Scientist I

• Apr 2022 - Present

Postdoctoral Associate

• Mar 2020 - Apr 2022

- Performed a cell-based Crispr/Cas9 whole genome protease KO screen to identify endogenous sheddases of TGFβRIII by ELISA. - Conducted mouse lung carcinoma model study examining a TGF-β inhibitor combination therapy with α-PD1 and α-CTLA4 immune checkpoint inhibitors. - Frequently perform treatment dosage curve analysis via western blot and ELISA. - Examining the role of neutrophil proteases on TGF-β receptor shedding and degradation. - Examining the efficacy of TGF-β inhibition on NK cell-based cancer immunotherapy. Show less

Graduate Student

• Aug 2015 - Mar 2020

- Characterized the role of uterine NK cells in placental vasculature remodeling and endothelial signaling pathways in genetic mouse models and mammalian cell culture- Identified a Src-mediated transactivation mechanism between the Adrenomedullin and VEGFR3 signaling pathways- Performed cre-mediated RiboTag isolation of ribosomal-bound mRNA for RNA Seq analysis of organ-specific lymphatic vasculature- Multiple research collaborations examining receptor expression/signaling, vascular remodeling, and insulin blood sugar regulation; last of which resulted in my name on a patent for a small molecule as a potential pharmacological agent- Graduate Rotation 1 in the Roland Tisch Lab: Characterized the role of TGF-β in pancreatic islet beta cell proliferation and immune cell recruitment- Graduate Rotation 2 in the Claire Doerschuk Lab: Characterized lung immune cell recruitment and endothelial signaling during pneumonia Show less

Research Technician

• Sep 2013 - Aug 2015

- Ferring Pharmaceuticals collaboration to analyze potential vascular side effects of adrenomedullin-based therapies in genetic mouse strains, contributing towards a patent- Analyzed mammalian cell receptor expression/trafficking via IF, qRT-PCR, and BRET- Lab management, IACUC protocol management, mentored 2 trainees

Research Associate

• Oct 2011 - Jun 2013

- Plasmid mutagenesis for transfecting HEK-293T cells and purification of recombinant proteins- Analyzed kinases by immunoprecipitation, SDS-PAGE, and radioactive kinase activity assay- Purified RNA from neonatal mouse organs for GPCR microarray analysis- Department safety coordinator, lab management, and mentored 2 trainees

Research Associate/Laboratory Manager

• May 2009 - Sep 2011

- Analyzed RNA/miRNA expression in mouse oocytes and embryos by qRT-PCR/microarray- Mouse necropsy, histological analysis, and preimplantation embryo cultures- Lab management and mentored 2 trainees

Graduate Student

• Aug 2007 - May 2009

- Detailed early embryonic shrimp (Penaeus japonicas) development by confocal microscope imaging. - Isolated HOX genes by RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis, RACE PCR, cloning, and sequencing.- Mentored 1 trainee.

Graduate Teaching Assistant

• Aug 2007 - May 2009

Junior-level Genetics for 4 semesters and concurrently General Biology for 1 semester. - Responsible for independently instructing laboratory sections including pre-lab lectures, experimental protocols, curriculum development, and assessing students' understanding of the material.

Laboratory Assistant

• Jun 2006 - Aug 2007

-Prepared bacterial submissions, including culturing and isolating DNA for sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) - Ran RFLP samples on an ABI Prism 3130 Genetic Analyzer - Genome library preparation by transduction and colony picking with a Mantis colony picker -Prepared bacterial submissions, including culturing and isolating DNA for sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) - Ran RFLP samples on an ABI Prism 3130 Genetic Analyzer - Genome library preparation by transduction and colony picking with a Mantis colony picker