Dr. Christine Lewis, PhD

Biography

          As a classically trained synthetic medicinal chemist that earned a doctorate studying microbial electrophotosynthesis, I now consider myself an interdisciplinary scientist. I currently focus on photosynthesis at the electron level. Much of my research involves the use of an electrode and small redox molecules to introduce exogenous electrons to photosynthetic cells. Other studies involve looking inside the cells with the help of specialized spectroscopy. Currently, many promising photosynthetic innovations are underutilized due to low photosynthetic turnover. It has been hypothesized that low turnover may be a result of low electron flux. I study the aspects of photosynthetic electron flux and discover new methods to predict, measure, control, and remove barriers to deliver electron flux to photosynthetic cells. In doing so, it also allows insight into the inner workings of photosynthesis so that we may be able to understand what makes it more or less efficient. This work contributes to the growing body of work dedicated to green energy innovation for the biosynthesis of fuels and complicated molecules used in health and wellness. For my work I employ a variety of skills including organic synthesis, electrochemical cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, microbial electro photo bio reactor design, high performance liquid chromatography, mass spectroscopy, pump-probe spectroscopy, flow cytometry, genetic engineering (including Crispr/Cpf-1), bioactivity assays, microscopy and cultivation of various photosynthetic microorganisms.

Education

Ph.D. in Chemistry but during doctorate training was trained within the the fields of the seven principle investigators (PI's) that oversaw the doctorate project, including chemical environmnental engineering, photosynthetic biochemistry, photosynthetic electrochemistry, and the genetic engineering and cultivation of photosynthetic microbes and their relationship with small molecules redox chemicals. 

Masters in Chemistry and Biochemistry with emphasis in organic medicinal chemistry synthesizing analogues for cancer, and photochemichemically cutting DNA.

Undergraduate Bachelors degree in Microbiology where I worked within a medicinal chemistry lab testing funcational analogues within biochemical and microbiological assays. 

Military/Interrogator Linguist

Prior to obtaining my college degree, I enlisted in the military. I served as an interrogator linguist and was assigned to the 1st Batallion PSYOPS unit under Special Operations Command. This required me to work within a South American team mostly deployed to Bolivia. 

WORK HISTORY

• Graduate Student Researcher, ASU SMS & Biodesign Institute CASD, Tempe, Az.--Organic chemistry, biochemistry, electrochemistry, bioreactor design, taught chemistry, several science outreach programs

• Science writer, ASU Biodesign Institute Communications, Tempe, Az. --All topics of science articles about the science completed at the Institute, public relations and media work

• Adjunct Faculty Phoenix College, Phoenix, Az. --Instruction in levels of general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, proficient in overlap courses that deal with medical fields, microbiology and biology, online and in-person formats

• High level Academic Tutoring Ed’s Logic (Owner), Phoenix, Az.--Tutored: science courses, college preparation, homework support/mentoring, math, chemistry, physics, biology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, AP classes, literature, English, history, and college entrance exams

• Master’s Student Researcher, ASU SMS, Tempe, Az. --Completed: organic chemistry studies and assay analysis, synthetic organic chemistry/synthesizing potential cancer drugs, DNA oxidative damage research for the benefit of cancer, photochemistry

• Teaching assistant: ASU Tempe, Az. chemistry, and organic chemistry, proficient on blackboard online program,

• Spanish interrogator/linguist US Army Psychological Operation Unit 1st Battalion--Stationed at Ft Bragg, NC, Graduate of Basic training in Fort Dix, NJ, Spanish language training at the Defense Language Institute at Presidio of Monterey, CA, interrogator training located at the US Army intelligence location, Ft Huachuca, Az. Joint Task Force operation, language immersion course in Antigua, Guatemala , US Army Paratrooper Jump School in Ft Binning, Georgia, managed media and education Haitians during the Haitian refugee crises Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Bolivian Embassy work in La Paz, Bolivia, Taught PR for Bolivian government in the area of cocaine drug trafficking/coca farms