About

I’m fascinated by microbes and the selective pressures that shape their evolution. I work at the National Human Genome Research Institute in Meru Sadhu’s Systems Biology & Genone Engineering Section and am currently focused on an evolutionary arms race between humans and poxviruses, please ask me about it some time!

Education

• Georgetown University, Washington, DC - Ph.D in Microbiology & Immunology, 2023
• Wittenberg University, Springfield, OH - Bachelor of Science in Biology, 2010

Experience

• Postdoctoral Fellow - NIH Intramural Research Training Award
  • NHGRI Systems Biology and Genome Engineering Section, 2023–Present
  • Developed and optimized high-throughput genetic screens to study human and viral protein interactions.
  • Utilized high-performance computing clusters for data analysis and simulation tasks.
  • Trained and supervised laboratory staff in advanced techniques and protocols.
  • Authored scientific papers and presented findings at national conferences.
• Biologist – Kelly Government Solutions
  • NIAID Vaccine Research Center, 2017–2018
  • Conducted immunological assays including flow cytometry and cell culture for vaccine research.
  • Cloned and characterized human antibody responses to influenza virus.
  • Documented and reported experimental data in compliance with GLP standards.
• Post-baccalaureate Fellow - NIH Intramural Research Training Award
  • NIAID Vaccine Research Center, 2014–2017
  • Developed and validated epitope-mapping assays for HIV vaccine research.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to interpret and present experimental results.

Skills

• Molecular Biology Techniques: Molecular Cloning, Cell Culture, Fast Liquid Protein Chromatography, Yeast Genetics, Yeast Surface Display, Flow Cytometry, Deep Mutational Scanning, Design of Oligonucleotide Libraries, CRISPR Editing, NGS Library Preparation and Sequencing
• Bioinformatic Techniques: Unix, Python, Git, Slurm, Snakemake, ChimeraX, PyMol, BLAST, MSA, High Performance Computing Environment
• Communication: Technical Presentations, Team Collaboration, Project Updates
• Laboratory Management: Mentoring Students, Experimental Documentation, Ensuring Safety Protocols

Teaching

• Mentor - Sophie Scobell, NIH IRTA Fellow, 2022-present
• Mentor - Maya Sinha, NIH Summer Student, 2021
• FAES – BIOL262 Research Tools for Studying Diseases, Teaching Assistant, 2018
• FAES – BIOF309 Introduction to Python Teaching Assistant, 2017-2019

Selected Publications

• Chambers, M. J., Scobell, S. B., & Sadhu, M. J. (2024). Systematic genetic characterization of the human PKR kinase domain highlights its functional malleability to escape a viral substrate mimic. bioRxiv, 2024-05.
• Weller, C. A., Andreev, I., Chambers, M. J., Park, M., Bloom, J. S., Sadhu, M. J., … & NISC Comparative Sequencing Program. (2023). Highly complete long-read genomes reveal pangenomic variation underlying yeast phenotypic diversity. Genome Research, 33(5), 729-740.
• Andrews, S. F., Chambers, M. J., Schramm, C. A., Plyler, J., Raab, J. E., Kanekiyo, M., … & McDermott, A. B. (2019). Activation dynamics and immunoglobulin evolution of pre-existing and newly generated human memory B cell responses to influenza hemagglutinin. Immunity, 51(2), 398-410.
• Andrews, S. F., Joyce, M. G., Chambers, M. J., Gillespie, R. A., Kanekiyo, M., Leung, K., … & McDermott, A. B. (2017). Preferential induction of cross-group influenza A hemagglutinin stem–specific memory B cells after H7N9 immunization in humans. Science immunology, 2(13), eaan2676.