Bio
I'm originally from the Florida Panhandle and earned all of my degrees in chemical and biological engineering at The University of Alabama. My graduate work centered on studying the impact of fluid shear stress in breast cancer metastasis. My primary research interests focus on microscopy- I love capturing images of biological phenomena otherwise unseen. When I'm not in the lab, you can find me hosting trivia, baking or crocheting.
Professional Experience
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Apr. 2024-present
Molecular and Cellular Imaging Group, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Biopreparedness Research Virtual Environment (BraVE) Project
Role: investigating the methods of pathogen attachment to abiotic surfaces
• Method development and optical imaging of bacterial samples on functionalized abiotic surfaces for observation via confocal, atomic force, and cryogenic electron microscopy.
Graduate Researcher, Jul. 2018-Dec. 2023
Y. John Kim Lab, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
• Designed, executed, analyzed, and present (written and oral) experiments to support thesis project.
• Managed lab by overseeing experimental design, execution, analysis, and presentation for 3 undergraduate students.
• Managed laboratory equipment performance, usage, and maintenance.
• Cultured mammalian cells (epithelial, cancer, cancer stem cell) for a variety of research projects.
• Effectively utilized sophisticated microscopy techniques to generate data on the effects of fluid shear stress on cell biology and extracellular vesicles.
• Analyzed receptor and gene expression impacts of fluid shear stress on breast cancer cells through flow cytometry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).
Awards
BioTN Scipreneur Challenge 2024 Winner (w/Team), Nov. 2024
AIChE The Leadership Equity in Engineering (LEE) Program Member, Jul. 2024-Feb. 2025
AIChE John C. Chen Young Professional Leadership Award, Oct. 2023
Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need Fellow, Aug. 2020-Aug. 2023
ACS BIOT W.H. Peterson Award for Best Oral Presentation, Mar. 2022
The University of Alabama Three Minute Thesis- People’s Choice, Nov. 2021
AIChE Women in Chemical Engineering Travel Award, Oct. 2021
Outstanding Graduate Student Service to the Department Award, Apr. 2021
AL Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Bridge to the Doctorate Fellow, Jan. 2018-Aug. 2020
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Chemical Engineering- The University of Alabama, 2023
Master of Science, Chemical Engineering- The University of Alabama, 2019
Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering- The University of Alabama, 2015
Professional Service
Oak Ridge Postdoctoral Association, Executive Board , Oct. 2024-present
Communications Chair
• Disseminate information, including research, social, and outreach events and emails from the community regarding advertisements for housing, transportation, and lab-wide events to all postdocs. • Updates and maintains ORPA's internal website and LinkedIn page, highlighting events, ORNL postdoc accomplishments, and research endeavors.
AIChE Young Professionals Committee, Early Career Community, Jan. 2021-present
Early Career Community Development Committee
• Contribute to outlining value proposition, establishing member benefits, marketing of ECC.
Spring 2023 Programming Chair
• Provided in-person programming to educate current and prospective YPC members.
Recruitment and Retention Subcommittee
• Provided virtual programming to engage current and prospective YPC members.
• Session moderator at AIChE Annual Meeting.
Professional Affiliations
American Institute of Chemical Engineers
American Chemical Society, Division of Biochemical Technology
Specialized Equipment
Confocal Microscopy: Nikon C2+ Confocal Scanning Laser Microscope, Zeiss LSM 710 Confocal Scanning Laser Microscope, Zeiss LSM 980 Confocal Scanning Laser Microscope
BioTek Cytation5 Imaging Reader
Transmission Electron Microscopy: Tecnai 200 TEM
Scanning Electron Microscopy: Apreo FE-SEM
Atomic Force Microscopy
Flow Cytometry:
Bio-Rad S3e Cell Sorter
BD Accuri C6 flow cytometer
qRT-PCR: Thermo Fisher Scientific StepOne Real-Time PCR System
Other Publications
S. R. Brown et al. (2024) Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Modulation of Stem-like Phenotype in Breast Cancer Cells under Fluid Shear Stress. Biomolecules 14(7): 757. PMID: 39062471.
S. Mansur, S. Habib, M. Hawkins, S. R. Brown, et al. (2023) Preparation of Nanoparticle-Loaded Extracellular Vesicles Using Direct Flow Filtration. Pharmaceutics 15(5), 1551. PMID: 37242792.
Y. Sun, S. Das, S. R. Brown et al. (2023) Ruthenium pincer complexes for light activated toxicity: Lipophilic groups enhance toxicity. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 240:112110. PMID: 36596265.
H. A. Park, S. R. Brown et al. (2022) Fluid shear stress enhances proliferation of breast cancer cells via downregulation of the c-subunit of the F1FO ATP synthase. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 632:173-180. PMID: 36209586.
S. R. Brown et al. (2022) Relationship between stemness, reactive oxygen species, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in model circulating tumor cells. Cells Tissues Organs 211:312-323. PMID: 34077929.
O. Oladipupo, S. R. Brown et al. (2022) Light-responsive and protic ruthenium compounds bearing bathophenanthroline and dihydroxybipyridine ligands achieve nanomolar toxicity towards breast cancer cells. Photochemistry and Photobiology 98(1):102-116. PMID: 34411308.
H. A. Park, S. R. Brown, Y. Kim (2020) Cellular mechanisms of circulating tumor cells during breast cancer metastasis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21(14):5040. PMID: 32708855.