Morgan Farrell, M.S.
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Doctoral Student
Department of Biology
SDSU / UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Cell and Molecular Biology
Cell and Molecular Biology
SDSU / UC San Diego
Primary Email: [email protected]
Building/Location
Life Science North - 401
5500 Campanile Dr
San Diego,
CA
92182
Mail Code: 4614
Website Links
Bio
My research focuses on how bacteria influence marine animal health and development with the objective of driving biotechnological innovations. I utilize microbiology, genetics, and immunology to understand how bacteria can stimulate major animal life stage transitions, such as metamorphosis. From this research, I have developed applications in environmental restoration, food production, and pest management.
Education
M.S. in Interdisciplinary Marine and Estuarine Ecology
San Francisco State University, San Francisco
B.S in Wildlife Ecology
University of Florida, Gainesville
Areas of Specialization
Marine Science, Microbiology, Genetics, Biotechnology
Fun Facts
Mentors
Awards & Honors
Achievement Award for College Scientists (ARCS), 2024
Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award Department of Biology, 2023
Provost’s Award for SDSU Student Symposium, 2024
Grants
Rees-Stealy Research Foundation Fellowship, 2024
University Graduate Fellowship, 2023-2025
Presentations
Farrell, M. V.; Nesbit K. N.; Cavalcanti, G. S.; Shikuma, N. J. Utilizing CRISPRi Interrogation of Host-Microbe Interactions to Identify Stimulants of Animal Development. Microbiology Symposium Scripps Research, San Diego, CA. May 2023.
Farrell, MV, Nesbit KN, Cavalcanti, GS, Shikuma, NJ. “Alphaproteobacteria lipopolysaccharide stimulates animal development.” S3 Student Research Symposium, San Diego State University, California, 2024
Publications
Farrell, M. V.; Airkin, M. Y.; Ali, T. N.; Altoblani, Z. S.; Bowman, C. R.; Diaz, A. A. B.; Faurot, P. F.; Frausto, J. E.; Haji, S. F.; Hamad, B. A.; Lively, J. B.; Luistro, D. C. C.; Macias, Y.; Mathew, S.; McKinley, K. M.; Nasirimoseloo, S.; Tran, B. P.; Trinh, A. N.; Shikuma, N. J. Draft Genome Sequence of Exiguobacterium Sp. Strain MMG028 Isolated from a Salt Marsh. Microbiology Resource Announcements 2024, 0 (0), e00116-23. https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.00116-23.
Alker, A. T.; Farrell, M. V.; Demko, A. M.; Purdy, T. N.; Adak, S.; Moore, B. S.; Sneed, J. M.; Paul, V. J.; Shikuma, N. J. Linking Bacterial Tetrabromopyrrole Biosynthesis to Coral Metamorphosis. ISME Commun 2023, 3 (1), 98. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43705-023-00309-6.
Alker, A. T.; Farrell, M. V.; Aspiras, A. E.; Dunbar, T. L.; Fedoriouk, A.; Jones, J. E.; Mikhail, S. R.; Salcedo, G. Y.; Moore, B. S.; Shikuma, N. J. A Modular Plasmid Toolkit Applied in Marine Bacteria Reveals Functional Insights during Bacteria-Stimulated Metamorphosis. mBio 2023, 0 (0), e01502-23. https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.01502-23.
Service
Undergraduate Student Mentor
Women in Science Mentor
Other Details
Patents & Copyrights:
Farrell, M.V. and Shikuma, N.J. Methods and Applications For Using Bacteria to Stimulate Animal Settlement for Restoration, Aquaculture and Biotechnology. Serial No. 63/653,090
Farrell, M.V., Darin, E., and Shikuma, N.J. Genetically Engineered Marine Bacteria for Biomaterial Production, Use in Aquaculture and Marine Environmental Restoration and Methods for Making and Using Them. Serial No. 63/687,110.