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Education

June 2022 – University at Buffalo – PhD in Biology

December 2019 – University at Buffalo – Master of Science in Biology

December 2017 – University at Buffalo – Bachelor of Science in Biology

May 2014 – Daemen College – Bachelor of Science in Nursing

May 2013 – Trocaire College – Associate of Science in Nursing

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Research Experience

Broad Research Expertise: Genetics, Genomics, Signaling, Cell biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Evolution & Ecology, and Medicine.

2025 – Present – Assistant Editor – Wiley – Comprehensive Editorial Evaluation Team – I assess and manage manuscript submissions through the peer review process for Advanced Science and Molecular Ecology starting from submission to either publication or rejection.

2022-2025 – Postdoctoral Researcher – University at Buffalo – Department of Biological Sciences – Used Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology and bioinformatic analyses to generate de novo genome assemblies and make genomic comparisons to understand the molecular mechanisms of longevity and hybridization in long-lived fish.

Also studied variation in the regulation, activity, and genetics of conserved nutrient sensing pathways (a MAP-Kinase pathway and GPCR-PKA pathway) in fungi. I also studied the activation and function of fungal MAPK pathways in response to different stimuli, like the plant-cell-wall molecule pectin and the metabolic byproduct ethanol.

2018-2022  – Graduate Research Assistant – University at Buffalo –Department of Biological Sciences – The major focus of my dissertation was to use fungal genetics (i.e. yeast) to understand how exposing signaling pathways to different environments can expand our knowledge of signaling pathway function in regulating a phenotype. This multi-environment and molecular approach uncovered new and unexpected regulatory mechanisms that occur in environment-specific contexts. I also performed experiments as part of a project testing the role of the C. elegans Innexin, INX-20, in the regulation of nociceptive behavioral sensitivity.

2017 – Undergraduate Research Assistant – University at Buffalo – Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior – I worked on a project aimed to understand if principal component analysis (PCA) of sclerite morphology (by Elliptical Fourier Analysis) in octocorals can be used as a tool to distinguish three species of octocoral: Eunicea laxispica, Eunicea mammosa, and Eunicea succinea.

Trained Research Techniques

DNA/RNA Assays: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) | DNA Gel electrophoresis | Plasmid cloning | Site-directed mutagenesis | Primer design | DNA and RNA extraction | Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis | CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing | Nanodrop | RNAseq | Oxford Nanopore Long Read Sequencing |

Protein Assays: Protein concentration assays | Protein extraction | SDS-PAGE electrophoresis | Western blot analysis | Phosphoblot analysis | Yeast2Hybrid | ß-Galactosidase (lacZ) Assay | Pectinase enzyme assays |

Cellular Biology Assays: Microscopy (DIC, Fluorescence) | Spectrometer | Cell culture | Cell growth assays | High throughput robotics for genetic screening | Microbiology and pathogen handling | 

Computer Programs and Bioinformatics: Running bioinformatic pipelines from command line (e.g. genome sequencing, de novogenome assembly, and gene annotation) | ImageJ – cellular phenotypic quantification (e.g. cell adhesion) | Image Lab (e.g. blot quantitation) | CoGe | BLAST | DNA/protein sequence alignments | Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel |

Writing and Editing: Science Writing | Science Communication | Science Editing | Blog Writing and Editing | 

Research Publications (2020-2024)

Vandermeulen, MD, Khaiwal, S, Rubio, G, Liti, G, Cullen, PJ (2024) Gain- and Loss-of-Function Alleles within Signaling Pathways Lead to Phenotypic Diversity Among Individuals. iScience.

Vandermeulen, MD, Lorenz, M, Cullen, PJ (2024) Conserved Signaling Modules Regulate Filamentous Growth in Fungi: A Model for Eukaryotic Cell Differentiation. GENETICS.

Vandermeulen, MD and Cullen, PJ (2023) Ecological Inducers of the Yeast Filamentous Growth Pathway Reveal Environment-Dependent Roles for Pathway Components. mSphere. – Chosen as an Editor’s pick

González, B, Mirzaei, M, Basu, S, Pujari, AN, Vandermeulen, MD, Prabhakar, A, and Cullen, PJ (2023) Roles for PAK Turnover and PAK Bypass During Cdc42-Dependent MAPK Signaling in Yeast. Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Vijjamarri, AK, Niu, X, Vandermeulen, MD, Onu, C, Zhang, F, Qiu, H, Gupta, N, Gaikwad, S, Greenberg, ML,  Cullen, PJ,  Lin, Z, and Hinnebusch, AG (2023) Decapping factor Dcp2 controls mRNA abundance and translation to adjust metabolism and filamentation to nutrient availability. eLife.

Chaubey, AH,  Onukwufor, JO, Ezak, MJ, Vandermeulen, MD, Bowitch, A, Wojtovich, AP, and Ferkey, DM (2023) The Caenorhabditis elegans Innexin INX-20 Regulates Nociceptive Behavioral Sensitivity. GENETICS.

Vandermeulen MD, Cullen PJ (2022) Gene by Environment Interactions reveal new regulatory aspects of signaling network plasticity. PLoS Genetics 18(1): e1009988. – Recommended on Faculty Opinion

Vandermeulen, M.D. and Cullen, P. J. (2020) New Aspects of Invasive Growth Regulation Identified by Functional Profiling of MAPK Pathway Targets in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. GENETICS. – Highlighted in Genetics September 2020 Issue and recommended on Faculty Opinion

I have acted as a peer reviewer for manuscripts, including for the journal PLOS Genetics.

I have given more than ten public presentations on my research, with 4 resulting in awards.

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Teaching Experience

Teaching assistant at the University at Buffalo – supervised laboratory experiments, held office hours, wrote quizzes, lectured, and graded lab assignments for the following courses:

2018-2021       Biochemistry (BIO315 at the University at Buffalo) in Spring semesters. Curriculum for BIO315 included the application of the scientific method, multiple protein/DNA/RNA purification methods, SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and gel electrophoresis, PCR and RT-PCR, spectroscopy, and bioinformatics.

2018-2020       Evolutionary Biology (BIO200 at the University at Buffalo) in Fall semesters. Curriculum for BIO200 included the scientific method, phylogenetic tree analysis, principals of evolution, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, plant anatomy, invertebrate anatomy, ecology, and competition experiments.

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Registered Nurse

LICENSURE

2013-Present   New York State Licensed Registered Nurse

EXPERIENCE

2013-2018       Staff nurse (2 yrs) and nursing supervisor (3 yrs) at a subacute rehabilitation facility with LVAD and Telemetry (Elderwood)

Staff Nurse – Performed patient care and advocacy for up to 12-20 patients, including med administration and wound care treatments

Nursing Supervisor – Supervised single-handedly a 96-bed facility, including all patients and staff in building for a given shift

Trained Nursing Skills

Sterile Technique | Wound Care | Wound Vacs | Wound/Urine Cultures | Blood Draw | Medication Administration | IVs | Blood Transfusions | RN Supervision | LVAD Training | Telemetry Training | Rehabilitation | ALS and BLS Training | Long-term Care | Dementia Care | Medical/Surgical Floor Experience | Foleys | Chest Tubes | JP drains | PEG tubes | Pressure Sore/Skin Care | Electronic Medical Records |