Experience

Mustang Bio

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 1 - 100 Employee

• QC

  • Jun 2018 - Present



First Light BioSciences

• Principal Research Associate/Lab Manager

  • Feb 2016 - Mar 2018

• Principal Research Associate

  • Jun 2012 - Feb 2016

  Integral role in effort to secure the continuation of NIH R01 grant and awarding of multi-million dollar government BARDA grant, leading company to grow from 6 employees to over 40. Technical lead for advancement of MRSA assay, testing numerous compounds to optimize fluorescent antibody reagents and assay conditions leading to differentiating between sensitive and resistant S. aureus in under 4hrs. Identified and analyzed components of MRSA assay that led to increased specificity and sensitivity, detecting as few as 10 CFU per nasal swab. Technical lead for processing and analyzing over 300 residual clinical nasal swabs for MRSA assay verification and identifying and solving matrix effects

• Senior Research Associate

  • Nov 2010 - Jun 2012

  Coordinated with Director of Research to generate data supporting feasibility of novel rapid antimicrobial susceptibility test using fluorescently labelled antibodies to distinguish between methicillin-resistant and sensitive S. aureus (MRSA).



The Forsyth Institute

• United States
• Research Services
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Research Assistant

  • 2006 - Sep 2010

  Identified over 5000 bacteria from children with and without severe early childhood dental caries with the goal of better understanding the microbiota associated with this aggressive bacterial infection. Work led to identification of a bacterial species as a potential newly recognized caries pathogen. Involved in every step of the identification process from processing the initial culture sample and isolating individual bacteria to the PCR and sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Point person for the laboratory, responsible for coordinating and organizing the workflow of the experiments as well as collecting, analyzing, and managing the large data sets. Assist the primary investigator in preparing manuscripts for publication. Work independently as well as within a multidisciplinary team of collaborators from Forsyth and outside clinics and other laboratories.



MA Department of Environmental Protection

• Intern, Office of Research and Standards

  • Oct 2009 - Dec 2009

  Conducted an extensive literature review on the herbicide atrazine’s mammalian toxicity focusing on exposure via drinking water. Reviewed current Environmental Protection Agency and state standards and human epidemiologic and animal studies conducted in the past five years. Based on research, provided the Office of Research and Standards with a report summarizing and critiquing the most current studies to help them determine if the current drinking water standard needs to be reconsidered and to be used as a guide for the Environmental Protection Agency’s upcoming reevaluation report on atrazine.



SelectX

• Research Assistant

  • Oct 2004 - May 2006

  Isolated terrestrial and marine sediment soil DNA using extraction techniques specific for environmental DNA isolation. Modified environmental DNA by combinatorial genetic techniques to isolate novel natural-product like compounds. Generated ssDNA and created single gene libraries from environmental DNA for use in novel pathway screening. High throughput screening of genetically modified antibiotic pathways. Isolated bacterial genomic DNA and constructed primary cosmid libraries to isolate and screen 3 antibiotic pathways