Alice Thai Email & Phone Number

Hopkinton, Ma, Us

Cambridge, Ma, Us

Cambridge, Ma, Us

Cambridge, Ma, Us

• Provide customer-facing support for a variety of legacy, current, and new applications.

Cambridge, Ma, Us

• Instrumental in launching a functional NGS LIMS by gathering and assessing specifications and requirements, reviewing mockups, critically evaluating functionality and proposing changes where needed.• Lead testing of NGS LIMS before launch.• Provided NGS LIMS support by working closely with end users to collect, confirm, and report bugs, and identify and recommend solutions or workarounds.• Added value to the NGS LIMS by enhancing features. • Improved laboratory efficiency by designing and coding a VBS-based widget.

Cambridge, Ma, Us

• Streamlined NGS workflow by evaluating new protocols and creating worksheets and SOPs where needed.• Trained new associates.• Provided support for RNA-based biomarker discovery using various platforms, including microarray technology, qPCR, and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)-based RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq).PUBLICATIONS:Pharmacodynamics of Dimethyl Fumarate Are Tissue Specific and Involve NRF2-Dependent and -Independent Mechanisms.Brennan MS, Patel H, Allaire N, Thai A, Cullen P, Ryan S, Lukashev M, Bista P, Huang R, Rhodes KJ, Scannevin RH.Antioxid Redox Signal. 2016 Jun 20;24(18):1058-71. doi: 10.1089/ars.2015.6622. Epub 2016 Apr 28.Rescue of gene-expression changes in an induced mouse model of spinal muscular atrophy by an antisense oligonucleotide that promotes inclusion of SMN2 exon 7.Staropoli JF, Li H, Chun SJ, Allaire N, Cullen P, Thai A, Fleet CM, Hua Y, Bennett CF, Krainer AR, Kerr D, McCampbell A, Rigo F, Carulli JP.Genomics. 2015 Apr;105(4):220-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2015.01.007. Epub 2015 Jan 31.Lymphotoxin-LIGHT pathway regulates the interferon signature in rheumatoid arthritis.Bienkowska J, Allaire N, Thai A, Goyal J, Plavina T, Nirula A, Weaver M, Newman C, Petri M, Beckman E, Browning JL.PLoS One. 2014 Nov 18;9(11):e112545. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112545. eCollection 2014.ProbeSelect: selecting differentially expressed probes in transcriptional profile data.Hosur R, Szak S, Thai A, Allaire N, Bienkowska J.Bioinformatics. 2014 Feb 15;30(4):574-5. doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btt720. Epub 2013 Dec 13.

Paris, France, Fr

PI3K Project Scientist I, September 2009 - June 2010• Lead assay development to support an innovative approach to determine sensitivity and resistance to PI3K inhibitors across in vitro cell models.• Assessed different methods to quantify phosphoprotein levels and identified the most appropriate based on cost, efficiency, and effectiveness. • Recommended and integrated a new assay (MSD) for protein detection, and designed and implemented experiments around it.• Analyzed, summarized, and presented data at project team meetings.• Contributed to improving data handling and interpretation with newly acquired computer science background by discussing possible solutions.

Paris, France, Fr

PPARd Metabolism and CNS Projects Scientist I, January 2009 – September 2009Associate Scientist, July 2007 – January 2009• Contributed to identifying surrogate mechanistic and pharmacodynamic biomarker of PPARd agonism across both human in vitro and in vivo preclinical models. • Establish cell culture models, including primary Human Skeletal Muscle Myoblasts (HSMM), Astrocytes, Rhabdomyosarcoma (RD), and CG4.• Optimized and established a cell based assay that was used to investigate endogenous transcriptional response using HTG’s qNPA. • Contributed to identification of selective PPAR agonism by establishing unique assay conditions and executing high throughput compound dosing experiments. • Optimized and performed Quantigene assays to demonstrate pharmacodynamic biomarker could be used to support preclinical development of select SPPARM lead candidate in preclinical models.

Paris, France, Fr

Gene Expression PlatformAssociate Scientist, October 2005 – January 2009 Research Associate, October 2003 – October 2005• Key member of team that implemented automated high throughput gene expression profiling to support global pharma discovery organization.• Improved platform efficiency and effectiveness through technology development and evaluation – Affymetrix GeneChip miRNA, Nugen WT Ovation, whole blood RNA isolation, globin reduction, human cartilage RNA isolation, and nanoprofiling.• Internalized, standardized, and operationalized protocols and procedures for company-wide microarray support.• Automated RNA isolation and Bead-based RNA clean-up in conjunction with colleagues.• Process Control – Generate and assay buffers, reagents, and kits for quality assurance. Document all results in Nautilus Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).• Generated cRNA from total RNA, both manually and with sophisticated automated robots. • Hybridized fragmented cRNA to Affymetrix GeneChips and Array Plates and produced data using the Affymetrix Fluidics Stations FS450 or HTA and the GeneArray 3000 Scanners. • Utilized Affymetrix Laboratory Nautilus LIMS for process validation.• Responsible for maintenance of laboratory instrumentation and scheduling of preventative maintenance and service calls.

Cambridge, Ma, Us

Transcriptional Profiling CORE, Affymetrix Hybridization Group• Hybridized fragmented cRNA targets to Affymetrix GeneChips and produced data using the Affymetrix Fluidics Stations FS450/F5400 and GeneArray Scanners.• Contributed in conforming TRACE to GLP standards through creation and organization of equipment and material log books and Standard Operating Procedure documentation.• Improved laboratory productivity with the creation of Visual Basics-based programs.• Performed high throughput PCR with the use of sophisticated automated robots to generate cDNA for gene-spotted nylon array production.

Masters, Computer Science

Dual Bachelors, Biology And Environmental Studies

Education record