Curriculum Vitae

Assistant Professor

Biology teacher and research group leader in the Department of Biological Sciences, specializing in Molecular and Cellular Biology.

Full-Time Lecturer

Professional Development Manager

Led institute education and training initiatives, creating high-impact, tailored learning opportunities for 700+ trainees including graduate students, postdocs, and undergraduate interns. Served as faculty for two graduate-level courses and owner of education program design, administration, and evaluation.

• Directed grant writing, administration, outreach, budgeting, curriculum design, and outcomes tracking for an NSF-funded undergraduate research fellows program.
• Created and implemented training on DEI; student evaluations and outcomes led to formal integration into research ethics training.
• Instructed Effective Career Planning for PhDs, recognized as a national model for graduate education.
• Developed and facilitated 50+ career and professional development trainings annually, including scientific skill development, leadership, inclusive mentorship, and science communication.
• Provided 100+ one-on-one career advising meetings for trainees annually.
• Designed and implemented 10+ education and training initiatives, including a new Alumni Mentorship Program.
• Planned large-scale in-person and virtual events with 300+ attendees, including seminars with Nobel Laureates, multiday conferences, and multi-institute training symposiums.
• Integrated a marketing and communications platform with analytics to drive marketing strategy, readership, and engagement.

Genetics Education and Engagement Fellow

Recipient of a fellowship co-sponsored by the National Human Genome Research Institute and the American Society of Human Genetics to develop genetics and genomics education, community engagement, and professional development initiatives.

• Collaborated with the Department of Defense to create an international high school classroom exchange program with Title I schools in Washington, DC and Santiago, Chile.
• Partnered with the National Science Teaching Association and Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History as a scientific advisor for Genome: Unlocking Life's Code education modules.
• Developed a national social media marketing campaign for DNA Day and led outreach at targeted high schools.
• Performed a foundational needs assessment for DEI trainings for genomics researchers.

Education

University of California San Diego, Ph.D. in Biology

Thesis Advisor: Amy Pasquinelli, Ph.D. Thesis: "The Role of the microRNA Pathway During Recovery After Heat Shock in C. elegans."

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, B.S. in Biology, Minor in Biotechnology

Research Advisor: Ed Himelblau, Ph.D. Undergraduate Research Project: "The Role of DNA methylation in the expression of triplicate genes in Brassica rapa."

Teaching Experience

• Cal Poly San Luis Obispo: Graduate Cell & Molecular Biology (BIO 5501), Molecular Biology (BIO 475), Principles of Genetics (BIO 351), Intro to Cell & Molecular Biology (BIO 161), Microbiology Lab (MCRO 221).
• Scripps Research: Ethics in Science, Effective Career Planning for PhDs.
• University of California San Diego: The Cell (BILD 1), Introduction to College Teaching (Senior TA, BISP 195), Recombinant DNA Techniques (TA, BIMM 101), Molecular Biology (TA, BIMM 100).
• Upward Bound: High School Biology Summer Course.

Mentorship Experience

Over 10 years of mentorship experience supporting underrepresented students in STEM through local programs and in academic and professional settings.

• Conceived and implemented the Alumni Mentorship Program at Scripps Research and presented it as a model initiative at a national conference.
• Developed Women's Organization for Research Mentorship in STEM, a San Diego-wide initiative that grew to 500+ members.
• Recognized expert in mentorship training with experience leading trainings for diverse audiences, including faculty and academic leaders.
• Mentored students through Reality Changers, Pasquinelli Lab, Biology Undergraduate and Master's Mentorship Program, rotation student mentorship, and GradAMP.

Service and Outreach Experience

Demonstrated leader in STEM engagement initiatives with over 10 years of experience serving on committees, advisory boards, and communicating science with the community.

• Leadership and advising: San Diego Diverse Perspectives in STEM Seminar Organizing Committee, Scripps Research Network for Women in Science Advisory Board, Diversity Action Committee, Scripps Research Alumni and Friends Committee, Advisor to Society of Fellows, Student Professional Skills Development Committee.
• Volunteerism: Expanding Your Horizons volunteer educator for middle and high school girls, Science Advocate at Fleet Science Center, Two Scientists in a Bar, and Sprout Up.

Awards

• Genetics Education and Community Engagement Fellowship (2021-2022).
• Outstanding Graduate Alumni, UCSD (2021).
• Summer Graduate Teaching Scholarship, UCSD (2020).
• Ray Thomas Edward Foundation Excellence in Graduate Research, UCSD (2019).
• Outstanding Poster Award, C. elegans Topics Meeting, Madison, WI (2018).
• Excellence in Teaching Award, UCSD (2018).
• Cellular and Molecular Genetics T32 Trainee, UCSD (2018-2019).

Professional Development

Foundations in Leadership, College Course Design, Introduction to College Teaching, Train-the-Trainer Research Ethics Program, Safe Zone Certification in LGBTQIA+ Allyship, Supporting Students in Distress, DEI Through an Academic Systems Lens, Advancing Inclusive Mentorship, and Communicating Your Research.

Selected Seminars

• Dann DC, Dillon HA. "The Torrey Pines Training Consortium: A Model for Inter-Organization Collaboration." Graduate Career Consortium Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA. June 2024.
• Dann DC. "Academic Job Search 101." Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA. August 2022, August 2023, August 2024.
• Dann DC. "Applying for Industry Positions." Scripps Research, Jupiter, FL and La Jolla, CA. 2022-2023.
• Dann DC. "Career Exploration for Scientists." Scripps Research, Jupiter, FL. December 2023, July 2024.
• Dann DC. "Ace the Interview." Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA. 2022-2023.
• Dann DC, Tacliad LD. "Building Bridges: Leveraging Alumni Networks to Build Inclusive Mentorship Programs." Graduate Career Consortium Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN. June 2023.
• Pagliuso DC, Bodas DM, Pasquinelli AE. "Recovery from Heat Shock Requires the microRNA Pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans." UC San Diego PiBS Symposium on Stress: From Cells to Society. April 2021.
• Pagliuso DC, Pasquinelli AE. "Small but Mighty: How microRNAs Bring the Heat to the Heat Shock Response." San Diego Worm Club and UC San Diego Cellular and Molecular Genetics Training Grant Colloquium. 2019.

Podcast appearance: Diverse Routes: Career Journeys in Science and Medicine.