Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Research instructor with over 1.5 years at the University of Pittsburgh and extensive expertise in neurodegenerative biology, RNA metabolism, and cellular assay development. Contributions include building cell-based screening assays for RNA-targeting oligonucleotides, engineering RNA splicing-sensor reporters, and leading high-content imaging pipelines to support ALS and FTD drug-discovery programs. A skilled scientist with over a decade of research experience, specializing in molecular and cellular biology strategies to understand and address neurodegenerative diseases. Committed to advancing translational research through innovative approaches such as proximity labeling technologies, splicing-sensor reporters, and RNA oligonucleotide-based platforms to identify and validate therapeutic targets.
• Acted as Scientific Lead for ALS/TDP-43 research projects, ensuring continuity of NIH-funded programs. • Developed innovative cell-based screening assays for RNA-targeting oligonucleotides, enhancing drug discovery efforts. • Coordinated cross-institutional collaborations, managing logistics and technical reports to streamline research processes.
• Developed an optogenetic live-cell imaging platform to investigate TDP-43 aggregation reversal using RNA oligonucleotides. • Demonstrated endogenous cryptic-exon inclusion under stress, contributing to ASO splice-correction programs. • Founded a RNA splicing-sensor and aggregation screening platform, leading to one preprint and contributions to two peer-reviewed papers.
• Completed the TEARAP course on Experimental Animal Use, focusing on rodents. • Managed projects studying microbiota disruption and the effects of novel probiotics in animal models. • Conducted extensive behavioral tests and collaborated with Nutricia Danone on industry-related research.
• Conducted large-cohort animal studies to investigate the aging and microbiota gut-brain axis. • Performed biochemical assays, including protein extraction and Western blot techniques. • Contributed to a peer-reviewed publication, enhancing the understanding of gut-brain interactions. • Collaborated with researchers at Universidad Mayor's Center for Integrative Biology, fostering a multidisciplinary approach.
• Conducted extensive research in cellular and molecular biology, bioinformatics, and systems biology. • Developed a Ph.D. thesis on engineering stem cells for inflammatory disease therapies. • Mentored four undergraduate students through their thesis projects in various scientific disciplines. • Authored four peer-reviewed publications and submitted a U.S. patent application, advancing genomics and biotechnology.