Experience

• 

  BlueSphere Bio

  • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

  • Scientist

    • Feb 2022 - Present
    • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

• 

  University of Pittsburgh

  • United States
  • Higher Education
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Associate Research Scientist

    • Sep 2021 - Jan 2022

  • Postdoctoral Research Associate

    • Nov 2015 - Aug 2021

• 

  McGill University

  • Montreal, QC

  • PhD Candidate

    • Sep 2008 - Apr 2015
    • Montreal, QC

    Supervisors: Dr. Nicole Beauchemin and Philippe GrosThesis Title: Identifying Genetic Determinants of Colorectal Cancer Susceptibility in Mice Project Description: Characterized the response of several inbred mouse strains to colitis-associated colorectal cancer and mapped the differential susceptibility between several of these mouse strains using informative F2 and recombinant congenic mouse strains. - Bred, genotyped and maintained an animal colony with over 20 different mouse strains including congenic and transgenic mouse lines- Wrote grants and animal ethics protocols- Supervised and prepared experiments for undergraduate project students- Performed routine animal colonoscopies

• 

  The Hospital for Sick Children

  • Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  • Clinical Research Project Assistant

    • Jan 2008 - Aug 2008
    • Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Supervisor: Dr. Elise HéonProject Description: Coordinated the collection and analysis of data a multi-site phenotype-genotype correlation study for a genetically inherited eye disease- Wrote ethics protocols and consent/assent forms for the Research Ethics Board- Corresponded with patients to obtain relevant clinical information of study perameters- Prepared DNA for mutational analysis studies- Generated multi-generation pedigrees of affected families

• 

  McGill University

  • Department of Biochemistry

  • Co-op placement 3: Research Assistant

    • May 2007 - Aug 2007
    • Department of Biochemistry

    Supervisor: Dr. Philippe GrosProject Description: Screened seventeen candidate genes for polymorphisms involved in increased susceptibility to colorectal cancer in mice- Primer design- PCR trouble shooting- Sequence analysis

• 

  The Hospital for Sick Children

  • Toronto, ON

  • Co-op placement 2: Student Research Technician

    • Jan 2006 - Aug 2006
    • Toronto, ON

    Supervisor: Dr. Elise HéonProject Description: Conducted studies to identify novel mutations associated with Retinal Dystrophy and Bardet-Biedl Syndrome using PCR and sanger-sequencing in a multi-ethnic populationFellowships: Ontario Genomics Institute Summer Fellowship, University of Toronto Institute of Medical Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program

• 

  Public Health Agency of Canada

  • Winnipeg, MB

  • Co-op placement 1: Co-operative Education Student

    • Jan 2005 - Apr 2005
    • Winnipeg, MB

    Supervisor: Dr. Jingxin CaoProject Description: Used cell culture, cloning and Western blots to study the overexpression of H1L on Vaccinia Virus plaque formation

• 

  University of Guelph

  • Guelph, ON

  • Lab Volunteer

    • May 2004 - Jun 2004
    • Guelph, ON

    Developed and validated an enzyme linked immunosorbant assay for measurement of a steroid hormone as part of a volunteer placement in the Department of Zoology

• 

  YWCA Camp Tapawingo

  • Parry Sound, ON

  • Camp Counsellor

    • 2001 - 2004
    • Parry Sound, ON

    Organized and ran activities for young girls (ages 6-15) at a residential camp in Northern Ontario. - Head of Swimming (2004)- Initiated and trained staff for emergency proceedures- Taught Red Cross swimming levels- Worked as a one-on-one counsellor to campers with special needs