Aaron Bradford Email & Phone Number

Acton, Ma, Us

Waltham, Massachusetts, United States

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Weston, Massachusetts, United States

Greater Boston Area

Durham, New Hampshire

● Postdoctoral bench research and training in cell and molecular neurobiology laboratory.● Performed team tasks characterizing common splice variations in mammalian neuronal calcium channels that cause behavioral changes in fear behaviors with applications to anxiety and PTSD.● Developed projects combining proteomics of protein:protein interactions with cell and brain slice electrophysiology to characterize changes involving targets of interest.● Collaborated on projects with teams at Broad Institute and Brown University studying similar topics in induced pluripotent stem cells and similar models.● Optimized immunoprecipitation assays to isolate proteins of interest.● Optimized electrophysiological recording protocols for thorough characterization of patched neurons in the pre-frontal cortex of mice.● Performed extensive literature and database searches for proteins and genes of interest. Refined and catalogued relevance to sex- and age-dependent behavioral differences observed in team projects.● Determined relevant brain regions and neuronal circuits to focus on from mouse behaviors.● Supervised graduate students and undergraduates on team projects including mouse behavioral correlates of anxiety.● Assisted teaching advanced undergraduate and graduate course in neurobiology focused on literature analysis and discussion in various neuroscience topics.● Discussed and presented results for PI, team, and department.● Integrated preliminary results, protocols, and topics of interest into grant applications.

Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md

● Postdoctoral training program in molecular neurotoxicity laboratory.● Characterized molecular effects of biological and chemical neurotoxicants and developed toxicant countermeasures in stem cell and ex vivo models.● Developed reliable protocols to differentiate mouse embryonic stem cells into active, networked populations of neurons in vitro, with forays into same using human stem and pluripotent cells. Cell characterization with RNA sequencing, electrophysiology, and cell signaling assays. ● Awarded competitive, independent, institutional research funding ($100,000) to develop transgenic embryonic stem cell lines for differentiation into neurons.● Differentiated and characterized transgenic stem cell lines into neurons, including lines with genetically-encoded calcium indicators.● Designed and transfected additional vectors to produce novel transgenic stem cells and differentiated neurons, including BAC and CRISPr constructs.● Trained and supervised technicians and students in the laboratory, including high school, undergraduate and graduate students.● Safely handled, secured and utilized botulinum toxins and other hazardous toxicants. ● Wrote and edited a comprehensive review and critique of the use of stem cell-derived neurons in basic and clinical research.● Developed custom antibodies for the detection of botulinum toxin activity. Select antibodies will be used in collaboration with the FDA to develop a rapid platform for botulinum toxin detection and characterization worldwide.● Regularly-used techniques include two-photon and confocal imaging, qPCR, Western blotting and other immmunoassays, and quantitative fractionation by ultracentrifugation.● Developed additional techniques including multielectrode array electrophysiology, nerve and muscle dissection and recording, and neuromuscular junction electrophysiology.● Processed and analyzed all data, including high-content imaging of calcium transients and high content muscle strength recordings.

East Lansing, Mi

● Successfully completed, defended and published neuroscience/neurotoxicology dissertation research “Involvement of the GABAA receptor in calcium-dependent toxicity of methylmercury in developing and aged cerebellum”● Research techniques include tissue isolation, brain slicing, slice culture, fluorescent live cell and synaptic microscopy, concentration response assays, confocal and high speed microscopy, image processing, handling of large imaging datasets● Maintained and characterized only live colony of GABAA receptor alpha 6 subunit knockout mice, including genotyping techniques● Pursued independent training in MATLAB and ImageJ for image processing and automation, presented results in major conference posters● Wrote and revised detailed protocols and animal use documentation and grant preparation● Implemented appropriate statistical analysis for many projects in the lab and regularly provided statistical support for new projects● Developed statistical blinding protocols and tests for experimental inconsistencies● Additional projects included long-term organotypic culture of slices, cloning and expression of specific GABAA subunits in HEK293 cells● Safely handled and disposed of toxic substances● Worked in collaboration with multiple scientists trained in genetics, neuroscience, pharmacology/toxicology, comparative biology, pathology, rodent behavior, cell biology and electrophysiology to plan and execute large group projects● Trained undergraduates and rotating graduate students in lab techniques for independent research projects● Successfully competed for personal training fellowship funding through Center for Integrative Toxicology NIEHS grant● Additional graduate rotation projects included epigenetic toxicology research in isolated mouse and rat cells, molecular hypoxia research in lung tissue and cell lines, microbiology and bioremediation research on anoxic soil bacteria, and immunotoxicology research in isolated human B immune cells

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Biochemistry/Molecular Biology And Integrative Toxicology

Activities and Societies: Center for Integrative Toxicology Fellow Biochemistry Dept. Graduate Student Council Co-Chair Biochemistry Dept..

Ba, Chemistry, Sts