POOJA PATEL

806 E Kingsley Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 • 404-386-5365 • poojaptl@umich.edu

EDUCATION
The University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
MPH in Global Health Epidemiology; Certificate in Health Informatics Expected May 2020

The University of Georgia Athens, GA

B.S. in Biology; Minors in Spanish and Global Health May 2016
· HOPE Scholarship Recipient, Dean’s List, Honors Program
· GPA: 3.53

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation Ann Arbor, MI
Research Assistant - Dr. Deb Levine Research Group October 2018-Present
· Conduct literature searches, preliminary data analysis, and scientific poster preparation
· Use SAS and Excel to manage pooled data from six longitudinal, cohort studies to examine
association between blood pressure control and cognition
· Contribute ideas regarding the design and implementation of two large mailed surveys

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Atlanta, GA

ORISE Fellow - National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID) September 2016-August 2018
· Contributed to the Advanced Molecular Detection initiative within the multidisciplinary PulseNet,
Reference, Outbreak, and Surveillance Team (PROST)
· Managed records and metadata for 500+ sequenced isolates for routine foodborne illness surveillance
· Developed diagnostic methods for improved detection and characterization of enteric pathogens
· Optimized workflows through development of lab protocols, laboratorian training, capacity building,
communication with state public health laboratories, and team presentations

UGA Department of Entomology Athens, GA

Research Assistant - Dr. Kerry Oliver Lab May 2014-July 2016
· Collected and analyzed data for three various microbial ecology research projects
· Maintained laboratory inventory, research specimen populations, and lab greenhouse
· Performed PCR assays, gel electrophoresis, nucleic acid extraction, and sequencing analysis
· Designed an independent research project examining the distributions and dynamics of defensive
symbionts, “Exploring coinfecting symbiont variation in pea aphids through the ptsI gene”

PRESENTATIONS
· “Development and Validation of a Multiplex Real-time Assay for Virulence Characterization of Shiga
Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli”. Poster presented at 10th International Symposium on VTEC
Infections, Florence, Italy, May 2018.

· “Development of an Improved Multiplex Real-Time PCR Assay for Virulence Characterization of

Shiga Toxin Producing Escherichia coli (STEC)”. Poster presented at Advanced Molecular Detection
Day, CDC, Atlanta, GA September 2017.
PUBLICATIONS
· Lindsey, R. L., Batra, D., Smith, P., Patel, P. N., Tagg, K. A., Garcia-Toledo, L., … & Rowe, L. A.
(2018). PacBio Genome Sequences of Escherichia Coli Serotype O157:H7, Diffusely Adherent E.
Coli, and Salmonella Enterica Strains, All Carrying Plasmids with an Mcr-1 Resistance Gene.
Microbiology Resource Announcements, 7(14), e01025-18.

· Patel, P. N., Lindsey, R. L., Garcia-Toledo, L., Rowe, L. A., Batra, D., Whitley, S. W., ... & Loparev,
V. N. (2018). High-Quality Whole-Genome Sequences for 77 Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli
Strains Generated with PacBio Sequencing. Genome announcements, 6(19), e00391-18.

LEADERSHIP & VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Women in Health Leadership Ann Arbor, MI
Service Committee Member September 2018-Present
· Coordinate 5 local service opportunities per semester for 50 general members of the organization
· Developed marketing tools for an annual menstrual product drive

Public Health Action Support Team Ann Arbor, MI

Member September 2018-Present
· Serve in local deployments to assist in various community-based public health projects

Rebecca’s Tent Atlanta, GA

Women’s Shelter Volunteer January 2017-August 2018
· Identified gaps in health services and connected women to appropriate resources in the community

Mobile Health at UGA Athens, GA

Co-founder October 2015-May 2016
· Established and led group of 30 people in a phone recycling program in order to disseminate health
information and services to pregnant women in Uganda

Office of International Education Athens, GA

Education Abroad Ambassador September 2014-May 2016
· Organized study abroad fairs and informational workshops to encourage students to go abroad
· Monitored progress and effectiveness of programs through surveying and data collection

Phi Sigma Pi National Honors Fraternity Athens, GA

Service Coordinator March 2013-May 2016
· Planned philanthropic events at local organizations including food banks, health clinics, and hospices
· Coordinated volunteer opportunities and served as point of contact for approximately 80 members

IMPACT UGA Athens, GA

Service Learning Project Participant March 2013 & December 2014
· Participated in week-long service efforts to address homelessness and poverty in Savannah & Chicago

SKILLS
Software: proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, Access Database, Geneious,
BioNumerics, SAS; basic knowledge of Linux Command Line, R, and Stata
Languages: Gujarati and Spanish