Dayna McKenzie
@daynamckenzie
Cell biologist applying iPSC and functional genomics expertise to coral resilience and genomic tool-building.
ZimbabweWhat I'm looking for
Cell biologist with nearly a decade of experience in mammalian cell culture, functional genomics, and iPSC-based disease modeling across academic and biotechnology settings. Driven by a deep curiosity about cellular resilience, currently applying that foundation to coral biology, with work spanning primary cell dissociation and culture optimization.
At Altos Labs, I supported iPSC and hiPSC-derived cell culture continuity and helped translate experimental designs using multi-omics, cell engineering, and synthetic biology. In functional genomics roles, I led single-cell cloning and large-scale CRISPR (CRISPRn/CRISPRa/CRISPRi) screens, contributing to CRISPR screen automation across platforms like Bravo, Apricot, and iDot.
In the University of Miami Traylor-Knowles Cnidarian Immunity Lab, I’m developing and optimizing coral cell dissociation protocols through systematic method comparison across multiple coral genotypes. I also run media additive screening, use brightfield and fluorescence microscopy to quantify viability and symbiont density, and build infrastructure and training that move projects toward establishing tools for functional genomic investigation in cnidarian systems.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Developing and optimizing coral cell dissociation protocols across multiple coral genotypes by comparing enzymatic, mechanical, and combined approaches. Screening media additives to support primary coral cell viability and performing microscopy-based assessments of morphology, viability, and symbiont density.
Supported mammalian cell culture and quality assessments, including maintenance of iPSC and hiPSC-derived cultures across multiple lineages. Derived organoids from iPSCs and collaborated across teams to drive workflows for multi-omics data collection and analysis.
Senior Research Associate
Maze Therapeutics
Jun 2021 - Jul 2022 (1 year 1 month)
Designed, planned, and executed functional genomics experiments while maintaining detailed lab records. Conducted iPSC single-cell cloning and ran CRISPR-based functional screens using multiple CRISPR modalities, contributing to automation of CRISPR screening workflows on robotic platforms.
Associate Scientist
New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute
Dec 2019 - Jun 2021 (1 year 6 months)
Contributed to automation of genome engineering and differentiation of human iPSCs in a customized cellular robotics facility. Designed and generated hiPSC edits including functional knock-outs, fluorescent reporter knock-ins, and SNV edits, and supported SOP development for high-throughput workflows.
Graduate Research Assistant
New York Genome Center
Dec 2018 - Dec 2019 (1 year)
Maintained immortalized cell lines using aseptic technique and performed core molecular biology workflows including guide design, cloning, and PCR. Built CRISPR/Cas9 lentivirus libraries for high-throughput genetic screens and prepared targeted Illumina sequencing libraries, analyzing flow cytometry data with FlowJo.
Graduate Research Assistant
Florida A&M University
Aug 2014 - Dec 2016 (2 years 4 months)
Supported ongoing research through literature reviews, data collection, and analysis of experimental results. Prepared proposal materials for grant submission and regulatory bodies (IRB, IACUC, IBC) and mentored undergraduate research students.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine
Master of Professional Science, Tropical Marine Ecosystem Management
2024 -
Pursuing a Master of Professional Science in Tropical Marine Ecosystem Management at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science.
New York University
Master of Science, Molecular Cell Biology
2018 - 2019
Completed a Master of Science in Molecular Cell Biology at New York University from 2018 to 2019.
Florida A&M University
Bachelor of Science, Molecular Cell Biology
2011 - 2014
Completed a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Cell Biology at Florida A&M University from 2011 to 2014.
Availability
Location
ZimbabweAuthorized to work in
Job categories
Skills
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