Curriculum Vitae

Nalany Richardson
nalany.richardson@uga.edu · ORCID · LinkedIn · GitHub · ResearchGate

Education

MSc, Comparative Biomedical Sciences — University of Georgia, 2024–Present

B.S., Biology (Organic Chemistry/Physics concentration), Minor in Psychology — University of South Carolina Aiken, 2020–2024

  • Graduated with Honors
  • Thesis: Testing Candidate Genes for Color Polymorphism in Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)

A.A., General Studies — Aiken Technical College, 2016–2020

  • Completed concurrently with high school diploma through the Early College Program at Midland Valley High School; graduated Summa Cum Laude from both programs

Research & Professional Experience

Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Infectious Diseases
Savannah River Ecology Lab / University of Georgia — August 2024–Present

  • Skills: ordering and procurement; Animal Use Protocol development and implementation; research design, conduct, and ethics; mist-netting; dynamic headspace aeration (DHA); mosquito trapping (BG-Sentinel, CDC Light Trap, UV-LED); larval dipping; morphological identification of mosquito specimens; DNA extraction; primer design; PCR; gel electrophoresis; protocol optimization
  • Technical/computational skills: GitHub and portfolio development; statistical analysis and data visualization in R, MATLAB, and JMP; Excel; modeling; website design

Laboratory Technician, Vector Ecology lab
Savannah River Ecology Lab / University of Georgia — June 2023–July 2024

  • Performed mosquito trap deployment, morphological identification of mosquitoes, and chemical blend synthesis under Dr. Daniel Peach. Learned to perform PCR.
  • Managed laboratory operations, including supply ordering and organization

Registrar, Emergency Department
Doctor’s Hospital of Augusta — August 2022–June 2023

  • Managed patient registration and insurance intake using Meditech electronic medical records in a high-volume, fast-paced environment
  • Coordinated with physicians and support staff to facilitate patient transfers and arrivals
  • Handled phone calls and communications routed to ER after hours, including creation of accounts for newborns and arrivals via helicopter
  • Ensured accuracy of patient information, including merging of duplicate accounts, and advised patients on proper resources for further patient education on health insurance

Student Assistant to the Chancellor
University of South Carolina Aiken — April 2021–August 2022

  • Supported the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellors with administrative work and event planning, including commencement ceremonies
  • Managed communication between the Chancellor’s office and external collaborators; volunteered with the Pacers and Polo annual event

Research Assistant, Conservation Genomics
University of South Carolina Aiken — August 2021–May 2024

  • Conducted DNA extractions for over 300 individual sockeye salmon in the Ramstad Conservation Genomics Lab
  • Completed IACUC certification; conducted avian field work involving tree-climbing and handling/tagging of wood stork chicks
  • Designed PCR primers targeting SNPs in sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) using Ensembl and BLAST for senior thesis research; optimized PCR protocols and applied bash scripting for large-scale data analysis
  • Presented my research at the Discover USC annual event in 2024 as well as the USC-Aiken Spring 2024 senior seminar.

Publications

Presentations

  • “Olfactory Insights into Mosquito-Avian Interactions: Leveraging Bird Odors for Targeted Surveillance.” Oral Presentation (March 23, 2026)
  • “Assessment of Ornithophilic Mosquito Attraction to Bird-Scent Baited Traps.” Oral Presentation (March 9, 2026)
  • “Assessment of Ornithophilic Mosquito Attraction to Bird-Scent Baited Traps.” Oral Presentation, Georgia Mosquito Control Association Meeting, Athens, GA (October 2025)
  • “Assessing the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that Elicit Attraction in Ornithophilic Mosquitoes.” Oral Presentation (September 2025)
  • “Broader Ecological Understanding of the Mosquito-Flower Interface” (2nd author). Poster, American Mosquito Control Association Annual Conference (March 2024)
  • “Pollen Acquisition by Mosquitoes” (1st author). Poster, American Mosquito Control Association Annual Conference, Dallas, TX (March 2024)
  • “Examining the Relative Contributions of Emotional Regulation and Psychological Need Satisfaction on Well-Being” (3rd author). Poster, Southeastern Psychological Association (March 2024)

Awards & Fellowships

  • NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) — awarded for proposed graduate research under Dr. Daniel Peach, University of Georgia (April 2024)
  • Georgia Mosquito Control Association Participation Sponsorship — travel award covering registration and lodging, sponsored by AZELIS (October 2025)
  • Magellan Scholar Grant — for research in conservation genetics of sockeye salmon color polymorphisms, University of South Carolina Aiken (January 2024)
  • INBRE Primer Award — undergraduate biomedical research grant for conservation genetics senior project, University of South Carolina Aiken (January 2024)
  • New Student Leader of the Year — University of South Carolina Aiken (April 2021)

Leadership & Service

  • Graduate Student Organization Executive Committee Member — University of Georgia (2026)
  • Programs Committee, Graduate Student Organization — University of Georgia (January 2025-January 2026)
  • Broadening Perspectives in STEM Committee, UGA/SREL (May 2025–)
  • Vice President / Treasurer, Psi Chi International Honor Society — University of South Carolina Aiken (August 2023–May 2024)
  • Secretary, Hispanic Student Association — University of South Carolina Aiken (August 2023–May 2024)
  • University Judicial Board Member — University of South Carolina Aiken (August 2021–May 2022)
  • New Student Affairs Council (NSAC) Senator — University of South Carolina Aiken (August 2020–May 2021)