Gabby Rizzo

Experience

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  Rizzo Tutoring

  Aug 2018 - Jun 2023

  Tutor

  •Tutored six students per week from ages 5-13 in math, science, and history•Held meetings with parents and guardians each grading period to discuss students’ progress and respond to concerns•Created customized assignments, study guides and enrichment materials to boost student knowledge

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  Steve & Kate's Camp

  Jun 2021 - Dec 2021

  Squad Lead

  •Lead a group of fourteen 9-13 year old campers daily and developed solutions for camper conflicts, as well as taught campers how to work together•Organized, lead, and promoted interest in recreational activities including arts and crafts, sports, games, and individual hobbies•Maintained accurate program records, including incident reports and daily logs

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  University of Massachusetts Amherst

  Jan 2023 - Jun 2023

  Peer Advisor | Dept. of Microbiology

  • Collaborate with the Microbiology Undergraduate Program Director to develop and implement outreach strategies, such as designing posters and creating promotional materials• Manage online media outreach using Instagram to promote departmental activities resulting in increased event participation • Developed and facilitated a landing page for “UMass Gives” – a university-wide two-fundraising campaign, assisting the department in accruing funds for student use

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  Agnostic Life Finding Association, Inc.

  Apr 2023 - now

  Chief Financial Officer

  Our core idea is very simple: drilling for water ice on Mars will be one of the first activities of any sustained operations on Mars. The ALFA experiment is a "bolt-on" instrument that filters and concentrates any genetic polymers found in the subterranean water ice. We want to send this instrument to Mars prior to the arrival of humans to prevent biological contamination, and to maintain the integrity of indigenous life on Mars.To learn more about our organization, please visit us at alfamars.org Show less

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  University of Nebraska-Lincoln

  Jun 2023 - Aug 2023

  UNL SRP Scholar

  "Methanogenesis in Martian regolith simulant in the presence of the soil isolate Methanobacterium sp. ACI-7"• Participant in the Nebraska Summer Research Program in the Bioenergy REU program and mentored by Dr. Karrie Weber• Recipient of outstanding poster in the 2023 Bioenergy Systems REU award• This project investigated the influence of a Martian regolith simulant (MMS-1) on the growth of Methanobacterium species ACI as part of an enrichment community with CaCO3 as the sole source of inorganic carbon. In addition, preliminary characterization of the methanogen was performed to determine its growth rate under standard conditions, NaCl growth range and optimum, and susceptibility to lysis by both hypotonic solution and sodium dodecyl sulfate. Show less

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  Blue Marble Space Institute of Science

  Jun 2023 - Sept 2023

  Research Associate, Young Scientist Program

  "Extremely Halophilic Archaea in Space Biotechnology: Identifying Potential Bio-products and Mapping Experimental Knowledge Gaps in Materials Production"• This project compiled the full range of halophilic archaea applications/bio-products and respective species, identified those with potential application in space-exploration, and cross-compared with data from space-exposure experiments within this group. Specifically, this project looked at the potential of materials production from halophiles and its astrobiology implications. This approach allowed us to propose a roadmap for future application, list key species, and map experimental knowledge gaps on cell viability, growth, and activity under space-like conditions. Show less

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  University of Massachusetts Amherst

  Sept 2023 - now

  "Methanothermococcus sp. strain Ax23, a new thermophilic methanogen isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent and its implications for detecting extraterrestrial life"• In this study, a new thermophilic methanogen, named strain Ax23, was isolated in 2023 from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent at Axial Seamount in the northeast Pacific Ocean. Ongoing work will characterize this organism genetically through whole genome sequencing and phenotypically through growth experiments and electron microscopy. The organism will be used to model life in the subseafloor and its implications for modern marine environments, life on the early Earth, and potential life on other ocean worlds.• Recipient of Massachusetts Space Grant Summer 2022 Fellowship• Mentor to an undergraduate student Show less

  • Peer Advisor, Employer Assistant | CNS Career & Professional Development Center

    Jan 2022 - now

  • Research Assistant | Holden Lab

    Sept 2021 - now

  • Research Assistant | DeAngelis Lab

    Sept 2023 - Dec 2023

  • Teaching Assistant | Bioinformatics Lab

    Sept 2023 - Dec 2023