Nicolle E. Hofmann
2324 Normandin Ct.
Charlotte, NC 28216
USA
Home: +1 704.499.5998
Mobile: +1 217.621.5276
nicollehofmann@hotmail.com

Education

Ph.D. Plant Breeding and Genetics – May 2002. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
M.S. Horticulture – October 1998. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
B.S. Animal Sciences – May 1993. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Certificates

Certificate in Business Administration – Spring 2002 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The Illinois Certificate in Business Administration for Scientists

Skills and Experience

• Common Molecular Biology Techniques:
  −DNA cloning and subcloning
  −DNA sequencing
  −Primer design
  −Plant DNA isolation
  −PCR amplification
  −Agarose gel electrophoresis
• Plant transformation: biolistic particle bombardment
• DNA sequence analysis and SNP discovery: Phred/Phrap, PolyBayes and Consed
• Single base extension SNP analysis
• Luminex™100
• Spectrofluorometer
• Design and implementation of field and greenhouse studies
• Germplasm disease screening and evaluation
• Isolation and culture of fungal organisms
• Plant tissue culture: somatic embryogenesis (solid/liquid culture)
• Chemical mutagenesis
• HPLC analysis
• Microsoft Office Professional applications
• ABI Prism® GeneMapper™ Software

Professional Experience

Virginia Polytechnic and State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Blacksburg, VA
2005-2007 Research Associate
Research focus: Plant metabolic engineering
• Conducted research on transformation of Papaver somniferum to incorporate RNAi gene inserts for the manipulation of opiate alkaloid biosynthesis
• Transferred specific pathway genes into Papaver somniferum via biolistic particle bombardment
• Initiated and maintained somatic embryogenic cultures of Papaver somniferum
• Supervised technical staff and undergraduate research assistants
• Assisted in the relocation and setup of a research lab

USDA-ARS, Soybean Genomics and Improvement Laboratory. Beltsville, MD
2002-2005 Research Geneticist
Research focus: Association analysis to discover seed size QTL in soybean
• Planted, maintained, harvested and threshed soybean populations for phenotypic evaluation of seed size
• Designed primers to BAC end soybean sequences derived from reported seed size QTL in order to discover single nucleotide polymorphisms in these regions for association analysis
• Sequenced soybean DNA for SNP discovery
• Genotyped soybean lines and plant introductions using single base extension and flow cytometry on a Luminex™100
• Used fluorescent labeled SSR markers to estimate population stratification within a natural population of soybean lines
• Used molecular beacon probes and allele specific PCR (locked nucleic acids) to genotype soybean varieties and a RIL population for SNPs associated with resistance and susceptibility to soybean cyst nematode

University of Illinois @ Urbana-Champaign
1998-2002 Graduate Research Assistant
Research focus: Characterization of resistance to gray leaf spot (Pyricularia grisea) in perennial ryegrass and tall fescue.
• Developed a population of tall fescue segregating for resistance to gray leaf spot
• Screened USDA germplasm, commercial varieties and populations of perennial ryegrass and tall fescue for resistance to gray leaf spot in the field and greenhouse
• DNA analysis of a tall fescue population to identify random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers associated with resistance to gray leaf spot
• Supervised undergraduate assistants

Graduate Teaching Assistant
Spring 2002
Course: Plant Pathology (course designed to fill a science/writing requirement for undergraduate students)
• Graded writing assignments that focused on pathology topics
• Graded examinations
Spring 2000
Course: Introductory Statistics
• Graded weekly homework assignments and examinations
Course: Introductory Plant and Animal Genetics
• Led a weekly discussion group
• Prepared and graded weekly quizzes and homework
• Held office hours for students to ask questions and receive extra help

Advanta Seed Pacific, Inc.
July 2001 Intern
Practical field experience with a turf seed research company
• Harvested and threshed seed
• Evaluated plots for disease reaction

University of Illinois @ Urbana-Champaign
1996-1998 Graduate Research Assistant
Research focus: Initiation and chemical mutagenesis of somatic embryogenic cultures of soybean
• Investigated parameters of initiation of somatic embryogenesis in soybean
• Investigated manipulation of oil content in soybean and survival of somatic embryogenic tissue
subjected to chemical mutagenesis
• Supervised undergraduate assistants

1993-1995 Research Specialist
Research focus: The metabolism and absorption of vitamin A and beta-carotene utilizing animal models
• Quantitated levels of vitamin A and beta-carotene in various mammalian tissues using HPLC analysis
• Recorded and analyzed data
• Organized and Cared for research animals
• Maintained and organized laboratory supplies and equipment

Publications

Refereed

Hofmann, N.E., R. Raja, R.L. Nelson, and S.S. Korban. 2004. Mutagenesis of embryogenic cultures
of soybean and detecting polymorphisms using RAPD markers. Biologia Plantarum. 48(2): 173-177.

Hofmann, N., R.L. Nelson, and S.S. Korban. 2004. Influence of media components and pH on
somatic embryo induction in three genotypes of soybean. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture. 77: 157-163.

Baianu, I.C., D. Costescu, T. You, P.R. Lozano, N.E. Hofmann, and S.S. Korban. 2004. Near-
infrared microspectroscopy, infrared chemical imaging and high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of soybean seeds, somatic embryos, and single cells. In: D.L. Luthria (ed.), Oil Extraction and Quantitation Technologies: Critical Issues in Food, Feed, and Seed Analysis. pp. 241-282. AOCS Press, Champaign, IL.

Lickfeldt, D.W., N.E. Hofmann, J. Jones, A.M. Hamblin, and T.B. Voigt. 2002. Comparing
three DNA extraction procedures for cost, efficiency, and DNA yield. HortScience. 37(5): 822-825.

Lederman, J.D., K.M. Overton, N.E. Hofmann, B.J. Moore, J. Thornton, and J.W. Erdman,
Jr. 1998. Ferrets (Mustela putoius furo) inefficiently convert beta-carotene to vitamin A. Journal of Nutrition.128(2): 271-279.

Lee, C.M., J.D. Lederman, N.E. Hofmann, and J.W. Erdman, Jr. 1998. The Mongolian
gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) is an appropriate animal model for evaluation of the conversion of beta-carotene to vitamin A. Journal of Nutrition. 128(2): 280-286.

Other

Cregan, P.B. , N.E. Hofmann, R.W. Yaklich, D.L. Hyten, J.E. Specht, I.Y. Choi, E.Y. Hwang, Q.J.
Song, and J.M. Costa. 2004. Status and future direction of soybean genomics – genetic association analysis and linkage disequilibrium. Proc. World Soybean Research Conf. VII .

Hofmann, N.E. and A.M. Hamblin. 2001. Reaction of perennial ryegrass to gray leaf spot following
inoculation in the field, 2000. Biological and Cultural Tests for Control of Plant Disease. Vol. 16.

Hofmann, N.E. and A.M. Hamblin. 2000. Reaction of perennial ryegrass to gray leaf spot following
inoculation in the greenhouse, 1999. Biological and Cultural Tests for Control of Plant Disease. Vol. 15.

Hofmann, N.E. and A.M. Hamblin. 2000. Seeking resistant ryegrass: Gray leaf spot hits all varieties.
Golf Course Management. 68(7): 68-71.

Hofmann, Nicolle and Andy Hamblin. 2000. Gray leaf spot: What do they really know? On Course.
54(6): 7-9.


Abstracts and Presentations

Hofmann, N.E., Q. Song, J. E. Specht, R.W. Yaklich, P. B. Cregan. 2005. Detecting the extent of
population stratification in a soybean population for use in a case-control association
analysis. Plant and Animal Genome XIII. (poster)

Hofmann, N.E., R.W. Yaklich, J. E. Specht, Q. Song, P. B. Cregan. 2004. Association analysis for
the discovery of seed size quantitative trait loci in soybean. Plant and Animal Genome XII P538:
205. (poster)

Hofmann, N.E., P. R. Arelli, B. F. Matthews, C. V. Quigley, and P. B. Cregan. 2003.
Molecular beacons to select for SCN resistance at rhg1 and rhg4. Plant and Animal Genome XI. P243. (poster)

Hofmann N.E., P. R. Arelli, B. F. Matthews, C. V. Quigley, and P. B. Cregan. 2002. Molecular
beacons to select for SCN resistance at rhg1 and rhg4. Soy2002: The 9th Biennial Conference of the Cellular and Molecular Biology of the Soybean. P211. (poster)

Hofmann, N.E. and A.M. Hamblin. 2001. Segregation of gray leaf spot resistance in tall fescue.
2001 Annual Meeting Abstracts [ASA/CSSA/SSSA]. (presentation)

Hamblin, A.M. and N.E. Hofmann. 2001. Breeding for gray leaf spot resistance. Special
Symposium: Gray Leaf Spot, American Phytopathological Society, Salt Lake City, UT. (presentation)

Hofmann, N.E. and A.M. Hamblin. 2000. Progress in identifying resistance to gray leaf spot
in perennial ryegrass. 2000 Annual Meeting Abstracts [ASA/CSSA/SSSA]. 161-162. (poster)

Hofmann, N.E. and A.M. Hamblin. 1999. Characterization of gray leaf spot resistance in
perennial ryegrass. 1999 Annual Meeting Abstracts [ASA/CSSA/SSSA]. 91: 132. (poster)

References

Available upon request

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