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Alex Rajewski
A bioinformatician working in human cancer genetics but with training also in plant genetics and evolution. I am an excellent science communicator to both public and professional audiences.
Education
PhD Plant Biology
University of California
Riverside, CA
Dec 2020 - 2015
MS Horticulture
University of Georgia
Athens, GA
2015 - 2013
- Thesis: Micropropagation and Evaluation of the Genetic Population Structure of River Cane (Arundinaria giganta)
BS Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology
Drake University
Des Moines, IA
2010 - 2006
Work Experience
Research Bioinformatician II
Cedars-Sinai Hospital
Los Angeles, CA
current - 2021
- Applied Genomics, Computation, & Translational Core
Congress-Bundestag Fellow & Research Intern
Universität Rostock
Germany
2012 - 2011
- Developed plant transformation methods in lupine, pea, tobacco, and potato
- Investigate transgenic vaccine peptides
- Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals Fellow
- Achieved professional fluency in German
Research Assistant
Pioneer Hi-Bred (Corteva)
Johnston, IA
2011 - 2010
- Developed SQL database to integrate phenotypic and genotypic measurements
Research Intern
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC
Aug 2009 - May 2009
- Validated viral protein production in novel hosts
- NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program
I have developed diverse skils including NGS data analysis, phylogenetics, R, population genetics, and Git.
Teaching Experience
California’s Cornucopia (TA)
UCR Dept of Botany and Plant Science
Riverside, CA
2018
- Led discussion sections for 120 students
- Introductory, non-major course
Foundations of Plant Biology (TA)
UCR Dept of Botany and Plant Science
Riverside, CA
2016
- Designed and led lab sections for 80 students
- Broad, upper-division course
Peer-Reviewed Publications
I have two first-author publications and have also collaborated on two more.
Datura Genome Reveals Duplications of Psychoactive Alkaloid Biosynthetic Genes and High Mutation Rate Following Tissue Culture
BMC Genomics (in review)
Alex Rajewski, Derreck Carter-House, Jason Stajich, and Amy Litt
N/A
2020
in Vitro Plant Regeneration and Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated Transformation of Datura stramonium
Applications in Plant Science
Alex Rajewski, Kevan Elkins, Ashley Henry, Joyce Van Eck, and Amy Litt
N/A
2019
Evolution and Diversification of FRUITFULL Genes in Solanaceae
Frontiers in Plant Science
Dinusha Maheepala, Chris Emerling, Alex Rajewski, Jenna Macon, Maya Stahl, Natalia Pabón-Mora, and Amy Litt
N/A
2019
Classification and phylogenetic analyses of the Arabidopsis and tomato G-type lectin receptor kinases
BMC Genomics
Marcella A. Teixeira, Alex Rajewski, Jiangman He, Olenka G. Castaneda, Amy Litt, and Isgouhi Kaloshian
N/A
2018
Selected Outreach
Extension Master Gardener
Cooperative Extension
California, Iowa, Kansas, Georgia
current - 2010
Big Brother
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire
Riverside, CA
current - 2018
Community OUTreach Educator
LGBT Resource Center
University of California
2020 - 2016