Education

Master of Science · Cellular, Molecular, & Microbial Biology
Specialized in microbial ecology and evolution
University of Montana · 2017–2022

Bachelor of Science · Biology, Cum Laude
Specialized in cellular, molecular, and genetic biology
Coastal Carolina University · 2012–2017

Bachelor of Science · Marine Science, Cum Laude
Coastal Carolina University · 2012–2017

Teaching Experience

Graduate TA, BIOB-272 Genetics & Evolution
Professor: Doug Emlen, PhD
University of Montana · 2018, 2022

Graduate TA, BIOB-260 Cellular & Molecular Biology
Professors: Mark Grimes, PhD and Scott Samuels, PhD
University of Montana · 2017, 2021

Department of Biology Student Tutor
Supervisor: Michael M Pierce, PhD
Coastal Carolina University · 2014–2017

Projects

Exploring cellular growth laws with Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
PI: Jim Elser, PhD
University of Montana, Flathead Lake Biological Station · 2022–curr.

Conducted controlled evolution experiments using the model alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Culture lines were grown in chemostats under different nutrient limitations; genomic, transcriptomic, and physiological parameters were measured periodically.

Investigating thermal adaptation of Synechococcus A/B
PI: Scott R Miller, PhD
University of Montana · 2017–2022

Generated 60+ thermophilic, unialgal strains isolated from geothermal hot springs. Employed a variety of phylogenetic, genomic, and physiological approaches to understand thermal adaptation in the most thermotolerant phototrophs on Earth.

Transcriptomic characterization of mealybug endosymbionts
PI: John P McCutcheon, PhD
University of Montana · 2018

Collected bacteriomes from the mealybug species Planococcus citri and Pseudococcus longispinus with dissection microscopy. Prepared transcriptomic libraries of these bacteriomes for downstream analysis of gene expression.

Designing a functional assay of the plastid protein MatK
PI: Michelle M Barthet, PhD
Coastal Carolina University · 2013–2017

Generated cloning constructs for each of the putative splicing targets of the chloroplast maturase MatK from Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa gDNA. Helped conceptualize an in vitro assay to demonstrate, for the first time, MatK enzymatic activity.

Publications

Pierpont CL, Broddrick JT, and Miller SR. (in prep). Leveraging constraint-based metabolic modelling to investigate the principles of thermal adaptation during diversification of Synechoccocus A/B cyanobacteria.

Pierpont CL. An integrative investigation of the Synechococcus A/B clade during adaptive radiation at the upper thermal limit of phototrophy. 2022. Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, and Professional Papers, 12009.

Pierpont CL, Ohkubo S, Miyashita H, and Miller SR. 2022. Draft genome sequence of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain Nb3U1. Microbiology Resource Announcements, 11(5).

Barthet MM, Pierpont CL, and Tavernier E. 2020. Unraveling the role of the enigmatic MatK maturase in chloroplast group IIA excision. Plant Direct, 4(3).

Specialized Skills

Environmental sample collection of microbes · Bacterial strain isolation and culturing · Husbandry of thermophilic and photosynthetic organism collections · Light microscopy · Spectrophotometry and spectrofluorometry, including PAM fluorometry · Clark-type oxygen microsensor profiling · PCR · rRNA screening · Molecular cloning · Preparation of Illumina sequencing libraries · De novo genome assembly from Illumina and Nanopore sequences · Functional genome annotation · Phylogenetic reconstruction and related analyses · Comparative genomics · Linux BASH scripting and related practical computing · Experienced with the Microsoft Office suite, and Adobe-like graphics manipulation software

Professional Experience

Research Laboratory Manager
Supervisor: R. Frank Rosenzweig
University of Montana · 2022–curr.

Established and then managed a brand new lab space for the Rosenzweig Lab ahead of its move from Georgia to Montana. Responsibilities included management of chemical inventory and EHS compliance, maintenance of lab equipment, and ordering of supplies,

Marine Science Assistant Lab Manager
Supervisor: Walter Showers Jr.
Coastal Carolina University · 2013–2017

Part of a team that prepared lower- and upper-division marine science laboratory classes, including marine biology, chemistry, and geology. Responsibilities included maintenance of department research labs, aquaria, stockrooms, and preserved specimens.

Biology Laboratory Assistant
Supervisor: Suzanne S Senchak
Coastal Carolina University · 2017

Aided in the preparation of introductory-level biology laboratory classes for a summer session, which largely included simple assays and activities designed to highlight the properties of life and matter.