Associate Scientist II

• Oct 2023 - Present

Associate Scientist I

• Sep 2021 - Sep 2023

In vitro ADME-DMPK• Conduct and perform simple and complex Discovery stage screening studies and IND(Investigational New Drug) Application studies for different sponsors in academia, biotechnology, small and large pharmaceutical companies.• Assay Development as a Bench Scientist with expertise in the following in vitro ADME assays for drug discovery testing: Plasma Stability (PLS), Whole Blood Stability (WBS), Metabolic Microsomal Stability (MMS), Plasma-Protein Binding (PPB), Tissue Homogenate Binding (THB), Blood to Plasma Ratio (BPR) Partitioning, Kinetic Solubility (KS), and Thermodynamic Stability (TS).• Executed an Ex Vivo PPB study alongside a senior scientist for Vertex Pharmaceuticals drug VX-548 using clinical patient samples following GLP guidelines. (VX-548 is a drug candidate currently in phase 2 clinical trials for further development for treatment of Acute Pain, Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, and Neuropathic pain.)• Communicate regularly with Principal Investigator (PI) & Project Manager (PM) to construct plans and schedule high priority experiments to deliver high quality data and reports within expected time frame.• Proficient in Electronic Laboratory Notebook (ELN) and Project Management (PM) systems.• Work with Bioanalytical team to troubleshoot unexpected results for refined data results.• Developed a new Method Validation for Metabolic Microsome Stability (MMS) assay through TECAN Liquid Handler.• Preparation of simple and complex standard solutions. • Procurement of various laboratory supplies through JD Edwards.• Led and trained a fellow junior scientist for various ADME assays.• Maintain research notebooks in a well organized manner• Comply with safety rules, maintain laboratory tidiness, calibrate instruments and document experimental procedures.• Proficient oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.• Received 2 Employee of the Month (EOM) awards for dedication of work performance. Show less

Clinical Laboratory Technician

• Jul 2020 - Sep 2021

Performed manual and robotic DNA and RNA extraction methods of viral DNA and RNA infectious pathogen samples Performed RNA extractions and Real-Time PCR on COVID-19 patient samples Responsible for the proper handling, processing, accessioning OneSwab/UroSwab/ThinPrep samples, and aliquoting Thin Prep Liquid PAP samples Maintained, cleaned, and organized laboratory equipment, reagents, robots, and lab work stations Prepared Master-Mixes for QC,NY, and Conventional PCR tests including but not limited to: Influenza, MRSA, Norwalk Virus, Neisseria gonorrhea, Chlamydia trachomatis, Salmonella, Group B Streptococcus, etc. Ran and troubleshooted errors on Real Time PCR tests using Corbett Life Science CAS 4200 automated PCR setup robots and CAS 4800 8 channel pipetting robots for the transfer of patients samples on elution plates and master-mix to Rotocycler tubes. Properly load and start Rotor-Gene Q machines of the Rotocycler tubes. Performed analysis of completed Real-Time PCR results based on amplification of High, Medium, and Low Controls as well as amplification on any patient samples assigned an MDL # for specific test using Qiagen analytics software. Loaded patient samples and ran 2% agarose gel electrophoresis Ran Acoustic PCR using EDC Biosystems ATS-100 Acoustic Transfer System machines with Greiner 384 well plates and CFX 384 well plates for PCR test including but not limited to HPV, Candida Tropicalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Trichomonas Vaginalis, Megasphaera, BVAB2, Atopobium vaginae Ran completed CFX 384 well plates on BioRad Real-Time instruments and analyzed High,Medium, and Low controls amplifying through CFX Maestro Software. Show less

Undergraduate Research Assistant

• Aug 2019 - May 2020

Project: In Silico Analysis of Aldose Reductase to understand Binding of Various Ligands Worked and performed under Dr.Sonia Arora to understand the various ligand interactions with Human Aldose Reductase Inhibitors(ARIs) in diabetes mellitus. Performed molecular docking of these various inhibitors using database platform DS Visualizer and Virtual Screening Tool PyRx.The objective was to gather a list of human protein compounds of ARIs to determine that binding confirmations fits within the binding pocket of the human Aldose Reductase protein through the computer databases.Through the many tests performed for the In silico docking pointed difficulties that these Neem compounds would pose in the future projects of Aldose Reductase binding activity using recently established protein compounds with more than one protein chain conformations.Experience with bioinformatic search tools: NCBI, RNAseq, Ensembl, DS Visualizer, and Argus Labs Show less

Fitness Assistant

• Sep 2018 - May 2020

Monitored the fitness center to improve the health and well-being of the patrons at a social and professional levelChecked in patrons for group fitness classes Report any difficulties with equipment, behavior, injuries, technical errors to supervisorHave current CPR and first aid certifications