Jeffrey W. Beard, Ph.D.

I began my academic career in 2006 at Ohio University. After my second year, I dropped out of college and enlisted in the United States Army as an infantryman. I served 2 combat tours in Iraq and eventually left active duty as a single parent with PTSD. I spent the next 3 years pursuing an associate...

I began my academic career in 2006 at Ohio University. After my second year, I dropped out of college and enlisted in the United States Army as an infantryman. I served 2 combat tours in Iraq and eventually left active duty as a single parent with PTSD. I spent the next 3 years pursuing an associate degree in mechanical engineering while working full time and serving in the Texas National Guard. In 2018 I completed my BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso on the GI Bill. During this time, I also worked for NASA developing aircraft sensors at the Armstrong Flight Research Center and experimental rocket modules at the Center for Space Exploration and Technology Research.

I went on to complete my MS and PhD in biomedical engineering in Dr. Benjamin Miller’s Lab at the University of Rochester. My time at war was a powerful influence on my graduate research which focused on molecular HIV point-of-care diagnostics for low-resource settings and a driving force behind my passion for global health. I am particularly interested in community health and outreach programs for underserved populations; an interest fueled by my spouse’s experience and advocacy on the topics of domestic violence and child abuse.

My research interests are point-of-care diagnostics, improving access to healthcare for underserved communities, and improving access to community services for disenfranchised populations. I am currently managing the testing and development of a molecular HIV self-test under the mentorship of Dr. Be...

My research interests are point-of-care diagnostics, improving access to healthcare for underserved communities, and improving access to community services for disenfranchised populations. I am currently managing the testing and development of a molecular HIV self-test under the mentorship of Dr. Benjamin Miller. We use chemically treated paper-like materials to passively fractionate and lyse a plasma sample from a finger-prick volume of whole blood. Viral RNA is then isolated and enriched from the lysed sample using electrostatic adsorption. We use isothermal nucleic acid amplification techniques to amplify the extracted RNA and detect the presence of HIV virions. I have also explored the use of DNA origami techniques such as hybridization chain reaction, catalytic hairpin assembly, DNAzymes, and other pre-programmed DNA-based probes for enzyme-free signal amplification of genomic material.

Future projects underway include the development of a molecular blood test for hepatitis C virus, a rapid dermal test for herpes simplex virus, and a youth empowerment program for disenfranchised youth.