Experience

Exai Bio
• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Staff Research Associate

  • Mar 2023 - Present


Guardant Health

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Research Associate

  • Mar 2021 - Feb 2023

  •Performed guardbanding and stability studies on reagents used in cell-free nucleic acid assay for NGS and proteomics assays. •Conducted experiments to optimize the automation for fluorescence-based protein assay. •Collaborated with a cross-functional team of R&D scientists, reagent manufacturers, process engineers, and clinical scientists to effectively transition the development workflows into clinical productions and validations. •Performed guardbanding and stability studies on reagents used in cell-free nucleic acid assay for NGS and proteomics assays. •Conducted experiments to optimize the automation for fluorescence-based protein assay. •Collaborated with a cross-functional team of R&D scientists, reagent manufacturers, process engineers, and clinical scientists to effectively transition the development workflows into clinical productions and validations.



University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB)

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• General Supervisor

  • Apr 2020 - Mar 2021

  •Assisted IGS directors in implementing and operating a high-throughput SARS-CoV-2 testing laboratory capable of processing over 10,000 patient samples daily for the State of Maryland.•Trained and assessed the competency of testing personnel on primary sample transfer, RNA extraction and qPCR.

• Next-Gen Sequencing Platform Specialist

  • Apr 2019 - Mar 2021

  •Operated and managed numerous Illumina sequencing platforms such as NovaSeq, iSeq, MiSeq and HiSeq 4000s.•Wrote and maintained SOPs governing the operation of high-throughput genomic sequencing platforms.•Trained and evaluated new laboratory personnel on DNA and RNA library preps, including the sequencing platforms.



Personal Genome Diagnostics

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Research Associate II

  • Oct 2017 - Jan 2019

  •Supported the development, investigation, validation, and troubleshooting of new assays on liquid handlers in the CLIA services laboratory to improve workflows, reduce turn-around times and increase throughput. •Participated in cross-functional R&D teams with scientists and genomic bioinformaticians to create fully or semi-automated protocols assays for clinical and research laboratories. •Supported the development, investigation, validation, and troubleshooting of new assays on liquid handlers in the CLIA services laboratory to improve workflows, reduce turn-around times and increase throughput. •Participated in cross-functional R&D teams with scientists and genomic bioinformaticians to create fully or semi-automated protocols assays for clinical and research laboratories.



GeneDx

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 700 & Above Employee

• Next-Gen Sequencing Technologist III/Team Lead

  • Sep 2012 - Sep 2017

  •Managed the daily operations of weekend shift to ensure laboratory tests are accurately performed and results are reported in a timely manner. •Loaded cartridges and flow cells on Illumina sequencers such as HiSeq 2500s, HiSeq 4000s and MiSeq. •Validated new reagents and performed library prep and capture procedures for Next Generation and Whole Exome Sequencing. •Managed the daily operations of weekend shift to ensure laboratory tests are accurately performed and results are reported in a timely manner. •Loaded cartridges and flow cells on Illumina sequencers such as HiSeq 2500s, HiSeq 4000s and MiSeq. •Validated new reagents and performed library prep and capture procedures for Next Generation and Whole Exome Sequencing.



Howard University College of Medicine

• Higher Education
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Research Assistant

  • Sep 2011 - May 2012

  •Investigated the effects of the anti-diabetic agent, metformin, on neuropathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease in Dr. Allard’s lab. •Stained sections of mouse brain for β-amyloid plaques with immunohistochemistry techniques. •Wrote my honor’s research senior thesis and presented our research in poster format at scientific symposiums in Nashville, TN and Washington, DC. •Investigated the effects of the anti-diabetic agent, metformin, on neuropathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease in Dr. Allard’s lab. •Stained sections of mouse brain for β-amyloid plaques with immunohistochemistry techniques. •Wrote my honor’s research senior thesis and presented our research in poster format at scientific symposiums in Nashville, TN and Washington, DC.



MD Anderson Cancer Center

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Summer Research Intern

  • Jun 2011 - Aug 2011

  •Investigated the effects of RNAi induced-knockdown of half pint, on the level of myc in Drosophila S2 cells. •Conducted multiple RT-PCR amplification and gel electrophoresis. •Presented a poster on our findings at the end of the internship at the Cancer Prevention Research Institute in Texas, Department of Genetics. •Investigated the effects of RNAi induced-knockdown of half pint, on the level of myc in Drosophila S2 cells. •Conducted multiple RT-PCR amplification and gel electrophoresis. •Presented a poster on our findings at the end of the internship at the Cancer Prevention Research Institute in Texas, Department of Genetics.



National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

• United States
• Research Services
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Summer Research Intern

  • Jun 2010 - Aug 2011

  •Established a stable cell line for a functional assay needed to analyze select compounds under Dr. Jacobson, Chief of the Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, Molecular Recognition team. •Practiced cell culture, cell line establishment and gel electrophoresis techniques. •Presented our poster at the NIH Summer Poster Day 2010 •Established a stable cell line for a functional assay needed to analyze select compounds under Dr. Jacobson, Chief of the Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, Molecular Recognition team. •Practiced cell culture, cell line establishment and gel electrophoresis techniques. •Presented our poster at the NIH Summer Poster Day 2010