EDUCATION
University of Georgia - Athens, GA M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication, Concentration in Health & Medical Journalism, May 2018
University of Tennessee - Knoxville, TN B.S. in Biological Sciences with Honors, Minor in English Literature, May 2014 · Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Chancellor’s Honors Program Member
HONORS AND AWARDS
· ORISE/ORAU EAS Award - December 2015
· ORISE/ORAU On the Spot Award for Excellent Feature Writing, Exceptional Safety Measures, and Newsletter Production - October 2014, February 2015 and October 2015 · J. Paul Blakely Undergraduate Science Writing Award of Merit from the East Tennessee Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication (ETC-STC) - April 2014
· University of Tennessee Chancellor’s Honors Citation for Extraordinary Community Service - April 2014
· University of Tennessee BRIDGE Research Grant & Undergraduate Research Award - May 2012
COMMUNICATIONS AND WRITING EXPERIENCE
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE)/ORAU-Oak Ridge, TN Communications & Social Media Specialist - January 2015 – Present
· Serve as the project lead for creation of a strategic plan to increase expansion of Science Education Programs at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Gov Career Paths social media accounts
· Produce original, creative content about programs and participants for all social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram
· Write, copy-edit and design Science Education Programs at ORNL weekly newsletters, program documents, website updates, and government reports
· Photograph research program participants and various Science Education Programs at ORNL events
· Promote Science Education Programs at ORNL events through targeted internal and external media planning
· Lead targeted online recruiting efforts for open research positions at federal facilities
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE)/ORAU-Oak Ridge, TN
Science Writing Intern - June 2014 – December 2014
· Wrote and edited features detailing scientific research of participants in ORISE-administered federal workforce development programs
· Conducted and coordinated internal ORISE communications efforts, including designing and composing newsletters, updating social media and brainstorming new initiatives
University of Tennessee - Knoxville, TN
The Daily Beacon Columnist - August 2013 – May 2014
· Wrote an original weekly opinion column, Knight Errant, for the student newspaper
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
University of Tennessee, Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology - Knoxville, TN
Research & Laboratory Assistant with Dr. Juan Luis Jurat-Fuentes - August 2010 – May 2014
· Conducted molecular biology research on insect resistance to transgenic crops
· Maintained multiple insect colonies and plants for graduate student experiments
University of Georgia, Department of Entomology - Athens, GA
National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
Research Assistant with Dr. Michael R. Strand - May 2013 - July 2013
· Conducted research on the gut microbiome of the yellow fever mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti, and its response to changing environments
SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES
· Communications – Social media management and strategy, newsletter and document design in Microsoft Publisher and MailChimp publishing, photography, marketing, event planning, and online recruiting
· Writing – Scientific writing and journalism, press releases, interviewing and reporting, copy-editing, AP style, and technical writing
· Scientific Research – Nucleic acid isolation and analysis, dsRNA in vitro transcription, SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting, in-gel enzyme assays, flow cytometry and insect bioassays
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
60th Meeting of the Entomological Society of America - Knoxville, TN
Poster Title: Is nuclease activity limiting successful RNAi gene silencing in Heliothis virescens larvae? - November 2012
ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS
Jakka, S. R., Knight, V. R., & Jurat-Fuentes, J. L. (2014). Fitness costs associated with field-evolved resistance to Bt maize in Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). J Econ Entomol, 107(1), 342-351.
Jakka, S. R., Knight, V. R., & Jurat-Fuentes, J. L. (2014). Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) with field-evolved resistance to Bt maize are susceptible to Bt pesticides. J Invertebr Pathol, 122, 52-54. doi: 10.1016/j.jip.2014.08.009.
Knight, Victoria R. “Power, Self-Transformation, and Looks: Capturing the Gaze in Jane Austen” (2014) University of Tennessee Honors Thesis Projects.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Young Professionals of Knoxville - Knoxville, TN
Member - October 2015
LEADERSHIP & SERVICE
Emerald Youth Foundation - Knoxville, TN
Youth Soccer Coach - September 2013 – present
University of Tennessee, Center for Leadership & Service - Trelawney, Jamaica
Alternative International Spring Break Trip Leader - May 2013 - March 2014
Girls on the Run of the Greater Knoxville Area - Knoxville, TN
Assistant Coach - February 2013 – May 2013
University of Tennessee, Center for Leadership & Service - Winston-Salem, NC
Alternative Fall Break Trip Leader - May 2012 – October 2012