Experience

VitaKey Inc.

• United States
• Biotechnology
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Principal Scientist

  • Aug 2022 - Present

  Durham, North Carolina, United States Team building and scientific, financial, and administrative management (including day-to-day science of several direct reports) of large project in fields of drug delivery and food biotechnology. Involved in innovation: preparation of provisional patents, scientific diligence, new partnership pitches, IP landscaping, grant proposals, and data summaries for internal and external stakeholders. Direct formulation experience including hot melt extrusion, high shear homogenization, milling, spray… Show more Team building and scientific, financial, and administrative management (including day-to-day science of several direct reports) of large project in fields of drug delivery and food biotechnology. Involved in innovation: preparation of provisional patents, scientific diligence, new partnership pitches, IP landscaping, grant proposals, and data summaries for internal and external stakeholders. Direct formulation experience including hot melt extrusion, high shear homogenization, milling, spray drying, fluid bed coating for microencapsulation of nutraceuticals and food. Broad understanding of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical excipients including chemical properties, novel uses, and ingredient suppliers. Show less



Vivtex

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Principal Scientist

  • Jan 2020 - Aug 2022

  Greater Boston Area Scientific and administrative project management (including several direct reports on cross-functional teams) in collaboration with large pharmaceutical companies. Led development of ex vivo high-throughput screening assay and associated workflows to rapidly identify formulations increasing oral bioavailability of peptide and RNA therapeutics. Formulation expertise includes solid dosage forms, tablet coating, LNPs, polyplexes, SEDDS, suspensions, permeation enhancers, and mucoadhesives… Show more Scientific and administrative project management (including several direct reports on cross-functional teams) in collaboration with large pharmaceutical companies. Led development of ex vivo high-throughput screening assay and associated workflows to rapidly identify formulations increasing oral bioavailability of peptide and RNA therapeutics. Formulation expertise includes solid dosage forms, tablet coating, LNPs, polyplexes, SEDDS, suspensions, permeation enhancers, and mucoadhesives. Interfaced with CROs to support preclinical pharmacokinetic studies. Show less



Boston University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Postdoctoral Researcher

  • Dec 2019 - Jan 2020

• Graduate Research Assistant - Grinstaff Lab

  • Sep 2014 - Dec 2019

  Boston, Massachusetts Primary driver on 5 distinct projects; versatile end-to-end experience from mechanistic physical organic chemistry to RNA nanoparticle formulation to measurement of in vitro and in vivo efficacy. Synthesized carbohydrate polymer-lipid conjugates via thiol-maleimide chemistry for extra-hepatic LNP formulation development. Used thin film hydration method to generate LNPs and DLS, Zeta potential, Ribogreen, and electrophoresis to measure physicochemical characteristics. Formulated polymeric… Show more Primary driver on 5 distinct projects; versatile end-to-end experience from mechanistic physical organic chemistry to RNA nanoparticle formulation to measurement of in vitro and in vivo efficacy. Synthesized carbohydrate polymer-lipid conjugates via thiol-maleimide chemistry for extra-hepatic LNP formulation development. Used thin film hydration method to generate LNPs and DLS, Zeta potential, Ribogreen, and electrophoresis to measure physicochemical characteristics. Formulated polymeric nanoparticles by ionic complexation with pDNA, anti-miR ASOs, and mRNA. Used Box-Behnken DoE to optimize formulation physicochemical parameters. Developed circular dichroism and FRET-based assays to quantify particle hydrogen bonding and evaluate biological stability. Confirmed pDNA and RNA delivery in vitro via dual-luciferase, confocal microscopy, FACS, and western blot/RT-qPCR target assays. Used NMR and LC-MS-qTOF to evaluate regioselective amine synthesis via reductive amination, Mitsunobu reaction, and azidation to functionalize glycals. Conducted anionic ring opening polymerizations of lactam monomers and characterized polymers via IR, SEC, and MALDI. Investigated in vitro polymer biocompatibility by MTS, Alamar Blue, and multiplexed cytokine assays. Utilized AFM, FRAP, and ex vivo tissue testing to quantify polymer mucoadhesivity. Wrote and awarded federal grant (DOD, $750k, 2018) for intranasal nanoparticle-mediated Ketamine delivery to treat PTSD

• Graduate Teaching Fellow

  • Aug 2015 - May 2017

  Boston, Massachusetts Graduate teaching fellow at the Lafayette Middle School in Everett, MA, as well as graduate teaching assistant for Statics (sophomore level) and Control Systems in Engineering (junior level).



University of Michigan

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Research Assistant - Meyerhoff Lab

  • Apr 2012 - May 2014

  Ann Arbor, Michigan Synthesized arginine-rich peptides by continuous enzymatic flow reactor and evaluated in vitro enhancement of nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 and BEAS-2B cell lines. Characterized macrophage activation by western blot and quantified nitric oxide release by electrochemiluminescence. Fabricated electrochemical enzymatic biosensors for measurement of tear glucose levels.

• Teaching Assistant

  • May 2013 - Dec 2013

  Ann Arbor, Michigan Graduate teaching assistant for Organic Chemistry II lab, Analytical chemistry lab, and Biophysical Chemistry and Thermodynamics.



University of Michigan

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Undergraduate Research Assistant

  • Oct 2010 - May 2012

  Ann Arbor, Michigan Used Western blot to interrogate cross-talk between PI3K and AKT signaling pathways. Performed live-cell fluorescence experiments to study micropinocytosis using fluorescent constructs.



Dow

• United States
• Chemical Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Undergraduate Intern

  • Jun 2010 - Sep 2010

  Midland, Michigan Determined the Hansen solubility parameters of in-house polymer samples and compiled viscosity, refractive index, dielectric constant, boiling point, and freezing point of wide range of solvents