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Summary

Multi-skilled, task-oriented professional with successful experience managing multiple, concurrent projects with strong problem solving and follow-through capabilities.  Ability to clearly define project goals and effectively use resources to achieve them. Strengths include:

Laboratory Management Training and Mentorship Proteomics & Glycomics
illumina Sequencing minION Sequencing RNA Interference
Western Blotting RT-PCR Enzymatic Assays
Animal Handling Confocal Microscopy Technical Writing

Education

Ph.D. in Biological Sciences: Molecular Biology

20172022
The University of Southern Mississippi

Investigating the association between Amblyomma americanum and α-galactose in human red meat allergy. 

President - Student Veterans of America USM chapter

Bachelor of Science - Biological Sciences: Microbiology

20132014
The University of Southern Mississippi

2014 Mississippi IDeA Network of Biomedical Reseach Excellence Internship

Vocational Diploma

20022004
Ulster County BOCES

Cisco Computer Networking and A+ Computer Repair

Work Experience

Chief, Microbiologist

January 2019Current
US Army Public Health Command - Pacific

Environmental Molecular Biology Laboratory

Plan, conduct, oversee, and evaluate novel applications investigations for diagnosis of environmental diseases (e.g., arthropod-borne, water-borne). Serve as resident expert in protocol development utilizing modern methods of biotechnology, genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics. Oversee the work of the technical staff, serve as scientific liaison on collaborative and contract research, and assist in the direction of junior staff scientists and technicians.

Microbiologist

March 2020August 2020
Naval Health Research Center - Pacific Rim Surveillance Hub

Temporary Assigned Duty

Assigned as augmented laboratory scientist providing SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) molecular diagnostics at Naval Hospital Yokosuka for US Forces Japan.

Graduate Research Assistant

January 2015January 2019
The University of Southern Mississippi

Independent Researcher – 40+ hours per week

I regularly planned and designed research projects intended to answer important questions and to satisfy grant specific funding under the umbrella of vector biology, pathogen transmission and infection, and immune response. I established and maintained scientific collaborations with outside research institutions. I developed, adapted, and standardized protocols for various molecular experiments used for microbe identification, discovery of antigenic proteins, and the capture and identification of proteins and glycans of interest. I performed statistical analysis on data, generated figures, and interpreted significance of all results. I regularly disseminated data in a logical format for external audiences and regular laboratory meetings. I provided data and assisted in the writing and proofing of 6 grant proposals and 8 scientific manuscripts before submission or publication. I thoroughly trained, mentored, and evaluated 8 junior scientists in basic scientific and molecular techniques within the laboratory.


Laboratory Manager – 10+ hours per week

I ordered all chemicals and supplies required for the day-to-day operation of a biosafety 2 laboratory (BSL2). I managed an inventory of all antibodies, stains and dyes, primers, and biological samples including tissues and serum. I maintained the lab management plan and safety protocols, and acted as direct liaison for laboratory and safety inspections. I regularly conducted preventative maintenance, calibrated, and repaired laboratory equipment when possible to minimize external expenses and conserve laboratory resources. I organized weekly lab meetings and managed a schedule of research updates.

United States Navy

August 2006August 2011

Operated in various positions of increased responsibility and complexity at various worldwide locations.

Grants/Funding

GEIS Global Emerging Infections Surveillance Award #P0046_22_OT
Title: PHC-P INDO-PACIFIC Pre-exercise Vector-borne Disease Surveillance Program
Focus Area: Febrile and Vector-borne Infections (FVBI)
Amount: $210,000 Duration: OCT 2021 to SEP 2022 (Role: Principal Investigator)

GEIS Global Emerging Infections Surveillance Award #P0099_21_OT
Title: PHC-P Vector Surveillance Program
Focus Area: Febrile and Vector-borne Infections (FVBI)
Amount: $175,000 Duration: OCT 2020 to SEP 2021 (Role: CO-PI) (PI: John J. Eads)

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Award #2017-67017-26171
Title: CHARACTERIZING EMERGING TICK-INDUCED RED MEAT ALLERGY
Amount: $500,000 Duration: 01 JUN 2017 to 31 MAY 2021
(Role: Graduate Assistant) (PI: Shahid Karim)

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Award #2016-67030-24576
Title: ROLE OF TICK SPIT IN RED MEAT ALLERGY
Amount: $100,000 Duration: 15 DEC 2015 to 14 DEC 2017
(Role: Graduate Assistant) (PI: Shahid Karim)

Awards

US Army Public Health Command - Pacific - August 2021
Armed Forces Civilian Service Medal

US Army Public Health Command - Pacific  - October 2020
Department of the Army Achievement Medal for Civilian Service 

US Army Public Health Command - Pacific  - June 2020
Department of the Army Civilian Service Commendation Medal

US Army Public Health Command - Pacific  - June 2019
Certificate of Achievement

University of Southern Mississippi Military Honor Corps - May 2018
Outstanding Academic Performance Award

University of Southern Mississippi Department of Biological Sciences - May 2017
Outstanding Graduate Research Assistant Award

Mississippi Academy of Sciences - February 2016
Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology Division Graduate Oral  Presentation
Uncovering the Molecular Action of Tick Saliva in the Induction of alpha-Galactose Hypersensitivity in Red Meat Allergy - 2nd Place Award

University of Southern Mississippi Department of Biological Sciences - April 2015
Graduate Student Forum Poster Competition - 1st Place Award

Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting - Southeastern Branch - March 2015
Masters Poster Competition - 1st Place Award

Millsaps College - Howard Hughes Medical Institute Undergraduate Scholars Symposium - February 2015
The Investigation of Two Superoxide Dismutase Species in Oxidative Stress Damage and Microbial Community Homeostasis in Amblyomma maculatum - 1st Place Award

Mississippi Academy of Sciences - February 2015
Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology Division Undergraduate Poster Competition 
The Investigation of Two Superoxide Dismutase Species in Oxidative Stress Damage and Microbial Community Homeostasis in Amblyomma maculatum - 1st Place Award


Scholarships:
Phi Theta Kappa Junior College Achievement Scholarship - 2013 - 2014
Mississippi Recycling Coalition Scholarship - 2013
Mississippi Beverage Association Scholarship - 2013

Received numerous other awards for outstanding military, humanitarian, and community service

Publications

  1. Jin, L., Jiang, B., Yin, Y., Guo, J., Jiang, J., Qi, X., Crispell, G., Karim, S., Cao, W., & Lai, R. (2022) Interference with LTβR signaling by tick saliva facilitates transmission of Lyme disease spirochetes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(47), e2208274119.
    doi:10.1073/pnas.2208274119

  2. Crispell, G., Williams, K., Zielinski, E., Iwami, A., Homas, Z., & Thomas, K. (2022). Method Comparison for Japanese Encephalitis Virus Detection in Samples Collected from the Indo-Pacific Region. Frontiers in Public Health. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.1051754
     
  3. Sharma, S., Crispell, G., Mohamed, A., Cox, C., Lange, J., Choudhary, S., Commins, SP, Karim, S. (2021). Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Involvement of Amblyomma americanum α-D-galactosidase and α-1,4 Galactosyltransferase enzymes in α-gal metabolism. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. doi:10.3389/fcimb.2021.775371

  4. Choudhary SK, Karim S, Iweala OI, Choudhary S, Crispell G, Sharma SR, Addison CT, Kulis M, Herrin BH, Little SE, Commins SP. (2021). Tick salivary gland extract induces alpha-gal syndrome in alpha-gal deficient mice. Immunity, Inflammation and Disease. 2021 Sep;9(3):984-990. doi:10.1002/iid3.457

  5. McGhee LL, Yerramilli SV, Nadolny R, Casal C, Kearney BM, Taylor H, Popelka S, Moser MA, Crispell G, Wei H, Burke R, Tersch RV. (2021). Implementing Pool-Based Surveillance Testing for SARS-CoV-2 at the Army Public Health Center Laboratory and across the Army Public Health Laboratory Enterprise. Med J (Ft Sam Houst Tex). 2021 Jan-Mar;(PB 8-21-01/02/03):83-89.
    PMID: 33666917

  6. Crispell, G., Commins, S.P., Archer-Hartmann, S., Choudhary, S., Dharmajan, G., Azadi, P., and Karim, S. (2019). Discovery of alpha-gal-containing antigens in North American tick species believed to induce red meat allergy. Frontiers in Immunology. 10(1056). doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.01056

  7. Budachetri, K., Kumar, D., Crispell, G., Beck, C., Dasch, G., and Karim, S. (2018). The tick endosymbiont Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii and selenoproteins are essential for the growth of Rickettsia parkeri in the Gulf Coast tick vector. Microbiome. 6(141) doi:10.1186/s40168-018-0524-2

  8. Budachetri, K., Crispell, G., and Karim, S. (2017). Amblyomma maculatum SECIS binding protein 2 and putative selenoprotein P are indispensable for pathogen replication and tick fecundity. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 88. doi:10.1016/j.ibmb.2017.07.006
            
  9. Crispell, G., Budachetri, K., and Karim, S. (2016). Rickettsia parkeri colonization in Amblyomma maculatum: The role of superoxide dismutases. Parasites and Vectors, 9(1).
    doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1579-1

Full list of manuscripts available on Google Scholar.

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