About Me
A microbiologist by training, I found my way into neurobiology via molecular techniques. At The University of Oklahoma, I have been able to carve out an "alternative career" in science, where I perform basic bench science, assist in lab management, mentor and train junior scientist, and communicate science through local outreach. Since 2021, I am the course manager for the Neural Systems and Behavior Advanced Research Training Course at the Marine Biological Laboratory.
Experience and Skills
Molecular Biology
I am broadly interested in the molecular mechanisms that underlie energy metabolism and energetic constraints in animal systems. I have experience in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic systems. My current work looks to understand the genetic and cellular systems that shape action potential generation in weakly electric fish and how they maintain energy homeostasis. Previous work included nutrition profile characterization of Escherichia coli, and it's potential as a probiotc.
Lab Management
At OU, I have aided in the startup, design, and management of over 2300 sq. feet of lab space across 4 locations. I am responsible for organization, orders, design, equipment set up, and technical aspects of personnel and supply onboarding and management​. I oversee animal husbandry and colony upkeep. I maintain compliance for the lab according to national, local, and university standards. I develop and maintained all appropriate protocols for and worked closely with university and state organizations, including animal handling, biological safety, and environmental safety standards for all personnel. I am responsible for amendments and reapplications at regular intervals.
For the Neural Systems and Behavior course, I manage 7,200 sq. ft. of state-of-the-art laboratory space at the Marine Biological Lab. The eight week course changes modules, faculty, equipment, and lab set up every two weeks, which I coordinate between the course leaders, faculty, and MBL staff. I obtain and organize the 200+ equipment and $10,000 of supply and specimen requests. When not putting out figurative and literal fires, I also manage the social media, communications within the course, maintain compliance with local and federal regulations, and plan receptions, field trips, and other social gatherings.
Undergraduate Mentorship
In addition to supervision, I oversee undergraduate recruitment and training. My primary aim is mentoring students and training future scientists. I have trained, supervised, and mentored 25+ undergraduate students over the course of 12 years, enhancing laboratory skills and critical thinking through direct laboratory training and support for Honors and senior thesis construction and presentation. At the MBL, I have supervised nine undergraduate course assistants.
Outreach Coordination
I specialize in coordinating outreach and broader impact initiatives. My main focus is to communicate the simple fact that everyone can be a scientist everyday. At OU, I redesigned the Electric Fish Roadshow, making evolution, ecology, and neurobiology accesible to a wide audience. Through post interaction surveys, I have shown that these visits significantly improve participant's understanding of neurobiology, but also their attitude towards science and scientists. I coordinate visits, and lead STEM outreach program to schools and the public in the Norman, OK area.
MY CV
Education and CV Highlights
2020-present
Course Manager
Neural Systems and Behavior
Marine Biological Laboratory
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Obtain, coordinate, and organize the 205+ equipment request for 30+ faculty over 8 weeks from various sources, including loans from companies, loans from within the institution, and equipment owned by the course.
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Coordinate and organize the order of over $10,000 of supplies and specimens per year
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Managed 7,200 sq ft of state-of-the-art laboratory space
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Plan all social gatherings for the course including seminars, receptions, parties, sports outings, field trips, and other social event
2012-present
Technician I
Dr. Michael Markham Laboratory
University of Oklahoma
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Isolated, sequenced, extracted, and characterized ion channels responsible for the action potential generation of several species of weakly electric fish
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Collection of data, and analysis, visualization, technical writing, oral and poster presentation of results for several projects
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Developed a reduced-cost model for CRISPR techniques in weakly electric fish
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Hired, trained, supervised, and mentored over 25 undergraduate students over the course of 12 years, including support for 9 Honors Senior Thesis projects
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Designed and led an educational outreach program, connecting evolution, ecology, and neurobiology concepts to the community. This outreach fulfilled the broader impact initiatives for 2 grants and was key in supporting a CAREER grant.
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Kept lab compliant with all national, local, and university standards.
2008-2012
Master of Science
University of Oklahoma
Master’s Thesis: “The nutritional niche of the human commensal Escherichia coli HS in the mouse intestine”
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Characterized the complete in vivo carbon nutrition profile of Escherichia coli HS
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Identified the probiotic capability of combining several commensal strains to prevent pathogenic E. coli colonization
2003-2008
Bachelor of Science
University of Oklahoma
Undergraduate Senior Thesis: “The importance of malate metabolism for colonization of Escherichia coli in the mouse intestine”
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Showed both anaerobic and aerobic respiration are key to the colonization of E. coli and E. coli is ready to respire aerobically when conditions are favorable in the mammalian gut.
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Showed the importance of glucose polymers to the nutritional niche of a strain of pathogenic E. coli.
SPIKE-FREQUENCY DEPENDENT COREGULATION OF MULTIPLE IONIC CONDUCTANCES IN FAST SPIKING CELLS FORCES A METABOLIC TRADE OFF.
Ban, Y., R. Maltby, M.R. Markham. (2025 in review). bioRxiv 2021.03.08.434486
*A REDUCED COST APPROACH TO CRISPR IN WEAKLY ELECTRIC FISH.
Maltby, R., & M. Markham. 2023. Integrative and Comparative Biology 59, P1-238.
*WEAKLY ELECTRIC FISH AS CHARISMATIC MIDI-FAUNA: LESSONS IN NEUROSCIENCE BROADER IMPACTS.
R. Maltby, K.L. Willis, M.R. Markham. 2020. Integrative and Comparative Biology 59, P1-238.
*METABOLISM SENSING MECHANISMS IN THE ELECTRIC ORGAN CELLS OF A WEAKLY ELECTRIC FISH.
R. Maltby, M. Nourbakhsh-Rey, M.R. Markham. 2019. Integrative and Comparative Biology 58, P2-81
ENERGETICS OF SENSING AND COMMUNICATION IN ELECTRIC FISH: A BLESSING AND A CURSE IN THE ANTHROPOCENE?
Markham M.R., Y. Ban, A.G. McCauley, R. Maltby. ÂÂÂÂÂÂ2016. Integr. Comp. Biol. 56(5): 889-900.
*SPATIAL UNCOUPLING BETWEEN SODIUM ACTIVATED POTASSIUM CHANNELS AND VOLTAGE GATED SODIUM CHANNELS IN ELECTROCYTES OF THE WEAKLY ELECTRIC FISH EIGENMANNIA VIRESCENS.
Ban, Y., B.E. Smith, R. Maltby, C. Connolly, M.R. Markham. 2016. Integrative and Comparative Biology 56, E11-E11
*ENERGETIC ADAPTATIONS AND CONSTRAINTS IN ACTIVE SENSORY AND COMMUNICATION SIGNALS.
Markham, M.R., R. Maltby, H.L. Riedmann, P.M. Sinnett, Y. Ban. 2016. Integrative and Comparative Biology 56, E137-E137
*COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF NA+/K+ ATPASE ALPHA SUBUNITS FROM THE ELECTRIC ORGANS OF WEAKLY ELECTRIC FISH WITH LOW AND HIGH DISCHARGE RATES.
Riedmann, H.L., E.N. Ahadizadeh, R. Maltby, M.R. Markham. 2014. Integrative and Comparative Biology. 54, E338-E338
NUTRITIONAL BASIS FOR COLONIZATION RESISTANCE BY HUMAN COMMENSAL ESCHERICHIA COLI STRAINS HS AND NISSLE 1917 AGAINST E. COLI O157:H7 IN THE MOUSE INTESTINE.
Maltby, R., M. Leatham-Jensen, T. Gibson, P.S. Cohen, T. Conway. 2013. PLoS One. 8(1): e53957.
Contact Me
Thanks for your interest in my research. Get in touch with any questions or comments regarding my work, Electric Fish Roadshow, or for applying to the Markham lab. I’d love to hear from you.