Chicago, Illinois, United States
Highly collaborative, detail-oriented protein biochemist with a demonstrated ability to devise and advance multiple projects simultaneously, within a timeline. Extensive presentation and scientific writing experience, with great verbal and written communication skills. Proficient conducting experiments using a wide array of biochemical techniques, including in protein purification process development. Experienced collaborating with transdisciplinary researchers; comfortable spearheading projects as well as following directions as part of a team.
Primary job responsibilities are new product research and development (i.e. protein construct design, expression screening, large-scale chromatographic separation development and optimization), as well as development of process improvements for human cell-based (HEK293) cytokine expression and purification. Secondary responsibilities include i) performing AKTA maintenance and writing UNICORN-based programs, ii) mentoring of junior scientists, and iii) production/purification of GMP-grade cytokines. Selected Highlights - Increased (~4-fold) soluble, monomeric expression of a heparin-binding protein–which previously exhibited undesirable oligomerization/aggregation–by building on literature studies of the protein - Collaboratively developed an expression and purification protocol for a new cytokine product, which I am currently scaling up to production-level batches - Identified 7 chromatography-based process improvements now implemented in GMP-manufacturing
Designed and executed a research project to identify undiscovered human metal-sensor signal transduction proteins. Through a transdisciplinary approach of biochemical, biophysical, and genomic/transcriptomic techniques, defined a conserved mechanism of copper-activated EGFR signal transduction in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells in vitro; NSCLC patient serum copper levels are elevated relative to healthy serum levels. A related project I initiated characterized dysregulated signaling pathways and biomarkers associated with arsenic exposure in noncancerous bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B). Selected Highlights -Identified the EGFR phosphatase PTPN2 as a copper-sensor protein; demonstrated that activation of EGFR-MAPK/ERK signal transduction is modulated by copper level fluctuations (Ross et al. Nat Commun 15, 6947 (2024)) -Work was funded through an awarded K99 grant from NIEHS -Appointed as a member of the Chicago Center for Health and Environment (Biomarkers division) for work as a funded principal investigator evaluating biomarkers of metal exposure -Founded and supervised a bioinorganic subgroup within the lab of Prof. Chuan He (comprising 2 graduate students and 2 undergraduate students)
Research centered on mechanistic and biophysical characterization of bacterial integral membrane metal transport proteins, metalloenzymes, and related in-operon proteins. Specifically, designed experiments which characterized the molecular mechanisms of bacterial metal transporters as well as the predominant biological enzyme capable of catalyzing partial methane oxidation under ambient conditions. Selected Highlights -Resolved a >30-year-old problem surrounding the active site location and nuclearity of an industrially relevant methane oxidizing enzyme (Ross et al. Science 364, 566-570 (2019)) -Extensively collaborated across biological and chemical disciplines to co-author (non-first author) 13 manuscripts -Developed a GC-MS protocol for small hydrocarbon analysis and performed instrument maintenance
Advisor: Dr. Yi Lu Performed protein purifications and other basic biochemical laboratory functions, such as target site primer design as well as optical spectroscopy, anaerobic glovebox work, and FPLC purification. Under the instruction of graduate students, successfully prepared and analyzed protein crystal structures. Designed a project to improve the stability of myoglobin models of terminal oxidase active sites, using a synthesis of rational design and directed evolution approaches.
Supervised introductory chemistry laboratory experiments while ensuring safe atmosphere for undergraduates to work in. Provided instruction of core concept materials in chemistry for students and graded lab reports.