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SAVANNAH YVONNE WILLIAMS
904 McMahan Avenue
Nashville, TN 37216
[email protected]
615.390.1551
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, Ecology, Marine Biology
EDUCATION
2011-Present
2002-2006
1998-2002
Master of Laboratory Investigation (MLI), Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN
Thesis Project: Antibody production and characterization for polyclonal antibodies against melanocortin 4 receptor.
B.S. Marine Biology, Alabama State University, Montgomery, Alabama
Cum Laude (Marine Science GPA 4.0)
Honors Diploma, Nashville School of the Arts, Nashville, Tennessee
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2008-Present
Research Assistant I-III, Dr. Roger D Cone’s lab, Chair of the Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
Designed and executed in vitro experiments aimed at identifying pharmacological effects of melanocortin receptors
specific positive allosteric modulators for treatment of melanocortin associated diseases.
Developed tractable compounds while collaborating with industrial partners including Elanco and GlaxoSmithKline.
Assisted in the day-to-day support and maintenance of laboratory affairs.
Primary manager of multiple industry sponsored drug discovery programs.
Directed and coordinated laboratory activities and semi-annual and annual lab inspections to insure lab compliance.
Directed laboratory operations with tasks such as scheduling, resource management, technical and compliance related
issue.
Directed and implemented improvements in systems, processes and procedures to increase efficiency, productivity and
quality in the laboratory.
2007-2008
Lab Technician
Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL
Conducted intensive seagrass bed surveys from the Chandeleur Islands, LA to St. Joe’s Bay, FL to quantify the
abundance of local juvenile lane and gray snappers and their potential contribution to adult stocks using trace metal and
stable isotope analysis.
Reconstructed historical data to study long-term ecological trends.
2007
Multicultural Students at Sea Together Participant
Hampton University, Hampton, VA
Completed a scientific research cruise of the Chesapeake Bay to explore marine science, policy, and heritage of
African Americans and Native American with an emphasis on studying oxygen depletion in the bottom waters of the
Chesapeake Bay.
2006
Marine Ecology Internship
Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL
Examined predation rates of the pinfish, Lagodon rhombodes, on grass shrimp, Palamonetes pugio, in different
seagrass densities.
2005
National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates
Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL
Studied the potential effects of anthropogenic nutrients draining into Mobile Bay on Ruppia maritima growth and
uptake.
2004-2006
Minority Access to Research Careers Program Scholar
Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL
- Used a plasmid containing the presumptive promoter region of the Pax1 gene to drive reporter gene expression for
study of the interactions between HoxA3 and Pax1 genes.
2003
Student Training Access to Research Techniques Program
Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL
- Constructed a plasmid containing the presumptive promoter region of the Pax1 gene.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE (CONTINUED)
2001
Durfee Foundation/Earthwatch Institute Student Challenge Awardee
Cuatro Ciénegas, Coahuila, México
- Examined morphological differences in cichlids, Herichthys minckleyi.
TEACHING
2009-2014
2009-2011
2009-2010
2006
Tennessee Aquatic Project and Development Group Inc., Education Coordinator
Nashville, TN
W.O. Smith Nashville Community Music School, Cello Instructor
National Association of Black Scuba Divers/Youth Educational Summit
Savannah, GA
Dauphin Island Sea Lab Graduate Teaching Assistantship
Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL
Classes: Coastal Geomorphology, Marine Biology, and Marine Invertebrates
WORK EXPERIENCE
2004
2003-2006
2000- 2002
Volunteer Lab Technician, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL
Resident Assistant, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL
Office Assistant, Rutherford, Demarco, & White Attorneys at Law, Nashville, TN
RELEVANT COURSEWORK
-
Cell Biology
Ecology
General Botany
Laboratory Theory
Marine Biology
Marine Botany
Marine Ecology
Marine Invertebrate
Microbiology
-
Modern Drug Discovery
Molecular Biology & Genetics
Molecular Endocrinology of Obesity
Organic Chemistry
Physics
Population Biology & Evolution
Receptor Theory and Enzyme Kinetics
Statistical Methods in Biology
CERTIFICATIONS/ SOFTWARE
-
DS Gene
Element Show
Endnote
Finch TV
Graphpad Prism
Image J
JMP Statistical Discovery Software
-
Labcyte Echo Software
Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel
Minitab
OpenOffice
PADI SCUBA Certification (2001)
Sigma Plot
AWARDS/FELLOWSHIPS/SCHOLARSHIPS
2010
2010
2007, 2008
2006
2005
2005
2004-2006
2004
2002-2006
2002-2006
2002-2006
2002-2003
2002-2003
2002
2001
Vanderbilt University Medical Center Recognition Award for extraordinary efforts pertaining to the drug discovery
program in the Cone Lab in collaboration with the High Throughput Screening Core
Savannah Williams: Marine biologist, molecular scientist, accomplished cellist and more. Vanderbilt University Medical
Center’s House Organ Magazine, April 2010.
Hampton University/American Society of Limnology and Oceanography/ National Science Foundation Multicultural
Program Participant
American Society of Plant Biologist Recognition Travel Award
National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduate at University of Delaware (Declined)
Alabama State University Biological Research Department Student of the Year
National Institute of General Medical Sciences/ Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology/ Minority
Access to Research Careers Program Scholar
Dauphin Island Sea Lab Student Fellowship
Alabama State University Dean’s List/Academic Excellence in Biological Sciences
Alabama State University Academic Scholarship
Organized Neighbors of Edgehill/Barnes Scholarship
JW Walker Ministries Millennium Scholars Scholarship
Rotary Club of Nashville Scholarship
Nashville School of the Arts Community Service Scholarship
Durfee Foundation/Earthwatch Institute Student Challenge Award
ORAL/POSTER PRESENTATIONS
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
“Nursery origins of adult gag grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis), gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus), and lane snapper (Lutjanus
campechanus) from the northern Gulf of Mexico: onshore-offshore connectivity of reef fishes and contribution of seagrass meadows
to fishery production” (Poster) American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Oceans Science Meeting, Orlando, FL
“Effects of Nutrient Inputs from Mobile Bay on Ruppia maritima in Coastal Alabama” (Poster) American Society of Limnology and
Oceanography Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Santa Fe, NM
“Effects of Nutrient Inputs from Mobile Bay on Ruppia maritima in Coastal Alabama” American Society of Plant Biologist/
Canadian Society of Plant Physiologists- Boston, MA (Poster)
“A Field Study of the Effects of Increasing Human Populations on Coastal Wetlands” (Oral) College of Arts and Science Research
and Creative Activity Symposium Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL
“A Field Study of the Effects of Increasing Human Populations on Coastal Wetlands” (Poster) Annual Biomedical Research
Conference for Minority Students, Dallas, TX
“Plasmid Preparations for Expression Analysis of pNotB Plasmid” (Poster) College of Arts and Science 2003 Research and Creative
Activity Symposium, Alabama State University- Montgomery, AL
PUBLICATIONS
Renquist, B.J., Zhang, C., Williams, S.Y., Cone, R.D. Zebrafish. "Development of an Assay for High-Throughput Energy Expenditure
Monitoring in the Zebrafish" Zebrafish. In press.
Pantel J, Williams S, Mi D, Sebag J, Corbin J, Weaver D, Cone R A high throughput screen for allosteric modulators of the melanocortin-4
receptor signaling using a real time cAMP assay. Eur J Pharmacol, 660(1), 139-47, 2011.
Mattila J, Heck KL Jr., Millstein E, Miller E, Gustafsson C, Williams S, and D Byron (2008) Increased habitat structure may not always
provide increased refuge from predation. Marine Ecology Progress Series. Vol. 361: 15–20, 2008
ABSTRACTS
2013
2013
2013
2012
2010
2009
2008
“Allosteric potentiation of MC4R signaling through inhibition of receptor desensitization” Academic Drug Discovery Conference,
Nashville, TN
“Identification of Mode–Specific MC4R Allosteric Modulators” Academic Drug Discovery Conference, Nashville, TN
“The Central Melanocortin System: 20 Years On”, Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior, New Orleans, LA
“Characterization and Development of Therapeutics for Syndromic Obesity”, Kyoto, Japan
“Assays for Development and Function of Energy Homeostatic Circuits in the Zebrafish”, Keystone Symposia,
Keystone, Colorado
“A High-Throughput Screen for Allosteric Modulators of the MC4-R” Keystone Symposia, Keystone, Colorado
“Scientific merit of the Alabama Deep-Sea Fishing Rodeo demonstrated by long-term ecological trends” Mobile Jaycees, Mobile,
AL
OUTREACH/ VOLUNTEER SERVICE
2013- Present
2009-2010
2009
2008-present
2007- 2008
2007
2006
2006
2005, 2006
2005
Organized Neighbors of Edgehill/Barnes Scholarship, Board Member
National Association of Black Scuba Divers/Youth Educational Summit Curriculum
Committee
Invited speaker for Breaking the Color Barrier in the Great American Outdoors Conference
Tennessee Aquatic Project and Development Group Inc., Board Member and Education Coordinator
Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s “Discovery Day”
Dauphin Island Sea lab’s “Touch Lab”- Bayfest, Mobile, Alabama
Spokesperson for Alabama State University’s “Outstanding Student” Advertising Campaign
Student Representative on the 63rd Joint Annual Meeting of the National Institute of Science and Beta Kappa Chi Scientific
Honor Society Planning Committee
Invited speaker for Alabama State University’s Connection Day for College of Arts and Sciences
Science’s Minority Science Network Campus Representative for Alabama State University
MEMBERSHIPS
2013- Present
2007-2008
2006-2007
2003- 2006
1999- Present
Academic Drug Discovery Consortium
American Society of Limnology and Oceanography
American Society of Plant Biologist
Beta Kappa Chi, Scientific Honor Society
National Association of Black SCUBA Divers
REFERENCES:
Dr. Kenneth L Heck, Jr.
Senior Marine Scientist III
Dauphin Island Sea Lab
101 Bienville Boulevard
Dauphin Island, AL 36528
Tel #: 251 861 7533
Fax #: 251 861 4646
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Audrey Napier
Associate Prof. of Biology
Alabama State University
212 A Science Building
915 S. Jackson St.
Montgomery, AL 36101
Tel #: 334 229 4459
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Roger D Cone
Chair of the Department of Molecular
Physiology & Biophysics
2213 Garland Avenue
MRBIV, 8425
Nashville, TN 37232
Tel#: 615-936-7085 Email:
[email protected]