Scientist II – stem cell engineering and assay development

GC Therapeutics, Cambridge MA | 07/2022 - 06/2024

• Devised and implemented one screening, two characterization workflows, and three analytical assays to evaluate cell therapy candidates from discovery to process development. Scaled up stem cell expansion and differentiation by at least 7.8x. 

• Developed two automated fluorescent image quantification and visualization programs / protocols for unbiased assay assessments.

• Collaborated with three internal and one external team for unbiased validation of cell lines produced, contributing to a patent filing and securing Series A funding. 

• Influenced preparing slide decks and data packets for submissions to CBER Advanced Technologies Team (CATT).

• Facilitated hiring and team growth from 8, to 15, to 33+ team members, with 1 year of direct management experience.

Scientist I – stem cell engineering

GC Therapeutics, Cambridge MA | 01/2022 - 06/2022

• Spearheaded iPSC expansion and characterization, increasing neural differentiation by 40% and implementing a single-cell screening pipeline. 

• Refined QC metrics by establishing two potency assays. Built and optimized SOPs for external collaboration with a multinational company and maintained high-level communication.

Post-doctoral Researcher - chemical engineering

Northeastern University, Boston MA | 09/2021 - 12/2021

• Set up one vivarium lab and trained by Dr. Denise Inman to assess a trans-corneal electrical stimulation in an in vivo system. 

• Advised four graduate students on projects assessing in vitro responses of micro-environments on neural cells. Advised in developing and optimizing human neural stem cell culture, primary cell culture, molecular biology, and fluorescence microscopy.

Graduate Intern

STERIS Endoscopy, Mentor OH | 01/2021 - 06/2021

• Established one synthetic colon mimetic model and facilitated a new collaboration to develop the model for marketing, R&D, and engineering use. 

• Drafted an SOP to test and evaluate material changes for endoscopic devices in accordance with regulatory guidelines.

Ph.D. Candidate / Graduate Research Assistant

The University of Akron, Akron OH | 2016 - 2021  | Primary roles and projects highlighted below

Materials for Tissue Engineering Lab led by Dr. Rebecca Willits

• Project 1: Investigate the influence of topographical cues to drive neural differentiation.

  • Successfully maintained >98% pluripotency levels of mouse embryonic stem cells on non-feeder layered cultures.

  • Pluripotent mESCs were used for investigating the influence of topographical cues to drive neurogenesis and gliogenesis. Topographical cues such as peptide functionalization and nanofiber orientation were investigated.

  • The resulting neurogenesis and gliogenesis levels were compared via gene and protein expression. Neurogenesis was determined by the expression of TUBB3+, MAP2+, and GAP43+ labels; gliogenesis was determined by the expression of GFAP+ and OLIGO+ labels.

  • Our findings highlighted the larger role played by bioactive cues, over nanofiber orientation, in driving neural differentiation of embryonic stem cells.

  • In addition, we were also able to illustrate the dual role of GFAP+ as a neural precursor and an early astrocyte marker.

• Project 2: Investigate the influence of a synthetic double peptide microenvironment on neural stem cell fate.

  • Successfully maintained >95% multipotency levels of human induced pluripotent neural stem cells (hiNSCs).

  • An optimal FGF peptide concentration was found to allow for FGF2 substitution in hiNSC cultures. Under normal culture conditions, hiNSCs require whole protein fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) to maintain multipotency. Here, I tested hiNSC cultures when whole protein FGF2 was substituted with a synthetic FGF peptide, at different concentrations.

  • Successfully illustrated adhesion capabilities of a synthetic laminin peptide, IKVAV, with hiNSCs. The LN peptide allowed for the substitution of Matrigel from traditional hiNSC expansion conditions. 

  • Cultured hiNSCs under xeno-free and defined culture conditions. Illustrated multipotency levels of hiNSCs via protein expression when cultured under synthetic double peptide conditions.

  • Designed, conducted, and analyzed experiments to identify accurate concentration ratio of 10 gene primers to cDNA concentrations; reducing duplicate experiments carried out between projects and in the lab.

• Project 3: Investigate the influence of LN-511 functionalized hydrogels on neural stem cell fate.

  • Successfully synthesized PEGDA and used it to fabricate hydrogels of different stiffnesses. The hydrogel stiffness was characterized by rheometry, to mimic native brain tissue characteristics.

  • Fabricated a stable hydrogel system that was able to retain proteins of interest for the study duration. 

  • First to illustrate the in vitro interactions between hiNSC and a recombinant laminin isoform found within the NSC niche of the brain. 

  • Investigated hiNSC population profile and mechanotransductive cues responsible for maintaining hiNSC multipotency levels.

• Published 1 co-first-author manuscript, 3 first-author manuscripts in preparation, and 8 first-author poster sessions at national-level conferences, 4 were awarded travel/supplementary funds 

Research Intern

Vrije University Medical Centre, Amsterdam NL | Apr - Jul 2015

• Refined a Western blot protocol for investigating phosphorylation levels of protein kinase A during hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

• LIFE Award for Graduate Excellence & Leadership (student & faculty elected) by The University of Akron in 12/2021. 

• NSF Graduate Co-op/Internship by National Science Foundation from 01/2021 - 06/2021. 

• Dr. Glen L. Njus Graduate Scholarship by The Njus Foundation from 08/2020 - 12/2020. 

• Conference: Intl. Conf on Epigenetics & Bioengineering by National Science Foundation in 01/2020. And Travel Award by SB3C in 04/2019.