PhD Candiate; School of Aquatic & Fishery Science
Thesis: DNA methylation as a source of epigenetic regulation in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas)
Expected Completion: Spring 2014
Contact Info
email: mgavery@u.washington.edu, website: students.washington.edu/mgavery
Research Interests
I am interested in research questions related to how marine organisms regulate their genomes in order to respond and adapt to their environment. I am particularly curious about exploring the function of epigenetic marks, such as DNA methylation, in marine invertebrates.
NCBI SRA - Crassostrea gigas MBD bisulfite sequencing – gill | SRX327373
NCBI SRA - Crassostrea gigas RNA-seq – gill | SRX367081
NCBI GenBank - Crassostrea gigas cyclooxygenase (COX) mRNA, complete cds | FJ375303
Figshare - Crassostrea gigas high-throughput bisulfite sequencing, gill tissue, feature tracks
Figshare - Facilitating analysis of genomic variation in Olympia oysters: transcriptome feature tracks
Figshare - DNA methylation coverage in two tissues of the Pacific Oyster
Gavery MR and Roberts SB. A context dependent role for DNA methylation in bivalves. Briefings in Functional Genomics. 2014, (published ahead of print January 7th, 2014) doi: 10.1093/bfgp/elt054
Gavery MR and Roberts SB. Predominant intragenic methylation is associated with gene expression characteristics in a bivalve mollusc. PeerJ. 2013, 1:e215
Roberts SB, Gavery MR. Is there a relationship between DNA methylation and phenotypic plasticity in invertebrates? Frontiers in Physiology 2012, 2:116.
Gavery MR, Roberts SB. Characterizing short read sequencing for gene discovery and RNA-Seq analysis in Crassostrea gigas. Comp Biochem and Phys Part D: Genomics and Proteomics. 2012, 7:94–99.
Gavery MR, Roberts SB. DNA methylation patterns provide insight into epigenetic regulation in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas). BMC Genomics 2010, 11:483.
A comprehensive methylome for Crassostrea gigas provides insight into the role of DNA methylation in bivalves, Plant and Animal Genome XXII, January 2013. San Diego, CA. Oral Presentation.
Methylation enriched bisulfite sequencing reveals patterns between gene expression and methylation in the commercially important bivalve, Crassostrea gigas, Genomics in Aquaculture: 3rd International Symposium, September 2013. Bodø, Norway. Oral Presentation
DNA methylation as a source of epigenetic regulation in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) World Aquaculture Society: Aquaculture 2013, February 2013. Nashville, TN.
DNA methylation as a source of epigenetic regulation in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas), Plant and Animal Genome XXI, January 2013. San Diego, CA. Oral Presentation.
Exploring the Role of DNA Methylation as a Source of Phenotypic Variation in Crassostrea gigas. ESF-EMBO Symposium – Epigenetics in Context: From Ecology to Evolution. September 2011. San Feliu de Guixols, Spain. Oral Presentation
Beyond the Genome: Epigenetic Regulation in the Pacific Oyster. Plant and Animal Genome Conference. January 2011. San Diego, CA. Poster Presentation.
Pacific oysters as indicators of ecosystem health. PCSGA Annual Meeting. September 2009. Portland, OR. Oral Presentation.
Characterization of prostaglandin pathway genes of the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas): Evidence for a role in immune response. National Shellfisheries Association 101st Annual Meeting. March 2009. Savannah, GA. Poster Presentation.
Gavery, Mackenzie (2013): [My PhD Candidacy Qualifying Exam](http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.719784, figshare.
Gavery, Mackenzie; Roberts, Steven; White, Samuel (2013): qPCR corroboration of an RNA-Seq experiment, figshare.
Gavery, Mackenzie; Roberts, Steven (2009): Prostaglandins in the Pacific oyster: Investigations into form and function., posters
EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowship ($125,449) 2011–2013
Word Aquaculture Society, Student Spotlight Award 2nd Place, Aquaculture 2013
NRSP–8 Aquaculture Genomics Travel Award, Plant and Animal Genome XXI, 2013
Thurlow C. Nelson Award for Outstanding Student Presentation, 104th National Shellfisheries Association Meeting, Seattle, WA, 2012
Faculty Merit Award, M.S. student, University of Washington School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, 2010
Student Scholarship Award for Applied Science, Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association, 2009
Best Graduate Student Presentation, Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association, 2009
Student Endowment Travel Award, National Shellfisheries Association, 2009 & 2010
Victor and Tamara Loosanoff Fellowship & John G. Peterson Scholarship, School of Aquatic and Fisheries Science, University of Washington 2009/2010
William H. Pierre Sr. Fellowship, School of Aquatic and Fisheries Science, University of Washington, 2008/2009
Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Washington School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences
Spring 2009, 2010 and 2011 Biology of Shellfish (FISH 310).
Winter 2008 and 2012 Integrative Environmental Physiology (FISH 441/541)
Guest Associate Editor for the Research Topic Epigenetic Mechanisms in Invertebrates Frontiers in Invertebrate Physiology
National Shellfisheries Association (Member)
Association of Women in Science – Seattle Chapter (Member)
Gear-Up Washington (Volunteer Lab Instructor) (Summer 2009)
Developed and led a hands-on laboratory for high school students for GEAR-UP Summer Institute at UW. Students learned ways to examine aquatic systems by performing bivalve dissections, filter-feeding experiments, and using microscope techniques.
Girls in Engineering, Math and Science (2007 - Present)
Mentor middle school girls in a science enrichment program designed to encourage, maintain and broaden their interest in science.Provide hands-on support for students who performed laboratory and field work in diverse fields of science and mathematics.