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Devin Molnau

Devin Molnau

Position
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Nason Lab
Department
  • Ecology, Evolution & Organismal Biology
I graduated from University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN with a Biochemistry, BS May 2015. My background consists primarily of coursework in biology, chemistry, statistics, and genetics. In the past, I did biochemistry research on triclosan resistance which was published in 2015. I hope to pursue a genetics focused research project in the future that will utilize statistics and computer science and allow me to further develop that skill set. As to non-academic interests, I love sailing, reading, and cooking.

Education

  • B.S., Biochemistry, Univ. of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN

More Information

Education

University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota                                                                                                        Graduation: May 2015

Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry with an English Minor

Honors and Awards: Magna Cum Laude, Dean’s list: Spring 2011-Spring 2015, Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society member

Coursework included Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics, Quantitative analysis, Statistics, Calculus, Physics, Neurobiology, and Genetics. Taking Introduction to Computer Science and Programming as well as Introduction to Algorithms through MIT OpenCourseWare (Spring 2016).

Research Experience

University of St. Thomas, Research Assistant, St. Paul, MN                                                                                                    Summer 2013, 2014

Collaborated with Dr. Justin Donato to research the mechanism of the Tri1 protein in triclosan resistance
Cloned the tri1 and mutant tri1 K244A gene into pET-28b vector
Cultured and then purified Tri1 and Tri1 K244A proteins
Ran and analyzed kinetic tests of Tri1 and mutant Tri1 K244A proteins

Publications

Fischer, T.L., White, R.J., Mares, K. F. K., Molnau, D. E., and Donato, J.D. (In Press).ucFabV requires functional reductase activity to confer reduced triclosan susceptibility in E. coli. The Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology

Presentations

Molnau, D.E., Lemma, E., Anderson, K., Sophy, T., and Ditty, J. Annotation of the Cytosolic Chemotaxis and Flagellar Motor Switch Proteins in the Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 Genome. Poster presented at the University of St. Thomas Biology Department Spring Poster Session, May 2015. St. Paul, MN.

Molnau, D.E., Donato, J.J. Characterization of the Function of Non-Enoyl Reductases in Triclosan Resistance. Poster presented at the University of St. Thomas Chemistry Department summer poster session, August 2014. St. Paul, MN.

Molnau, D.E. Fischer, T.L., Mares, K. F. K., and Donato, J.D. Exploring the Function of the Novel Tri1 Enzyme in Triclosan Resistance. Poster presented at the University of St. Thomas Chemistry Department summer poster session, August 2013. St. Paul, MN.

Skills

DNA isolation, Molecular cloning, Gel electrophoresis, SDS-PAGE, Restriction digest, Ligation, Restriction Mapping, PCR, Spectrophotometry, Western Blot, Affinity  chromatography, Thin Layer chromatography, Immunoprecipitation, Spectroscopy, Extractions, pH meter, Titration, Distillation, Calibration, Cell Culture, DNA sequencing, Kinetic Assays, Enzyme Activity Analysis, Hazardous chemicals use and disposal, Plasmid prep, Transforming E. coli, PCR mutagenesis, Isolating colonies, Screening, Preparing media and buffer, Autoclaving, Microsoft Windows, Igor, Bioinformatics, and Scientific Writing

Other Work Experience

Metropolitan Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, Medical Record Supervisor, Wayzata, MN                                May 2015-October 2015

Acted as a project supervisor to train and manage a team to copy and send medical records to desired location
Led the team in moving all active charts into long term storage as well as recording them for a closing medical practice within an extremely limited time frame.
Located, organized, and prepped patient files prior to appointments for each doctor daily
Made reminder calls to patients two days prior to appointment
University of St. Thomas: Disability services, Scribe, St. Paul, MN                                                    February 2012-December 2014

Read and recorded tests, essays, and quizzes of students with disabilities
Delivered confidential documents from Disability services directly to professors
Scanned and uploaded textbooks for students using the program Kurzweil

Teaching Experience

University of St. Thomas, Teaching assistant, St. Paul, MN                                                                                                 February 2015- May 2015

Assisted in the teaching lab for the course CHEM109, General Chemistry for Engineers

Writing Experience

Domestic Abuse Project, Volunteer, Minneapolis, MN                                                                                              February 2014 -May 2014

Wrote a professional profile for the men’s supervisor of the Domestic Abuse Project (DAP)
Wrote a short inspirational story based on an interview with the men’s supervisor
University of St. Thomas, Blog Writer, St. Paul MN                                                                                                            August 2014-May 2015

Wrote several short articles about enzymes of interest for the University of St. Thomas Biochemistry page

Volunteer Experience

N.C. Little Hospice, Floor volunteer, Edina, MN                                                                                                           June 2014-present 

Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Floor volunteer, St. Paul, MN                                                      May 2014- December 2014

Metropolitan Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, Volunteer, Wayzata, MN                                                              June 2014- August 2014

Interests

I thrive on new experiences and have recently picked up competitive sailing. As a member of a of a 3 person sailing team, we won the Wayzata yacht club’s 50th anniversary fall regatta for the MORC III fleet.
I have trained in three martial arts and acquired my black belt in an American Tae Kwon Do form in 2011.
I have a deep love of cooking and go into N.C. Little Hospice to prepare meals and bake every other Saturday morning.
In my free time, I fence, cook, draw, read, or volunteer.