Experience

PharmaCadence Analytical Services

• United States
• Research Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Research Associate

  • Jan 2021 - Present

  Developed methods and ran assays (GLP and non-GLP) to detect and quantify small molecules and proteins in complex biological matrices using LC-MS techniquesPerformed system maintenance and troubleshooting on 5 LC-MS/MS systems Developed methods and ran assays (GLP and non-GLP) to detect and quantify small molecules and proteins in complex biological matrices using LC-MS techniquesPerformed system maintenance and troubleshooting on 5 LC-MS/MS systems



University of Pennsylvania

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Graduate Student, Dmochowski Lab

  • Aug 2014 - Dec 2020

  Traditional 1H-based MRI techniques lack the sensitivity necessary to image low-abundance biomarkers of disease. A more sensitive method is 129Xe-based imaging, where hyperpolarized (hp) 129Xe is delivered to a disease-related site by a host. My research addresses the fundamentals of the use of the organic cages known as cryptophanes (representative formula: C69H69N9O18) as Xe hosts and their functionalization with tags (e.g., peptides) that enable attachment to disease-related biomarkers. The research focus is on the effect of cryptophane and tag on the affinity of Xe for the cage interior, as well as on the exchange of Xe into and out of the cage. Optimal Xe affinity and exchange are important for ultrasensitive detection by 129Xe NMR. The long term benefit is insight into the design and synthesis of medicinally useful 129Xe hosts.Main accomplishments:Designed and synthesized 6 previously unreported cryptophanes, typically 8 steps, 2-4% yieldSynthesized novel cryptophane with adamantane moiety, resulting in highest reported affinity for Xe (15% improvement over prior best)First to discover that cryptophanes are not individually solvated in solution as previously assumed, but instead form water-soluble aggregates of ~10-100 unitsUsed dynamic light scattering, fluorescence spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, and 1H/129Xe NMR spectroscopy methods to characterize interactions between organic cages, Xe, and binding targetsOperated, maintained, and repaired homebuilt Xe polarizer for obtaining hp Xe via spin-exchange optical pumpingDemonstrated that maltose binding protein and ribose binding protein constitute a new class of genetically encoded analyte-sensitive Xe hosts detectable by 129Xe NMR/MRI, and can be used to quantify maltose and ribose in the nanomolar to micromolar regimeEnforced safety protocols as Lab Safety CoordinatorMentored 4 undergraduate students and 2 graduate students



The College of New Jersey

• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Undergraduate Researcher, Hirsh Lab

  • Jan 2013 - May 2014

  Used Pf1 bacteriophage to orient DNA molecules in the presence of a strong magnetic field in order to study the orientation dependence of electron spin-spin interactionsStudied the properties of cobalt (II) ion as a paramagnetic relaxation agent using continuous wave and pulsed EPR spectroscopy

• Undergraduate Researcher, Kress Lab

  • Jan 2012 - May 2014

  Mated and maintained yeast strains with various genetic mutations to study co-transcriptional RNA splicingUsed qualitative and quantitative growth assay methods to assess fitness of strains with mutations in transcription factor and splicing factor proteins to gauge splicing efficiency

• Desk Assistant

  • Sep 2011 - May 2014

  Staffed the hall office/front desk in varying shifts from 8 AM-4 PM and 8 PM-3 AMProvided an accurate log of keys, equipment, packages, and other itemsEnforced and supported all residence hall and college policiesDistributed mail to residents in the mailboxes and retrieved mail daily for the hall office



FMC

• United Kingdom
• Retail Motor Vehicles
• 1 - 100 Employee

• BioAnalytical Intern

  • May 2012 - Aug 2012

  Assisted with and ran various assays to measure volatility of herbicides and insecticides on glass and on soil using HPLC analysisStudied the extent of penetration by fungicides into leaves through the use of a UV-active tracer for effective imagingDeveloped method to determine vapor pressure of unknown compounds using a thermogravimetric analyzerAssisted with the logistics behind a laboratory expansion by obtaining information on the specifications and requirements of various laboratory equipment