Experience

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  GeneDx

  • Chicago, Illinois, United States

  • Assistant Director, Molecular and Cytogenetics

    • Sep 2021 - Present
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States

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  University of Chicago

  • Chicago

  • ABMGG Laboratory Genetics and Genomics Fellow

    • Jul 2018 - Jul 2021
    • Chicago

    Molecular genetics/ Molecular pathologyConstitutional and cancer cytogenetics

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  University of Chicago

  • Chicago

  • Postdoctoral Scholar(Kovler Diabetes Center)

    • Mar 2015 - Jul 2018
    • Chicago

    Monogenic Forms of Diabetes: Next Generation Sequencing, Complications, and Treatment

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  Université Denis Diderot (Paris VII) Faculte de Medecin, INSERM U958

  • Paris Area, France

  • Doctoral Student

    • Sep 2009 - Sep 2013
    • Paris Area, France

    PhD Thesis: Monogenic Determinants of Juvenile Onset Diabetes in Lebanon• Chromosome 11: conducted genome wide linkage analyses, candidate gene selection, and functional studies to identify genes on chromosome 11 responsible for monogenic forms of juvenile-onset insulin-dependent diabetes • A Cis-WFS1 Regulatory Variant: identified and studied a common variant located in the 5’ regulatory region of the WFS1 gene associated with a delayed clinical onset and evaluated its effect on WFS1 expression• Alström Syndrome: genetically diagnosed an atypical case of Alström Syndrome

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  Université libre de Bruxelles

  • Brussels, Belgium

  • Visiting Doctoral Student

    • Apr 2012 - May 2012
    • Brussels, Belgium

    Candidate Gene: Functional and Animal Studies• Chromosome 11: evaluated the expression pattern of a selected candidate and analyzed the effect of gene silencing in rat-derived pancreatic cells on insulin expression and cell viability

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  Lebanese American University, Genetics and Molecular Biology Department

  • Lebanon

  • Research Assistant

    • Feb 2007 - Jun 2009
    • Lebanon

    • The Human Genographic Project: examined the geographical distribution of Y-chromosomal haplogroups and STR haplotypes in order to identify recent and old migration and expansion patterns in Lebanon and the Levant Region• Wolfram Syndrome in Lebanon: participated in a family-based genetic and linkage study to evaluate the contribution of different WFS1 mutations as monogenic determinants of juvenile onset diabetes in Lebanon

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  Rafic Hariri University Hospital: Diagnostic Center

  • Lebanon

  • Assistant Laboratory Manager

    • 2007 - 2009
    • Lebanon

    Participated in establishing and managing a diagnostic research center at the Rafic Hariri governmental hospital that dealt with various cases of hereditary, prenatal, cancerous, and sexually transmitted diseases

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  Imperial College London, Genomic Medicine Department

  • London, United Kingdom

  • Masters Degree Research Project

    • Mar 2006 - Sep 2006
    • London, United Kingdom

    Project: Relaxin 3 Polymorphisms in Schizophrenia and the Metabolic SyndromeConducted high throughput genotyping of multiple relaxin-3 and relaxin-3 receptors polymorphisms and investigated their role in the occurrence of different metabolic syndrome phenotypes in in a cohort of 419 schizophrenic patients treated with anti-psychotic drugs

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  American University of Beirut, NCPNN

  • Lebanon

  • Research Assistant

    • Aug 2004 - Sep 2005
    • Lebanon

    The National Collaborative Perinatal Neonatal Network (NCPNN) is a non-profit voluntary collaboration of health professionals whose mission is to improve maternal and child health through the use of perinatal and neonatal information to promote best practices and effective policiesProject: Group B StreptococcusAssisted in a study to determine the prevalence, risk factors, perinatal transmission, and serotypes of Group B Streptococcus among pregnant women and newborns in Lebanon