Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
Over the course of my career, I have developed an appreciation for and have focused my scientific interests on the advancement of in vitro human derived tissue models and their use in the laboratory in order to answer research questions and discover more about human disease and/or patient care. Currently I am a member of the Translational Tissue Modeling Laboratory at the University of Michigan (umichttml.org), a collaborative laboratory developing human derived gastrointestinal tissue models in vitro. Previously, I have worked in pharmaceutical R&D-preclinical and for the University of Michigan Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology. Open to new experiences and opportunities to make a difference. I believe that knowledge has no limits and I am always willing to listen, learn, and engage in new ideas or problems to solve. I enjoy scientific challenges, obtaining resources and designing experiments to create data that will shed light on good hypotheses in order to learn more about human disease and/or patient care. I strive to use my skill sets and resources to my highest ability to lead in a forward direction. It is my goal to make educated and informed decisions.
Staff scientist with the Translational Tissue Modeling Laboratory (TTML) and Jason Spence Laboratory, Department of Internal Medicine, The Division of Gastroenterology.
Technical/research roles (70% of total job output): • Design and perform experiments ****List of mastered techniques below**** to address PI’s research goals, studying the mechanisms of muscular dystrophies, muscle biology and cardiology. May have several projects going on at one time, requiring superior time management and critical thinking. Independently analyze all generated data, interpret results, and organize results appropriately for presentation and publication. • Develop new techniques or experiments for the lab. Write and maintain protocols for new experiments. Modify techniques to optimize experiments if necessary. • Keep detailed and organized records of experiments, generated data, and the analysis. • Work with undergraduate students and/or rotating graduate students in lab by collaborating and/or helping with their lab projects, communicating/teaching lab concepts/techniques, and monitoring progress to maintain appropriate work output. • Contribute to research collaborations with other lab members, labs in other University of Michigan departments, or other universities in the United States or internationally. Lab management/operative roles (30% of total job output): • Maintain lab's compliance with Environment, Health, and Safety by keeping resources/manuals, training, and inspections up to date for the safety of all lab members. • Maintain lab's compliance with animal protocol and university animal use policies/guidelines. • Help manage lab databases and protocols to keep organized and updated. Create new databases and protocols if necessary. • Keeping the lab stocked with supplies. • Maintain lab equipment/machines with routine checks, cleaning, and fixing/ arranging special maintenance when needed. Set up new equipment when received, learn how to use it, and then teach others use and acquisition of data. • Assist lab with hiring undergraduate student research assistants: University of Michigan UROP, work-study, or volunteer.
• Mastered molecular & cell biology techniques and respective analysis: DNA/RNA extraction, isolation, purification from cells and whole tissues, PCR/qPCR, genotyping, Sanger sequencing, RNA FISH, cloning, plasmids, transfection, adenovirus production, purification, transfection/transduction, electroporation, protein lysates from whole tissues and making cytosolic, nuclear, and membrane fractions, immunoprecipitation, SDS-PAGE, western blotting, Native PAGE, ELISA, tissue culture: several stable/immortalized cell lines, making human derived fibroblasts from skin biopsy, human derived induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, differentiation into cardiomyocytes, positive or negative selection of cells using cell surface markers, cell stretching, immunofluorescence staining of cells or frozen tissue sections. • Mastered small animal techniques and respective analysis to study mouse models of disease: (Trained by the University of Michigan Animal Care & Use Program) Surgery, dissection, histology, cryofreezing, cryosectioning, immunohistochemistry, histochemical staining of tissue sections: H&E, Sirius red, Masson's Trichome, Succinate dehydrogenase, Periodic Acid Schiff, Oil Red O, Evans Blue Dye, pharmacological treatments and dosing, isolation of primary striated muscle cells (heart/cardiomyocytes or skeletal/myoblasts), echocardiograms, exercise/fitness testing using rodent treadmill/running wheel, injections, blood collection via tail vein, saphenous vein, apical stab, serum/plasma isolation and analysis with various assays (creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, cardiac troponins), rodent cardiac catheters, Azlet minipump implants List of lab technology and analysis/software tools I'm able to use competently, provided in the attachment below.
• Perform CNA duties at a skilled nursing facility; with care focused on residents with dementia or Alzheimer's type dementia during the midnight shift. Provide for resident’s needs according to individual care plans and facility policies. • Duties include performing routine bed checks, positioning, providing comfort, hydration and nutritional fulfillment, personal hygiene, toileting, dressing, acquiring vitals, and assisting nurses with ordered treatments. Work with other CNAs and Licensed Practical or Registered Nurses to deliver care. • Became a CNA mentor in April of 2013 to orient and introduce new CNA hires to the facility.
• Study Poloxamer 188 (P188) as a treatment for symptoms of heart failure with the established in vitro and in vivo groups of the company. • Planned and performed experiments (preclinical stage) with research group to measure the efficacy and efficiency of P188 in heart failure animal models by protein analysis techniques, measurement of biomarkers, and tissue damage assays in vitro. Also worked extensively with small rodent cardiac catheters to assess P188 in vivo. • Prepare generated data into presentable research reports for supervisors. • Helped retrieve publications and patents in this field of drug study for the preparation of documents for FDA approval for a clinical trial. • Performed several administrative duties within a small business including initiating laboratory set-up, order supplies, communicate with vendors, support staff, and collaborators.