Emmanuel John Kokarakis
Graduate Research Assistant
East Lansing
Summary
Proactive and goal-oriented professional with exceptional time management and problem-solving abilities. Highly regarded for reliability and adaptability, with a rapid aptitude for acquiring and implementing new skills. Possessing a collaborative nature, dedicated to fostering team success and delivering valuable contributions to drive organizational growth.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
PhD Candidate
Michigan State University
08.2020 - Current
- Company Overview: Prof
- Daniel Ducat's Laboratory
- Conducted research in establishing and heterologously expressing quorum sensing systems in cyanobacteria
- To create quorum sensing toolkits for cyanobacterial gene expression and for interspecies coordination
- Developed co-culture media for the creation of synthetic communities of cyanobacteria and bacteria
- Developed extraction protocols of isolating and analyzing acyl homoserine lactone and auxin compounds from cyanobacteria and bacteria using LC-MS(Q-Exactive and TQ-XS)
- Used attune flow cytometry perform viability assays and to analyze gene expression by measuring the intensity of fluorescent reporters
- Taught in microbiology lab course (MMG302, teaching assistant position spring 2022)
- Trained rotation students, exchange students, and undergraduate students Prof Daniel Ducat's Laboratory
- Resolved problems, improved operations and provided exceptional service.
Lab & Research Assistant
University of Crete
09.2016 - 12.2018
- Company Overview: Biochemistry Laboratory
- Conducted research on photosynthetic microorganisms, utilized microscopic assessments (SEM,TEM, optical), microbiology techniques and UV-VIS spectroscopy to characterize isolated photosynthetic organisms
- I have developed extraction protocols to isolate natural products from Anabena sp (squalene) using GC-MS and biofilm from Chlorella sp
- Proficient in using HPLC, NMR, IR spectroscopy to characterize natural products from photosynthetic organisms
- Developed a protocol to isolate the extracellular matrix of an isolated Chlorella sp and analyze it using NMR
- Assisted with undergraduate lab courses in Biochemistry 2016-2017
- Biochemistry Laboratory
- Cooperated with other technicians to develop and test new protocols.
- Operated and performed preventative maintenance on laboratory equipment and instruments.
- Prepared samples for analysis by performing complex sample preparation tasks.
Undergraduate Researcher
University of Crete
09.2015 - 06.2016
- Company Overview: Biochemistry Laboratory
- Studied the effects of the biodegradation of phenol and how it affects the photosynthesis of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
- Used HPLC to measure phenol from the spent media of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
- Isolation and characterization of microalgae from a contaminated area
- my work in my lab resulted in a publication
Intern
Bureau Veritas
06.2013 - 12.2013
- Company Overview: Fuel Laboratory Internship
- Assisted in fuel analysis and laboratory testing procedures
- Fuel Laboratory Internship
- Explored new technologies and approaches to streamline processes.
- Set and oversaw quality assurance guidelines for laboratory work.
Education
Ph.D. Candidate - Microbiology, Molecular Genetics & Immunology
Michigan State University
Michigan01.2025
M.Sc. - Chemistry (Specialization in Biochemistry)
University of Crete
Heraklion, Crete12.2018
B.Sc. - Chemistry
University of Crete
Heraklion, Crete06.2016
Skills
- Multitasking Abilities
- Organization
- Training & Development
- Quality assurance
- Protocol design
- Materials restocking
- Research reporting
- Data collection
- Experimental design
- Literature searches
- Lab equipment operation
- Leading discussion groups
- Designing experiments
- Project management
- Deadline driven
- Quantitative research
- Statistical analysis
- Research paper writing
- Data analysis
- Laboratory operations
- Equipment maintenance
Laboratoryskills
- Culture methods for bacteria, microalgae, cyanobacteria and yeast strains
- Fluorescence Spectroscopy and UV-Vis photometry
- Chromatographic techniques (Affinity chromatography, TLC)
- IR spectroscopy
- Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry-LC-MS
- Proficient in the use of attune flow cytometer
- Polarography
- Electrophoresis
- Isolation and characterization of natural products from microorganisms
- Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of natural products
- Protein electrophoresis techniques (SDS-PAGE, IEF)
- Techniques for immobilizing microorganisms in polymer matrices
- Cloning: Gibson, restriction enzyme cloning
- Transformation of Bacteria/Cyanobacteria
- Plasmid construction and primer design
Awards
2024, Reddy Endowed Award by the Microbiology, Genetics, & Immunology Department
Publications
- Kokarakis, E.J., Rees Rillema, et al., 2022, Developing cyanobacterial quorum sensing toolkits: towards interspecies coordination in mixed autotroph/heterotroph communities, ACS Synthetic Biology, 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00527
- Kokarakis, E.J., et al., 2022, Structural and physicochemical characterization of an aminosugar-rich exopolysaccharide isolated from a Chlorella sp., Algal Research Journal, doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2022.102881
- Sakkos, J.K., Santos-Merino, M., Kokarakis, E.J., et al., 2023, Predicting partner fitness based on spatial structuring in a light-driven microbial community, PLOS Computational Biology, 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011045
Personal Information
- USA
- Greece
Languages
Greek
Native language
English
Proficient
C2
Software
Microsoft Word
FCS express 7
OriginLab
Timeline
PhD Candidate
Michigan State University
08.2020 - Current
Lab & Research Assistant
University of Crete
09.2016 - 12.2018
Undergraduate Researcher
University of Crete
09.2015 - 06.2016
Intern
Bureau Veritas
06.2013 - 12.2013
M.Sc. - Chemistry (Specialization in Biochemistry)
University of Crete
B.Sc. - Chemistry
University of Crete
Ph.D. Candidate - Microbiology, Molecular Genetics & Immunology
Michigan State University
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