Experience

Advanced Cell Diagnostics
• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 100 - 200 Employee
• Technical Support Scientist

  • Mar 2022 - Present


University of California, Riverside

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Postdoctoral Scholar

  • Oct 2018 - Sep 2021

  - Investigated the role of the cell adhesion molecule latrophilin-2 (Lphn2) in development and maintenance of the hippocampal temporoammonic pathway, focusing on several specific cell types and regions within the hippocampus. - Used Zeiss "Airyscan" confocal imaging suite and Imaris 3D reconstruction software to analyze Lphn2 density along neuronal dendrites at submicron resolution. Helped optimize neuron tracing and puncta reconstruction protocols for general use in the lab. - Developed numerous scripts to assist with various analysis protocols, including over a dozen MATLAB scripts which interfaced directly with Imaris and drastically improved analysis efficiency, speed, and data throughput for the lab. - Trained and supervised multiple undergraduate research assistants on 3D reconstructions and other image analysis protocols. Show less

• Postdoctoral Scholar

  • Aug 2016 - Aug 2018

  - Used simultaneous 2-photon imaging and EEG recording in awake, behaving animals to image cortical astrocyte volume changes associated with acute generalized and focal seizures. - Successfully established first on-campus protocols for long-term cranial window implants, multiphoton imaging with EEG recording in awake animals, and cortical microinjections through cranial windows during 2-photon imaging/EEG recording. - Developed and optimized image analysis protocols and macros to accurately measure astrocyte volume in image stacks from awake, behaving animals. Show less

• Assistant Project Scientist

  • Apr 2016 - Jul 2016

  - Completed graduate experiments characterizing neuronal swelling in hypoosmolar conditions, resulting in 1 publication (Murphy et al 2017, Front Cell Neurosci 11). - Performed preliminary experiments helping to demonstrate elevated potassium as a method of selectively swelling astrocytes in a hippocampal slice, resulting in a later publication (Walch et al 2020, ASN Neuro 12).- Mentored and guided experiments of 2 other lab members for the above projects.

• Graduate Student Researcher

  • Sep 2009 - Mar 2016

  - Used whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology in acute hippocampal slices to study the role of astrocytic glutamate in epileptiform activity. Showed pharmacologically that the “paroxysmal depolarizing shift” (PDS) induced by high extracellular potassium may be partially driven by swelling-induced glutamate release from astrocytes.- Developed lab protocols for confocal imaging of cell volume change in a hippocampal slice and subsequent image stack analysis protocols/macros in ImageJ, in order to investigate astrocyte volume changes in the hypoosmolar model of neuronal hyperexcitability. Demonstrated that, in contrast with published work, pyramidal neurons and passive astrocytes are similarly osmosensitive and both swell rapidly in response to a hypoosmolar insult, regardless of animal age, solution temperature or other factors. Show less

• Teaching Assistant

  • 2011 - 2015

  Taught discussion sections or lab sections for the following courses:· CBNS 106: Introduction to Neuroscience (Discussion). 6 quarters.· PSYC 001: Introductory Psychology (Discussion). 1 quarter.· CBNS 120: Cellular Neuroscience: Membrane and Synaptic Phenomena (Discussion). 1 quarter.· BIOL 171L: Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory (Lab). 1 quarter.· BIOL 003: Organisms in their Environment (Lab). 1 quarter.· BIOL 005B: Introduction to Organismal Biology (Lab). 1 quarter. Show less

• Graduate Student Researcher

  • Jun 2009 - Sep 2009

  Cultured primary rat cortical neurons to investigate the effect of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) on dendritic length and complexity.

• Undergraduate Research Assistant

  • Jun 2008 - Jun 2009

  · Performed routine molecular biology lab chores including (but not limited to): Washing glassware and instruments, making solutions, amplifying and purifying plasmids, and genotyping mice.· Maintained immortalized microglia-like and macrophage-like cell lines for the lab.