CAREER AWARENESS Career Showcase

mcb_icon_3.pngCareer Showcase

It is difficult to imagine what people do in certain jobs. So over the years we invited a variety of students and professionals that have something to do with microbiology and cell science to tell us about their career paths, their education, struggles, and successes. Our guests are generally very honest and forthcoming with their advice - insights you don't get often. Below you can find videos of each talk, information about the guest speaker, and contact information.

Student Voices

UF student and Microbiology and Cell Science major Jade Bittenbender found her career path in the Microbiology and Cell Science Department. Learn about the path she took as a student in her interview here Links to an external site..

Check out Dariel's online experience here Links to an external site.. Dariel Liakhovetski turned to UF Online to work towards his dream of becoming a dentist by pursuing a bachelor's in Microbiology and Cell Science. As a past America's Got Talent finalist and a skilled musician, Dariel continues to perform at events around the world alongside his brother.

Career Perspectives

The bi-annual UF Career Showcase Links to an external site. will be held every fall semester. Over 300 employers participate in Career Showcase, the largest career fair in the southeast.

Industry Association

BioFlorida Links to an external site. is a consortium of life science (biotech, healthcare, pharma, etc.) organizations across the state of Florida. They maintain a database Links to an external site. of companies that is searchable by sector and region and host annual conferences and local events Links to an external site., including the BioFlorida Celebration of Biotechnology each spring in the Alachua Progress Park.

Careers in Microbiology

There are many career paths a Microbiology and Cell Science major could choose to pursue. Watch the interviews below for more insight into what careers others have found success in. 

Career Speakers Video Series (by Field)

NOTE: New password protection of Careers Speakers: GadsbyMCB

Speakers may be under more than one category

Industry
Sarah Connolly, PhD, MPH - CDC Links to an external site.

Sarah Connolly, PhD, MPH Links to an external site.

Tyler Knox, MS Links to an external site.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-knox-95a23945/Links to an external site.

  • Education: UF, BS Environmental Science; UF Masters, Microbiology and Cell Science
  • Continuing Education: Duke Executive Education, Drug Development, Reimbursement, & Regulation
  • Pharmaceutical: Eli Lilly, Sr. Sales Representative
  • Government: Florida Office of Policy & Budget, Sr. Govt. Analyst; Florida Health & Human Services (HHS), Policy Chief
Phil Geis, PhD Links to an external site.

Phil Geis, PhD Links to an external site.

    • Education: University of Texas, BS and PhD Microbiology
    • Government: U.S. Army
    • Industry: Proctor and Gamble
Stephanie Martin, PhD Links to an external site.

Stephanie Martin, PhD Links to an external site.

Austin Mogen, PhD Links to an external site.

Austin Mogen, PhD Links to an external site.

Bryn Tolchinsky, MS Links to an external site.

Bryn Tolchinsky, MS Links to an external site.

Melanie Cook, PhD Links to an external site.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-cook-phd-ccrp/Links to an external site.

  • Education: Justus Liebig Univ. (Germany) BS Nutritional Science; Martin Luther Univ. of Halle-Wittenberg, Masters & PhD in Applied Sports Psychology
  • Certification: Clinical Research Professional, Society of Clinical Research Associates (CRA)
  • Pharma: Johnson & Johnson, Clinical Technical Writer; MSD Sharp & Dohme, Pharma Representative
  • Biotech Entrepreneurial: Profusa, Clinical Research Associate
  • NGO: Institute of Diabetes POWER2DM Project, Study Director
Patrick Thiaville, PhD Links to an external site.

Patrick Thiaville, PhD Links to an external site.

Kenny Yeh, MS Links to an external site.

Kenny Yeh, MS Links to an external site.

    • https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenny-yeh-1048842/ Links to an external site.
    • Education: BS Microbiology, Univ. of Maryland; MS Microbiology, Clemson
    • Experiential Learning: Student athlete, Undergrad Estuarian Lab
    • Industry- Business Development, Sales: MRI Global, ICx Technologies (Teledyne), Idaho Technology (BioFire Defense)
    • Industry- Technical: Sabre Technical Services, Myriad Genetics
    • Military: U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground
Zoe Sorlien & T.J. Hsu (Actalent Recruiting) Links to an external site.
Supreet Kaur Links to an external site.

Supreet Kaur Links to an external site.

Andree George, PhD Links to an external site.

Andree George, PhD Links to an external site.

Monika Oli, PhD Links to an external site.

Monika Oli ePortfolio: https://www.monikaoli.com/ Links to an external site.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monika-oli-22949698/ Links to an external site.

  • Education: BS University of Ediburgh, M.S. Mississippi State, PhD Univ. of Alabama Birmingham; M.S. Entreprenureship, UF
  • Entrepreneurial Company: Banyan Biomarkers
  • Academia: UF Master Lecturer & Undergraduate Coordinator

 

Erin Kreinest, PhD Links to an external site.

Dr. Erin Kreinest Links to an external site.

Thu Kim Links to an external site.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/thu-kim/ Links to an external site.

  • Education: B.S. Microbiology and Cell Science, UF
  • Pharmaceutical Industry: Immunology Research Associate, Infectious Disease- Moderna
Government
Sarah Connolly, PhD, MPH - CDC Links to an external site.

Sarah Connolly, PhD, MPH Links to an external site.

David J. Smith, PhD Links to an external site.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-j-smith-b137b9177/ Links to an external site.

"3...2...1...Blast Off! Bacteria in Space!"

  • Education: Princeton, B.A. Ecology and Evolutionary; Univ. of Washington, Biology, PhD Biology
  • Experiential Learning: NASA graduate internship; National Outdoor Leadership School
  • Government Lab: NASA
  • ont
Dr. Lisa Leung Links to an external site.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-leung-029b0649/HiLinks to an external site.

Links to an external site.

"The Gateway for New Medical Diagnostics"

Links to an external site.

  • Education: St. Mary’s College of Maryland, BA Biology; Univ. of Maryland Baltimore, PhD Microbiology and Immunology
  • Experiential Learning: Teaching Assistant, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
  • Academia: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Lab Research Technician
  • Government: FDA, CDRH, Lead Reviewer

Links to an external site.

Lourdes Norman-McKay, PhD Links to an external site.

Lourdes Norman-McKay, PhD Links to an external site.

Jackie Nagy, MPH, CIC Links to an external site.

Jackie Nagy, MPH, CIC Links to an external site.

Kenny Yeh, MS Links to an external site.

Kenny Yeh, MS Links to an external site.

    • https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenny-yeh-1048842/ Links to an external site.
    • Education: BS Microbiology, Univ. of Maryland; MS Microbiology, Clemson
    • Experiential Learning: Student athlete, Undergrad Estuarian Lab
    • Industry- Business Development, Sales: MRI Global, ICx Technologies (Teledyne), Idaho Technology (BioFire Defense)
    • Industry- Technical: Sabre Technical Services, Myriad Genetics
    • Military: U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground
Junia Jean-Gilles Beaubrun, PhD Links to an external site. 

Junia Jean-Gilles Beaubrun, PhD Links to an external site.

William Zaragoza, PhD Links to an external site.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-zaragoza-ph-d-8bb43012/ Links to an external site.

"You are what you eat?"

  • Education: UF, BS & Masters Microbiology and Cell Science; UF PhD Microbial Ecology
  • Experiential Learning: Undergrad research UF, NSF graduate research fellow
  • Government: USDA-Food Safety in Inspection Service (FSIS), Microbiology Branch Chief
  • Industry: Johnson & Johnson / Vistakon, Customer Service and Chemical Analyst
Supreet Kaur Links to an external site.

Supreet Kaur Links to an external site.

Andree George, PhD Links to an external site.

Andree George, PhD Links to an external site.

Tracy Fanara, PhD (aka Inspector Planet) Links to an external site.
Iris Irby Links to an external site.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/iris-irby-5580a91b8/ Links to an external site.

  • Education: B.S. Microbiology and Cell Science, Bioinformatics, UF; PhD candidate Microbiology, Georgia Tech
  • Government Agency: Research Associate and Internship Coordinator, NASA Ames Research Center
Academia
Lourdes Norman-McKay, PhD Links to an external site.

Lourdes Norman-McKay, PhD Links to an external site.

Claudia Jakubzick, PhD Links to an external site.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudia-jakubzick-462836a5/ Links to an external site.

  • Education: UF, Microbiology; Univ. of Michigan, PhD Immunology; Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Post-doc
  • Experiential Learning: Penn State, summer research program
  • Academia: Dartmouth, Assoc. Professor; Univ. of Colorado, Assoc. Professor
  • NGO: National Jewish Health
Monika Oli, PhD Links to an external site.

Monika Oli ePortfolio: https://www.monikaoli.com/ Links to an external site.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monika-oli-22949698/ Links to an external site.

  • Education: BS University of Ediburgh, M.S. Mississippi State, PhD Univ. of Alabama Birmingham; M.S. Entreprenureship, UF
  • Entrepreneurial Company: Banyan Biomarkers
  • Academia: UF Master Lecturer & Undergraduate Coordinator

 

NGO
Weaver Gaines, JD Links to an external site.
Melanie Cook PhD Links to an external site.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-cook-phd-ccrp/Links to an external site.

  • Education: Justus Liebig Univ. (Germany) BS Nutritional Science; Martin Luther Univ. of Halle-Wittenberg, Masters & PhD in Applied Sports Psychology
  • Certification: Clinical Research Professional, Society of Clinical Research Associates (CRA)
  • Pharma: Johnson & Johnson, Clinical Technical Writer; MSD Sharp & Dohme, Pharma Representative
  • Biotech Entrepreneurial: Profusa, Clinical Research Associate
  • NGO: Institute of Diabetes POWER2DM Project, Study Director
More Coming Soon

TBD

Healthcare
Jackie Nagy, MPH, CIC Links to an external site.

Jackie Nagy, MPH, CIC Links to an external site.

Anthea Sabol Links to an external site.

Anthea Sabol Links to an external site.

Entrepreneur
Weaver Gaines, JD Links to an external site.
Patrick Thiaville, PhD Links to an external site.

Patrick Thiaville, PhD Links to an external site.

Melanie Cook, PhD Links to an external site.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-cook-phd-ccrp/Links to an external site.

  • Education: Justus Liebig Univ. (Germany) BS Nutritional Science; Martin Luther Univ. of Halle-Wittenberg, Masters & PhD in Applied Sports Psychology
  • Certification: Clinical Research Professional, Society of Clinical Research Associates (CRA)
  • Pharma: Johnson & Johnson, Clinical Technical Writer; MSD Sharp & Dohme, Pharma Representative
  • Biotech Entrepreneurial: Profusa, Clinical Research Associate
  • NGO: Institute of Diabetes POWER2DM Project, Study Director
Tracy Fanara, PhD (aka Inspector Planet) Links to an external site.