Making a better world

Scientist — Tax Lab

Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, University of Arizona
Principal Investigator: Prof. Frans E. Tax
Apr 2018 – Current

• Analyzed genetic interactions between AHA3, AHA9, and CEPR1 in root growth under various nitrogen soil conditions using PCR, RT-PCR, bacterial cloning, and microscopy

• Developed and implemented advanced testing methodologies for assessing Arabidopsis root development in nutrient-deficient environments

• Created custom data analysis scripts in Python, version controlled with Git

• Prepared manuscripts and figures for scientific publications and presentations using Pandas, Seaborn, Adobe Illustrator, and LaTeX

• Mentored undergraduate students in research techniques and project management

• Assisted in teaching undergraduate molecular and cellular biology courses

Research Assistant — Madhavan Lab

Department of Neurology, University of Arizona
Principal Investigator: Prof. Lalitha Madhavan
Mar 2018 – Apr 2018

• Cultured induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and managed animal colonies to support research on aging and neurodegeneration in the context of Parkinson’s disease

• Reviewed and presented relevant studies from the literature, enhancing team understanding of stem cell biology and neurological disorders

• Studied ultrasonic vocalizations in mice, contributing to innovative approaches in behavioral phenotyping

• Assisted in setting up specialized software for ultrasonic vocalization analysis and contributed to experimental and project design

Research Assistant — Khanna Lab

Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Arizona
Principal Investigator: Prof. Rajesh Khanna
Jan 2018 – Mar 2018

• Conducted immunoprecipitation experiments to examine protein interactions in rat spinal tissue

• Performed western blotting to assess protein expression and interactions in biological samples

• Supported studies on allosteric regulation and trafficking of voltage-gated ion channels, advancing the understanding of chronic pain and neurodegenerative disease mechanisms

Research Assistant — Capaldi Lab

Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona
Principal Investigator: Prof. Andrew Capaldi
Oct 2017 – Jan 2018

• Conducted genetic experiments in yeast cell cultures to investigate cell growth circuitry and stress signaling pathways

• Utilized live cell imaging and fluorescence microscopy to monitor cellular responses to stress and starvation

• Presented research findings in lab meetings and departmental forums, effectively communicating experimental results

Research Assistant — Paek Lab

Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona
Principal Investigator: Prof. Andrew Paek
Aug 2017 – Oct 2017

• Utilized CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to engineer mammalian cell lines for targeted pathway analysis

• Employed live cell imaging and fluorescence microscopy to monitor nuclear translocation of FOXO1 in mammalian cell cultures following AKT inhibitor treatment

• Analyzed live-cell imaging data to observe the relationship between protein dynamics and cellular outcomes post-chemotherapy

• Developed and executed experiments to study the dynamics of key signaling pathways, contributing to research on cancer cell stress responses and fate determination

• Presented findings at lab meetings and larger departmental forums, effectively communicating experimental progress and results

Research Assistant — Buchan Lab

Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona
Principal Investigator: Prof. Ross Buchan
Nov 2015 – Jun 2017

• Performed bacterial transformation, cloning, and yeast culturing to generate and maintain constructs for studying stress granules and P-bodies

• Conducted immunoprecipitation, western blotting, PCR screening, and RT-PCR to characterize molecular components and dynamics

• Utilized confocal fluorescence microscopy to quantitatively assess RNA stress granule formation under cellular stress conditions

• Analyzed experimental data to elucidate the roles of stress granules and P-bodies in cellular stress responses

Research Assistant — Cowen Lab

Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona
Principal Investigator: Prof. Stephen Cowen
May 2015 – Mar 2016

• Maintained animal colonies to support behavioral and neuroscience research on aging and neurodegenerative diseases

• Engineered a new maze for behavioral studies, including coding mechanized components and developing a novel food delivery apparatus

• Performed MATLAB data analysis on neuronal datasets to investigate dopamine’s role in motivation, learning, and movement control

• Prepared brain histology samples and conducted rat perfusions to facilitate studies on neuronal communication disruptions

• Led a project on ultrasonic vocalizations in rats, assessing the impact of lateral vein-injected amphetamine on vocalization frequency

Research Assistant — Higgins Lab

Department of Neuroscience & Cognitive Science, University of Arizona
Principal Investigator: Prof. Charles Higgins
Aug 2012 – May 2015

• Worked on an interface to leverage dragonfly optical systems for object avoidance

• Proposed expanding the model by establishing and managing a praying mantid colony in collaboration with external experts

• Performed electrophysiology experiments on live insects to record brain activity patterns and analyzed the resulting data using MATLAB

• Worked with human subjects to examine sleep spindle frequencies in EEG data, investigating correlations with depression and anxiety

• Developed entry/exit surveys, assisted with IRB regulatory paperwork, analyzed data in MATLAB, and presented research findings