CONTACT INFORMATION:
STERLING EVANS
Email: scecpb@mail.missouri.edu
Cell: (816) 442-1920
Education
Bachelor of Science in Plant Science Graduation Date: May 2020, University of Missouri-Columbia (GPA: 4.00)
• Minors: Biology, Sustainable Agriculture
• Bright Flight Scholar: Top 3% of Missouri High School Seniors
• Chancellor’s Award winner: University of Missouri-Columbia, minimum ACT score of 31
Lathrop High School: Honors Diploma Graduation Date: May 2016
• Unweighted GPA: 3.98/4.00
• Class Salutatorian
Relevant Experience
Legume-Microbe Interactions Laboratory of Dr. Gary Stacey October 2016-Present
Undergraduate Research Assistant University of Missouri
• Gained laboratory techniques: making media, growing plants, specifically Setaria viridis and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in greenhouses and growth chambers, rhizobacteria (wildtype and mutant strains) culture maintenance, bacteria inoculation of plant seedlings, measuring root parameters using the WinRHIZO software program, DNA extraction
• Developed skills using laboratory instruments: Centrifuge, Autoclave, Gel Electrophoresis, Vibratome 3000 Plus for sectioning samples, Shaking incubator for bacteria maintenance, Genesys 10s Spectrophotometer for measuring the optical density of bacteria
• Logged daily methods, results and procedures
• Developed Seteria Viridis mutant screening
• Analyzed mass spectra data like multivariate statistical and hierarchical clustering analyses from metabolomics
• Carried out DNA/RNA extractions with Arabidopsis
Drought Tolerance Laboratory of Dr. Robert VanBuren May-August 2017
Summer Research Assistant Michigan State University
• Gene Cloning, E. Coli transformation, Floral Dipping, PCR
• Carried out RNA sequencing data analysis for comparative genomics study
• Developed a protocol for a tractable E. coli desiccation assay
• Ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis of Eragrostis tef
• Became comfortable running programs on Unix command line
Presentations
Back to the Columns Poster Presentation: University of Missouri September 2017
Using resurrection species to bring new life to drought tolerance research
• Back to the Columns is a presentation specific to undergraduates who carried out summer research outside of the University of Missouri Campus.
• I presented the research that I carried out at Michigan State University, where I spent my summer.
Mid-Sure Poster Presentation: Michigan State University July 2017
Using resurrection species to bring new life to drought tolerance research
• Mid-Sure is open to all summer undergraduate research, within any field, carried out on the MSU campus.
• I presented the date gathered from my 10-week Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in the Dr. Robert VanBuren Lab.
Life Science Week Poster Presentation: University of Missouri April 2017
Phenotypic screening of Setaria viridis associated with plant growth promoting bacteria
• Life Science Week gathers researchers ranging from undergraduates to post-doctoral researchers who work within the life science at the University of Missouri
• I presented relevant preliminary data gathered from my work in the Dr. Gary Stacey Lab
Honors
• Undergraduate Research Excellence awarded during the University of Missouri’s Life Science Week 2017.
• Accepted in to the Freshman Research in Plant Science program (FRIPS). The FRIPS program is a selective program that only accepted 7 of the top freshman researchers in 2016.
• Featured in Decoding Science. A publication through the Bond Life Science Center at the University of Missouri.