Rachel L. Markley, Ph.D.

Education                        

2011-2017                Ph.D. Immunology & Infectious Diseases (IID)

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

                        Advisor: Girish Kirimanjeswara

Thesis: “Restriction of intracellular replication of Francisella tularensis by selenoproteins”

2009-2010        MSc.  Biotechnology

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

                        Advisor: Loida Escote-Carlson

Thesis: “Proteomics Profiling of Chlamydia trachomatis serovar D Elementary Bodies”

2000-2004                B.S. Biology

Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA

Dual Major: Visual Arts

Minor: Philosophy

Thesis: “Allelopathic Effects of Helianthus annuus on Hordeum vulgare”          

Work Experience

2020 –Present        Postdoctoral Fellow, Cleveland Clinic, Lerner Research Institute  Cleveland OH

        Supervisor: Jan Claesen (2021-Present), Donna Driscoll (2020-2021)

2011 –2017        Graduate Assistant, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

        Supervisor: Girish Kirimanjeswara

2010 – 2011        Cooperative learning Experience, Merck & Co. (Vaccines Basic Research), West Point, PA

Supervisor: Eberhard Durr

2004 – 2008                Business Manager, Polymics Ltd., State College, PA

Supervisor: Tim Hsu

2002                        Research Assistant, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA

Supervisor: Steven James

Manuscripts

1. Goralski TD, Dewan KK, Alumasa JN, Avanzato V, Place DE, Markley RL, Katkere B, Rabadi SM, Bakshi CS, Keiler KC, and Kirimanjeswara GS. “Inhibitors of Ribosome Rescue Arrest Growth of Francisella tularensis at All Stages of Intracellular Replication.” Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy vol. 60,6 3276-82. 23 May. 2016, doi:10.1128/AAC.03089-15
2. Sumner S, Katkere B, Nicol M, Markley R, Shay A, Carlson B, Prabhu KS, and Kirimanjeswara GS. (2019). Selenoproteins Regulate Antigen Processing and Presentation in Antigen Presenting Cells (P24-024-19). Current Developments in Nutrition, 3(Suppl 1), nzz044.P24-024-19. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzz044.P24-024-19
3.  Sumner SE, Markley RL, and Kirimanjeswara GS. “Role of Selenoproteins in Bacterial Pathogenesis” Biological Trace Element Research vol. 92,1 69-82. Nov. 2019,

 doi: 10.1007/s12011-019-01877-2

4. Markley RL, Restori KH, Katkere B, Sumner SE, Nicol MJ, Tyryshkina A, Williamson DR, Place DL, Dewan KK, Shay AE, Carlson BA, Girirajan S, Prabhu KS, and Kirimanjeswara GS. “Macrophage selenoproteins restrict intracellular replication of Francisella tularensis” (manuscript has been submitted)
5. Williamson DR, Nicol MJ, Dewan KK, Katkere B, Markley RL, Wastella CM , Bolotsky A, Varadarajan SR, Ebrahimi S , Ning G , Mal T, Bakshi CS, and Kirimanjeswara GS. “Adaptation of Francisella tularensis to the mammalian cytoplasmic pH is critical for virulence.” (manuscript has been submitted)
6. Johnston I, Osborn LJ, Markley RL, McManus EA, Kadam A, Schultz KB, Nagajothi N, Ahern PP, Brown JM, and Claesen J. “Identification of essential genes for Escherichia coli aryl polyene biosynthesis and function in biofilm formation. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes. 2021 Jul 2;7(1):56. doi: 10.1038/s41522-021-00226-3.

Fellowships and Grants

• National Institutes of Health training grant T32AI074551 2013

• Graduate Fellowship, Huck Institute Life Sciences (IID) Aug 2011- Aug 2012

Awards

• The American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Travel Award 2017

• Huck Travel Award 2016

• Center for Molecular Immunology and Infectious Disease (CMIID) Travel Award 2016

• The American Society for Cell Biology Travel Award Nov 2016

• College of Agricultural Sciences Travel Grant May 2014

Presentations

“Restriction of intracellular replication of Francisella tularensis by selenoproteins” Presented May 14, 2017, AAI General Meeting, Washington DC

“Comprehensive Profiling of the Chlamydia trachomatis serovar D Proteome to Support Subunit Vaccine Target Discovery” Presented May 2011, Merck & Co., West Point, PA

Posters

• “Macrophage selenoproteins restrict intracellular replication of Francisella tularensis” Presented by Rachel Markley, ASCB General Meeting, San Francisco, CA, USA; Dec 3-7, 2016.
• “The Selenium Status of Macrophages Influences In Vitro Francisella Pathogenesis” Presented by Rachel Markley, ASM General Meeting, Boston, MA, USA; May17-20, 2014.  The Jackson Laboratory, 55th Annual Short Course on Medical and Experimental Mammalian Genetics, Bar Harbor, ME, USA; July 20 – Aug 2, 2014.  17th Annual Upstate New York Immunology Conference, Bolton Landing, NY, USA; Oct 19 – 21, 2014.
• “Modulation of Tularemia Pathogenesis through Selenium Supplementation” Presented by Rachel Markley, 16th Annual Upstate New York Immunology Conference, Bolton Landing, NY, USA; Oct 20 – 23, 2013.
• “The Role of Selenium in Autophagy: Implications for the Pathogenesis of Tularemia” Presented by Rachel Markley, 32nd Summer Symposium, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA; Jun 4 – 6, 2013.
• “Comparative Proteomic Profiling of two Chlamydia trachomatis serovar D Life Cycle Stages using Label Free Shotgun Proteomics” Presented by Eberhard Durr, 60th ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics, Vancouver, BC, Canada; May 20 - 24, 2012
• “Characterization of Chlamydia trachomatis serovar D (strain UW-3/Cx) elementary bodies by shotgun proteomics" Presented by Rachel Markley, Merck & Co., West Point, PA; Dec 2010

Mentoring:

• Kelsey Ouyang - The Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine Rotation Student

• Jennifer Curtis – Erickson Discovery Grant Program recipient

• Shafiq Yasuw Alvarado

• Assisted with Upward Bound Math and Science Summer STEM 2016