Microbiology Lab) – 2 semesters

• Supervision, grading, and assessment of exercise efficacy

• Currently involved in the development of an advanced option within MMG-302 for students interested in further microbiological training under Dr. Marsh*

• MMG-408 (Advanced Microbiology Lab) – 1 semester

• Supervision, grading, and assessment of exercise efficacy following a professorial change in the course

• BS-171 (Cell and Molecular Biology Lab) – 1 semester

• This course involved both a laboratory and recitation section

• Weekly recitations involved the creation of lesson plans to inform students of the methodology and history behind the experiments being performed

• ISE 870 (Teaching College Science) – Ongoing graduate course

• Taught by Dr. Joyce Parker this course is designed to prepare post-graduate students for teaching at the college level*

• University Graduate Certification in College Teaching (Natural Science)

• Indicated (*) experiences are being pursued for completion of this certification program

Education

• Michigan State University; East Lansing, MI

• Currently pursuing a PhD in the Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Department

• Cumulative GPA:  3.71

• Rochester Institute of Technology; Rochester, NY

• Bachelor’s Degree in Biotechnology – November, 2007

• Overall GPA:  3.90

Publications and Presentations

Publications

• Indumathy Jayamani; Michael P. Manzella ; Alison Cupples (Submitted). RDX Degradation Potential in Soils Previously Unexposed to RDX and the Identification of RDX Degrading Species in One Agricultural Soil.  International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation.

Presentations

Indumathy Jayamani, Michael P. Manzella, Alison M. Cupples.  Development of Biomarkers for Assessing In Situ RDX Biodegradation Potential. SERDP/ESTCP Symposium; December 2008. (Poster Presentation)

• Paxhia, Michael D., Jenna M. Young, Michael P. Manzella, Gemma Reguera.  Using Lipopolysaccharide Truncation Mutants to Investigate Surface Characteristics and Metal Reduction in Geobacter sulfurreducens.  UURAF; April 2012. (Poster Presentation)

Awards and Volunteer Opportunities

Awards

• GAANN Fellowship – Interdisciplinary Bioelectronics Training Program
• Jan 2013 - Present
• MSU College of Natural Science Continuation Fellowship
• Summer 2012
• MSU College of Natural Science Summer Fellowship
• Summer 2008

Volunteer Opportunities

• Microbiology and Molecular Genetics representative for the Biomedical and Physical Sciences program
• Recruiting year 2012
• Microbiology and Molecular Genetics recruiting officer
• Recruiting years 2010 and 2011
• High School Engineering Institute assistant instructor
• Summer 2008