I am not your average researcher. I may not have a Ph.D., but I began my immersion in basic research at thirteen years of age and continued fueling this drive enough that within weeks a neurology professor at UCSF described my capabilities as past the level of a post-doctoral scientist. I have had the immense privilege to be trained at Yale, Wesleyan, and UCSF in laboratory medicine, immunology, developmental neurobiology, and neuroimmunology. In addition to my laboratory skills, I have been sought out for my writing skills set both in academic and private industry settings. The protocols I have developed, the experiments I have designed, the hypotheses I have shared, and the analytic perspectives I have incorporated into my work have led to many publications and grant proposals. I believe in continual education, and place a high value on learning over pedigree. Most recently I have been broadening my interests and skills to the field of data science and analytics, with a focus on machine learning. My ideal position not only would make use of my knowledge and skills set, but stimulate and excite me to keep developing cutting edge approaches to translational laboratory medicine.

 

[Volunteer Research Associate] VexO Pharmaceuticals, Dubai (5/2018 – 01/2023)

Performed testing of identified metabolites activity by checking for cellular responses in vitro with transfection of a Sentinel reporter system

FACS, ELISA, PCR, RT-PCR, q-PCR, and proprietary HTS methods used to quantify cellular response

Targeting initiation and development of drug discovery for validated disease pathways, identification of new indications for existing drug candidates and known drugs, identifying novel genes, and deciphering pathways and their relationships

[Primary Caregiver]  (6/2011 – 3/2018)

I find calm through most all crises, maintain focus, and spread these states to others during times of high stress and pressure. I can prioritize tasks at hand and communicate both effectively and compassionately. I researched and pushed for translational medicine initiatives, specifically developing and using personalized bacteriophages for fighting MDR infections; these efforts paid off, not only making him the first man to survive a heart infection for longer than one week, but also have seemed to spark a national initiative for funding and research of bacteriophage therapy through Yale University. Lastly, through this experience I learned that I know how to get things done – to be able to make the most of time – when circumstances can be completely unpredictable.

 

[Staff Research Associate] University of California, San Francisco (7/2007 – 6/2011)

[Zamvil Lab – Neuroimmunology] Performed peptide scanning of water channel AQP4 for discovery of T cell epitopes that may be relevant to Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) pathogenesis. Techniques involved in vivo immunizations as well as in vitro assays. After having tested peptides for proliferative responses, I narrowed down candidate determinants for specificity. Additional characterization included investigation of cytokine production, immunogenicity for replicating disease, generating clones for development of transgenic mice, and spearheading T cell polarization for adoptive transfer studies. Unique in lab for background in graphic design, data analysis/statistics, writing, and ability to use predictive modeling algorithms. Emphasis upon FACS, ELISA, cell culture, cloning, perfusion/dissection, adoptive transfer, statistics/data analysis, protocol development/optimization, and manuscript writing. My most moving professional compliment has been being told that I changed the entire direction of the research focus for the laboratory even years after my departure. 

 

[Pleasure Lab – Developmental Neurobiology] Studied the possible roles of Wnt signaling pathways in processes of cellular migration, morphogenesis, and connectivity. For the Wnt projects, I cloned, amplified, and purified constructs I was taught to then use for electroporation in vitro into cultures, as well in vivo into timed-pregnant mice. What impressed me the most about the work in this particular lab was that I was able to have the materials at hand to work from plasmid cloning all the way through animal studies and sectioning/histology. I learned how to surgically target neural sites for in-utero electroporation of embryonic mice with constructs I made myself. Concurrent to these studies, I also spearheaded development of a tagged & concentrated retroviral construct for a novel approach to study the formation of the corpus callosum. Emphasis upon generating constructs, DNA purification, development/screening/maintenance of transgenic murine models, lab maintenance/organization, animal perfusion, tissue collection, sectioning, histology (general immunohistochemistry & in-situ hybridization), and microscopy. My work supported several publications and grants concurrently.

 

[Scientific Communications Assistant] Gilead Sciences, Inc. (contracted), Foster City, CA  (8/2006 – 7/2007)

[Laboratory Relevance] Widely recognized for my quick turnaround time and willingness to help where needed, I was a popular choice amongst coworkers both within and outside my group for support in various domains beyond my own.

Collaborated with researchers both directly and through organizing cross-functional panels to develop targeted, accurate, and high quality scientific publications and presentations.  Organized study data, aided research directors in data analysis and figure formation, managed design layout, and worked with both internal resources and external vendors to prepare publications. Widely recognized for my quick turnaround time and willingness to help where needed, I was a popular choice amongst coworkers both within and outside my group for support in various domains. Examples include:
* Having rapidly posted post-conference coverage with self-taught web support using Frontpage for a colleague, I was asked to take it on as a regular responsibility.
* Wanting to help after our study director changed her position, I learned the system used for management of clinical trials and studies being conducted. I tackled the organization, planning, and consolidation during a time where Gilead had acquired both a new pulmonary and a cardiovascular division.

 

[Grant Coordinator] Affymetrix, Inc. (contracted), Santa Clara, CA  (5/2005 – 9/2005)

[Laboratory Relevance] My scientific writing, organization, and understanding of the grant process led to this position before getting my bachelor’s degree. Was able to help Affymetrix become up to date before a major NIH audit in very little time. Aided to manage all grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for compliance with NIH requirements and company policies.  Supported through research/writing for new grant proposals and discovery and submission of closing research findings for grants. Wrote and implemented company-wide lobbying and disclosure guidelines.

 

[Laboratory Research] Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT (2003 – 2005)

Differentiated embryonic stem cells into neural progenitors, focusing on the Hedgehog signaling pathway and Hedgehog’s role as a mitogen or survival factor.  Project within a larger-scale research grant that would use our differentiated N-ES populations in transplantation studies to alleviate ischemia from animal models of stroke.

 

[Laboratory Research] Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT (May-August, 1999 – 2003)

Focus on studying the interaction of cellular membrane proteins involved in oncogene regulation and consequent cell regulatory behavior in the Department of Laboratory Medicine. Foundational development of cell culture and microbiology techniques such as immunoprecipitation, cell culture maintenance, histochemistry, DNA purification (miniprep/maxiprep), PCR/RT-PCR, sequence analysis, UV-Vis, in-situ hybridization, electrophoresis (SDS/PAGE and agarose gels), cloning/plasmids; also gave me the opportunity to self-teach techniques such as Western blotting when there were no experienced researchers to teach them. I provided support for a number of projects, but my efforts there primarily revolved around the CD8 receptor — to characterize glycosylation and phosphorylation of the CD8 and CD4 membrane proteins. (This work was scooped by another laboratory prior to publication.) Concurrent support for other parallel studies provided. Developed & optimized lab protocols in the process, and aided with grant management and submittals.

 

Hopkins School, New Haven, CT     highest honors & congressional recognition

Wesleyan University, B.A. in Neuroscience and Behavior     dean’s list & completion of 4 yr degree in 3 yrs

University of California Berkeley Extension     continued graduate education, GPA 3.92

• organic chemistry I & II
• statistics
• biostatistics
• calculus I & II
• pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics & pharmacogenetics
• mammalian systemic physiology
• human anatomy
• cancer biology
• cell biology & molecular genetics
• genetics & development
• behavioral neurobiology
• biochemistry
• physiology, ecology, evolution
• molecular biology
• neuropharmacology
• cellular neurophysiology
• machine learning using python
• certificates: UC Berkeley – AI and Machine Learning for Engineering, AI and Machine Learning for Business