Washington DC-Baltimore Area
Currently working as a senior technical associate for a molecular biology production lab and as a part-time laboratory technician for a clinical research lab. Aspiring to become a forensic biologist for DNA analysis and body fluid identification, using hard skills in laboratory techniques for DNA amplification, soft skills in communication, attention to detail, and collaboration, and passion for sexual violence prevention and justice.
• Conduct routine bulk formulation and manufacturing of company products according to established standard operating procedures and in compliance with multi-jurisdictional regulatory requirements • Complete Molecular Biology department production tasks, involving proper operation of standard laboratory equipment while maintaining necessary documentation, quality standards, labor reports, and trainings • Contribute to global corporate goals through technical formulation of molecular diagnostics technologies, including bulks and biologicals, detection and screening tests, extraction kits, customized assays, consumables, and instruments • Through product development and improvement, support advancement of molecular research in the areas of nucleic acid insights, genomics, infectious disease, oncology, bioinformatics, and clinical healthcare
• Support phase I clinical research studies for pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturers by working in an early phase clinical unit that conducts first-in-human testing of medicinal drugs and treatments • Process human biological specimens, primarily blood and urine, from research participants according to particular study protocol and sample specificity, ensuring Good Clinical Practice guidelines are being followed • Perform lab processing procedures for study samples, including weighing containers for quantitative measurements, centrifuging tubes for component separation, pipetting supernatant into cryovials in correct aliquots, and subsequently freezing samples for storage, transport, and further processing
Team Fungi Research Project • Through UMD’s Gemstone Honors Research Program, was part of a three-year undergraduate research team examining alternative methods of treating healthcare-associated biofilm infections using fungal extracts • Performed hands-on lab research that involved extracting and purifying shiitake mushroom isolates for use as potential inhibitory substances in conducting 96-well plate biofilm inhibition assays • Became skilled in the following experimental procedures and techniques: sample pulverization, ultrasonic assisted extraction, hot water extraction, gravity filtration, vacuum filtration, centrifugation, rotary evaporation, 96-well plate biofilm inhibition assay, disk diffusion assay, CV staining, and absorbance spectroscopy
• Worked as a Peer Mentor for UMD’s College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (CMNS) as an undergraduate peer leader for students; promoted to Peer Mentor Coordinator after two years • Assisted CMNS students with transitioning to college, planning and attaining academic and career goals, gaining insight about course scheduling and experiences, and learning about the college’s various programs • As Peer Mentor Coordinator, led the Peer Mentor student team by communicating news from professional staff, creating each semester’s work schedule, and overseeing the selection process for the next Peer Mentor cohort
• Gained firsthand knowledge about the operations of a forensic laboratory by observing the analysts’ lab and office work as they conducted casework processing, equipment calibration, lab trainings, and quality assurance protocols • Handled laboratory cleaning duties including emptying trash, washing dishes, restocking inventory, autoclaving and crosslinking tubes, testing eye washes, and general lab decontamination, as well as administrative duties including scanning, uploading, and filing physical case folders, in addition to preparing new case folders • Assisted CODIS administrator with project documenting case evidence CODIS hits for MPD meetings; involved going through case files and recording case facts such as type of evidence, crime location, type of offense, etc.