Curriculum Vitae

Chemist | Experimentalist
Email: dustyrosemiller@gmail.com
Curriculum Vitae (pdf)
References (pdf)

Qualifications summary

Administrative expertise: presence, vision, communication, respect, results

Technical expertise: Cell culture, chromatography, spectroscopy, electrochemistry, microscopy

Computer expertise: Mac, Windows, Zoom, Illustrator, Photoshop, Origin Lab, LaTeX

Education

Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry2010–2015
University of California, Santa Barbara
Principal investigator: J. Herbert Waite
Committee members: Jacob Israelachvili and Alison Butler

Bachelor of Science in Immunology and Microbiology2004–2008
University of California, Irvine
Magna cum laude

Research experience

Assistant Research Professor2020–current
Vanderbilt University
Chemistry Department
Principal investigator: Professor David E. Cliffel
Research Focus: Chemical composition of psilocybin-containing mushrooms
Intellectual neighborhoods: Health and medicine, natural products, psychedelics, policy

Postdoctoral Research Scholar2016–2020
Vanderbilt University
Chemistry Department
Principal investigator: Professor David E. Cliffel
Research Focus: The effect of pesticides on the brain.
Intellectual neighborhoods: Electrochemistry, neurology, toxicology, microfluidics

Graduate Student Researcher2010–2015
University of California, Santa Barbara
Biomolecular Science and Engineering Program
Principal investigator: Professor J. Herbert Waite
Research focus: Underwater adhesives, load-bearing structures, redox, friction
Intellectual neighborhoods: Biochemistry, biophysics, nano science and engineering

Undergraduate Student Researcher2006–2008
University of California, Irvine
Department of Biological Sciences
Principal investigator: Professor Andrea Tenner
Research focus: Innate immunity, atherosclerosis
Intellectual neighborhoods: Regenerative medicine, surgery and engineering, nano science and engineering

Publications

Dusty R. Miller, David K. Schaffer, M. Diana Neely, Ethan S. McClain, Adam R. Travis, Frank E. Block, Jennifer R. McKenzie, Eric M. Werner, Laura Armstrong, Aaron B. Bowman, Kevin C. Ess, David E. Cliffel, John P. Wikswo “A bistable, multiport valve enables microformulators creating microclinical analyzers that reveal aberrant glutamate metabolism in astrocytes derived from a patient with tuberous sclerosis” Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical. Vol 341. August 15th 2021.

Dusty R. Miller, Ethan S. McClain, Jacquelyn A. Brown, James N. Dodds, Andrzej Balinski, Jody C. May, John P. Wikswo, John A. McLean, David E. Cliffel “Chlorpyrifos Disrupts Acetylcholine Metabolism Across Model Blood-Brain Barrier” In preparation for submission to Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. Estimated submission date: June 2020.

Sara L. Melow, Dusty R. Miller, Evan Gizzie, David E. Cliffel “A low-interference, high-resolution osmium biosensor” In review in Analytical Methods as of March 2020.

Ethan S. McClain, Dusty R. Miller, David E. Cliffel “Electrochemical Acetylcholine Detection in the Presence of Chlorpyrifos ” Journal of the Electrochemical Society. 2019 vol: 166 (16) pp: G178-G181. DOI:10.1149/2.0711916jes\\ (pdf)

Dusty R. Miller, Ethan S. McClain, David E. Cliffel, “Electrochemical Microphysiometry Detects Cellular Glutamate Uptake” Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Vol. 165, Issue 12, August 9th 2018, DOI:10.1149/2.0201812jes (pdf)

Anna Nix Davis, Adam R. Travis, Dusty R. Miller, David Cliffel, “Multianalyte Physiological Microanalytical Devices” Annual Review of Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 10, July 2017, DOI:10.1146/annurevanchem-061516-045334 (pdf)

Tim J. Lynch, B. Joy Erickson, Dusty R. Miller, Ruth R. Finkelstein, “ABI5-binding proteins (AFPs) alter transcription of ABA-induced genes via a variety of interactions with chromatin modifiers” Plant Molecular Biology, December 9th, 2016, doi:10.1007/s11103-016-0569-1 (pdf)

Dusty R. Miller, Jamie S. Spahn and J. Herbert Waite, “The staying power of adhesion-associated antioxidant activity in Mytilus californianus” The Royal Society Interface, Volume 12, Issue 111, October 14, 2015, DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2015.0614 (pdf)

Dusty R. Miller, Saurabh Das, Kuo-Ying Huang, Songi Han, Jacob N. Israelachvili and J. Herbert Waite. “Mussel coating protein-derived complex coacervates mitigate frictional surface damage” ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering, Volume 1, Issue 11, Pages 1121-1128, October 8, 2015, DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.5b00252 (pdf)

Saurabh Das, Dusty R. Miller, Yair Kaufman, Nadine R. Martinez Rodriguez, Alessia Pallaoro, Matthew J. Harrington, Maryte Gylys, Jacob N. Israelachvili and J. Herbert Waite. “Tough coating proteins: Subtle sequence variation modulates cohesion”, Biomacromolecules, Volume 16, Issue 3, Pages 1002-1008, March 9, 2015, DOI: 10.1021/bm501893y (pdf)

Dr. Yasar Akdogan, Dr. Wei Wei, Dr. Kuo-Ying Huang, Dr. Yoshiyuki Kageyama, Eric W. Danner, Dusty R. Miller, Nadine R. Martinez-Rodriguez, J. Herbert Waite and Songi Han. “Intrinsic surface-drying properties of bioadhesive proteins” Angewandte Chemie, Volume 126, Issue 42, Pages 11435–11438, October 13, 2014, DOI: 10.1002/anie.201406858 (pdf)

Dominic E. Fullenkamp, Devin G. Barrett, Dusty R. Miller, Josh W. Kurutz and Phillip B. Messersmith. “pH-dependent cross-linking of catechols through oxidation via Fe³⁺ and potential implications for mussel adhesion” Royal Society of Chemistry Advances, Volume 4, Issue 48, Pages 25127-25134, May 28, 2014, DOI: 10.1039/C4RA03178D (pdf)
Jing Yu, Yajing Kan, Michael Rapp, Eric Danner, Wei Wei, Saurabh Das, Dusty R. Miller, Yunfei Chen, J. Herbert Waite and Jacob N. Israelachvili. “Adaptive hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions of mussel foot proteins with organic thin films” Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 110, Number 39, Pages 15680-15685, September 24, 2013, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1315015110 (pdf)

Oral Presentations
- Organotypic culture models for predictive Toxicology. International Society of Electrochemistry Conference, Bologna Italy, Sept 4th, 2018
- Neurovascular response to chlorpyrifos for predictive toxicology. Chemistry Forum, Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN, April 10th, 2018
- Adhesion beyond the interface: molecular adaptations of the mussel byssus to the intertidal zone. American Chemical Society Central Ohio Valley section, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, November 2016
- Complex coacervates: potential role in damage mitigation of the mussel byssus. Chemical Society Student Seminar, University of California, Santa Barbara, November 2014
- Mussel protein and hyaluronic acid coacervate achieve concentrated delivery and provide wear protection to surfaces. 5^th International Conference on the Mechanics of Biomaterials and Tissues, Sitges, Spain, December 2013

Posters

Organotypic culture models for predictive toxicology. International Society of Electrochemistry Conference, Providence RI, Sept 2017
Hyaluronic acid and mussel foot protein coacervate achieve concentrated delivery, wear protection, and lubrication to surfaces. Science of Adhesion Gordon Conference, Mount Holyoke College, MA, July 2013

Hyaluronic acid and mussel foot protein coacervates provide boundary lubrication and enhanced wear protection to surfaces. Materials Research Outreach Symposium, Santa Barbara, CA, February 2013

Fellowships, Scholarships, and Awards

NIH T32ES007028 training grant in Environmental Toxicology 2017–2018

Academic Senate Doctoral Student Travel Grant 2013

Amgen Outstanding Doctoral Student Award 2010

Teaching Experience

Teaching assistant, Biophysical Chemistry2010–2015
University of California, Santa Barbara
Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
Tasks: Lead 20 students in discussion section, 2 sections a week and grade.
Professor: J. Herbert Waite

Teaching assistant, Biophysical Chemistry2011
University of California, Santa Barbara
Department of Chemistry
Tasks: Lead and grade 20 students a laboratory session, 4 labs a week. Proctor and grade for the laboratory lecture (200 students) and two organic chemistry lecture sections (200 students).
Professor: Justin Russak

Organic chemistry tutor, Learning and Academic Resource Center2006–2008
University of California, Irvine
Department of Chemistry
Tasks: Lead discussion groups of 8-10 students 6 times a week.

Mentoring Experience

Research mentor, Elisabeth Wood, Undergraduate Student Researcher2022-current
Vanderbilt University
Department of Chemistry

Research mentor, Pragun Tuladhar, Graduate Student Researcher2020-current
Vanderbilt University
Department of Chemistry

Research mentor, Kaixuan Xu (Kysha), Graduate Student Researcher2020-current
Vanderbilt University
Department of Chemistry

Research mentor, Sara L. Melow, Graduate Student Researcher2017-2021
Vanderbilt University
Department of Chemistry

Research mentor, Ethan McClain, Graduate Student Researcher2017-2021
Vanderbilt University
Department of Chemistry

Research mentor, Elly Shin, Undergraduate Student Researcher2018
Vanderbilt University
Department of Chemistry

Research mentor, Jamie Spahn, Undergraduate Student Researcher2012–2015
University of California, Santa Barbara
College of Creative Studies

Internship mentor, Miriam Steinmann, Cooperative International Science and Engineering Internship2014
University of California, Santa Barbara
College of Creative Studies

Research mentor, Maryte Gylys, Undergraduate Student Researcher2011–2014
University of California, Santa Barbara
Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Program Mentor, Paige Smith, Research Internship in Science and Engineering (RISE)2012
University of California, Santa Barbara
Materials Research Laboratory

Program Mentor, Lauren Rehbein, California Nanosystems Institute, Apprentice Researchers (AR)2011
University of California, Santa Barbara
Center for Science and Engineering Partnerships (CSEP)

Languages

English: Native speaker
Spanish: Basic phrases and conversations