Graduate Research Associate

Brian Zid Lab, UC San Diego

The Zid lab studies cell homeostasis and stress using biochemistry

• Explored the effect of translational induction on mRNA localization during oxidative stress in mammalian cells

• Created multiple biochemical assays and novel techniques to identify conserved sub-cellular behaviors between mammalian and yeast cells.

• Developed method to stabilize fragile membrane-less compartments (p-bodies) for visualization by Fluorescence in-situ Hybridization.

• Lead BSL2 mammalian cell culture division of lab, increasing project completion rate by 33%

• Mentored two undergraduate students, one PhD candidate, and one Post-doctoral scholar in tissue culture experimental design/techniques.

Graduate Research Associate
Roberto Malinow Lab, UC San Diego

The Malinow lab studies the neural basis for depression in rats and humans

• Hypothesized and found evidence of a dual-regulatory circuit between the Lateral Habenula and Lateral Preoptic Area

• Characterized the habenular-circadian circuit as putatively having long-range GABA-ergic and Glutamatergic projections. Identified galanin expressing projections from the LPO to the LHb

• Evaluated the behavioral effects of sub-anesthetic doses of ketamine on a conditional learned helplessness rodent model

• Identified discrete populations of galanin and ketamine induced neuronal activity using Fluorescence in-situ Hybridization and Immunohistochemistry

• Performed major and minor surgical operations on rodents (i.e. cranial injections, parafomaldehyde perfusions)

• Presented work at Lewis Judd Young Investigators Symposium

Collaborated with Dr. Davidenko to continue face perception research from Bridgeman lab for publication

• Designed, implemented, and analyzed experiments using Matlab software

• Determined cognitive conflict between upper-visual-hemisphere bias and left gaze bias in facial perception

• Wrote and revised manuscript for gaze bias Perception publication

Laboratory Manager, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Bruce Bridgeman Lab, UC Santa Cruz

The Bridgeman lab studied the psychophysics visual cognition

• Designed, developed, and implemented multi-modal experiments using human eye-tracking

• Created analysis informatics scripts using Python and Matlab

• Instituted formal laboratory procedure for data recording across multiple researchers

• Determined spatial memory of angled distances using closed-loop walking

• Identified left-gaze bias through a facial perception study

• Determined cognitive load using cross-modal attentional bias experiments.

• Submitted closed-loop research for publication

• Closed lab after the passing of Dr. Bridgeman

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Carrie Partch Lab, UC Santa Cruz

The Partch Lab studies the molecular clock using biochemistry

• Identified Cancer-Testis antigen PASD1 as a circadian repressor

• Developed circadian reporter lines from cancer cells

• Developed novel circadian reporter line in suspension cells

• Created siRNA knock-out systems using lentiviral mechanisms

• Trained and instructed one graduate rotation student and two undergraduate researchers

• Utilized persuasive writing and presentation skills in meetings and conferences

• Developed grant proposal writing skills

• Managed multiple research projects, coursework, and extracurricular activities simultaneously

• Mastered mammalian cell culture protocol and techniques

• Developed independent hypothesis of ALK5 receptor function and prospectus