United States
Hello! I am a curious self-starter and life-long learner, and former biomedical researcher and educator. I'm excited to bring extensive experience in genetics, biological research, education, and healthcare into the tech world as a software engineer. Challenging myself to learn new things has shaped and broadened my perspective on life. Whether it's a new escape room, language, or dance class to try out, I have always enjoyed learning new and interesting skills. In my professional life, I have also challenged myself to not only develop novel surgical procedures and research protocols but also to mentor and educate students in the lab and beyond. With nearly a decade of biomedical research experience, I now hope to utilize my diverse skillset and experiences to create tech tools to help people live happier and healthier lives. We can be the change we wish to see in the world - let's do this together! (And have fun while we're at it!)
• Contributed to full-stack feature development within an agile environment (PHP, MySQL, React) • Designed and updated database schemas to support new features with scalability in mind • Set up Jira environment and automations after evaluating various management tools for the engineering team • Revamped login behavior using SAML 2.0 • Collaborated with designers, engineers, and customers to plan and develop software components
• Analyzed mouse RNA-seq data to identify altered gene expression using shell scripting in R and Bash within UCSF’s Unix-based HPC environment (Wynton) and software tools such as STAR, featureCounts, and DESeq2 • Created, optimized, and maintained a system of user-friendly databases and automated calculation spreadsheets to store, process, and analyze biological data for 10+ mouse lines • Balanced the demands of several simultaneous lab projects via self-designed automated scheduling spreadsheets to coordinate timelines up to 6 months in advance, with dynamic reallocation of time and resources • Developed breeding strategy and 3-year schedule to generate two novel transgenic mouse lines for both conditional and constitutive knockouts of Tmem55b, speeding up colony generation time by 3+ months; DNA sequence confirmed via Sanger sequencing and analysis in Geneious bioinformatics software
• Designed, tested, and optimized multiplex PCRs to genotype multiple alleles simultaneously, increasing accuracy of results and reducing time and resources required by 50% • Provided technical support for staff in the building for both lab and mouse-related procedures, including debugging code and training staff to perform various surgeries and blood collection techniques • Performed and optimized experimental procedures (injections, dissections, blood collections, PCR, qPCR, etc.) • Worked with the animal ethics committee (IACUC) to design experiments in compliance with local, federal, and international regulations, and wrote significant sections of technical documentation within the 40-page protocols
• Performed survival skin biopsies in mice and histological analysis of skin cancer morphology • Developed and optimized SOPs for primary murine keratinocyte and primary human tumor-derived cell culture (+ co-culturing conditions with 3T3 fibroblasts) under novel conditions • Managed several mouse breeding projects for 300+ mice to generate congenic mouse strains while maintaining key genetic mutations • Genotyped thousands of mice for an array of thirty different mutations via PCR • Recruited, interviewed, trained, and mentored a cohort of new volunteers in proper lab techniques and mouse handling • Prepared official documentation required for international and domestic shipments of biological material
• Instructed on-site test preparation courses throughout the SF Bay Area on subjects tested on the MCAT/DAT/OAT, including college-level biology, biochemistry, physics, chemistry, and critical thinking/reasoning skills. • Coached students to study and test strategically, earning top scores for entry to professional healthcare schools. • Prepared students to pursue professional careers in medicine, dentistry, and optometry by developing confidence and providing guidance.