closeup of Morgan Farrell.

Morgan Farrell, M.S.

Pronouns: she, her, hers

Doctoral Student

SDSU / UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Cell and Molecular Biology

San Diego

Phone
Location
LSN 401
5500 Campanile Dr
San Diego, CA, 92182
Mail Code
4614
Fax
Accounts

Areas of Expertise

Marine Science, Microbiology, Genetics, Biotechnology

Student Opportunities

  1. Message 1
  2. Message 2

Bio

My research focuses on how bacteria influence marine animal health and development with the objective of driving biotechnological innovations. I utilize microbiology, genetics, and immunology to understand how bacteria can stimulate major animal life stage transitions, such as metamorphosis. From this research, I have developed applications in environmental restoration, food production, and pest management.

mentors

Nicholas Shikuma, Ph.D.

Details

Education
  1. M.S. in Interdisciplinary Marine and Estuarine Ecology
    San Francisco State University, San Francisco
  2. B.S in Wildlife Ecology
    University of Florida, Gainesville
Publications
  1. Farrell, M. V.; Airkin, M. Y.; Ali, T. N.; Altoblani, Z. S.; Bowman, C. R.; Diaz, A. A. B.; Faurot, P. F.; Frausto, J. E.; Haji, S. F.; Hamad, B. A.; Lively, J. B.; Luistro, D. C. C.; Macias, Y.; Mathew, S.; McKinley, K. M.; Nasirimoseloo, S.; Tran, B. P.; Trinh, A. N.; Shikuma, N. J. Draft Genome Sequence of Exiguobacterium Sp. Strain MMG028 Isolated from a Salt Marsh. Microbiology Resource Announcements 2024, 0 (0), e00116-23. https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.00116-23.
  2. Alker, A. T.; Farrell, M. V.; Demko, A. M.; Purdy, T. N.; Adak, S.; Moore, B. S.; Sneed, J. M.; Paul, V. J.; Shikuma, N. J. Linking Bacterial Tetrabromopyrrole Biosynthesis to Coral Metamorphosis. ISME Commun 2023, 3 (1), 98. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43705-023-00309-6.
  3. Alker, A. T.; Farrell, M. V.; Aspiras, A. E.; Dunbar, T. L.; Fedoriouk, A.; Jones, J. E.; Mikhail, S. R.; Salcedo, G. Y.; Moore, B. S.; Shikuma, N. J. A Modular Plasmid Toolkit Applied in Marine Bacteria Reveals Functional Insights during Bacteria-Stimulated Metamorphosis. mBio 2023, 0 (0), e01502-23. https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.01502-23.
Presentations
  1. Farrell, M. V.; Nesbit K. N.; Cavalcanti, G. S.; Shikuma, N. J. Utilizing CRISPRi Interrogation of Host-Microbe Interactions to Identify Stimulants of Animal Development. Microbiology Symposium Scripps Research, San Diego, CA. May 2023.
  2. Farrell, MV, Nesbit KN, Cavalcanti, GS, Shikuma, NJ. “Alphaproteobacteria lipopolysaccharide stimulates animal development.” S3 Student Research Symposium, San Diego State University, California, 2024
Service
  1. Undergraduate Student Mentor
  2. Women in Science Mentor
Grants
  1. Rees-Stealy Research Foundation Fellowship, 2024
  2. University Graduate Fellowship, 2023-2025
Clinical Trials
  1. [A]
  2. [B]
  3. [C]
Awards & Honors
  1. Achievement Award for College Scientists (ARCS), 2024
  2. Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award Department of Biology, 2023
  3. Provost’s Award for SDSU Student Symposium, 2024
Patents & Copyrights
  1. Farrell, M.V. and Shikuma, N.J. Methods and Applications For Using Bacteria to Stimulate Animal Settlement for Restoration, Aquaculture and Biotechnology. Serial No. 63/653,090
  2. Farrell, M.V., Darin, E., and Shikuma, N.J. Genetically Engineered Marine Bacteria for Biomaterial Production, Use in Aquaculture and Marine Environmental Restoration and Methods for Making and Using Them. Serial No. 63/687,110.
Fun Facts
  1. I enjoy being outside in nature snorkeling, hiking, camping, and practicing photography.