Amanda Dugan Email & Phone Number

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

- Pioneered a lectin fingerprinting assay to dissect changes in viral glycosylation and reveal the mechanisms underlying antibody evasion and immunization subversion in SARS-CoV-2 variants.-Piloted studies as part of a multi-institutional initiative to generate anti-microbial modalities that specifically target gram-negative bacterial infections for enhanced treatment outcomes.-Investigated mechanisms of innate immunity via characterization of the ligand binding specificity and biological functions of soluble mammalian lectins.-Supported adjacent teams toward project completion, providing intellectual support and technical expertise.-Actively contributed to the upkeep and maintenance of the research environment, ensuring optimal conditions for cutting-edge investigations.-Shared significant findings at multiple symposia, effectively communicating and distributing results within the research community.Key Skills: GraphPad Prism | Microsoft Suite | FlowJo | FIJI/Image J | Pymol | AlphaFold | MetaExpress | Adobe Suite | Digital Notebooking | R | FACS Diva | Protein Engineering & Bioconjugation | CD | BLI | DLS | DSF | Protein-ligand interactions | Spectroscopic Assays | ELISA | ELLA | SDS-PAGE | Western Blotting | Confocal Microscopy | High Content Imaging | FISH | IHC | Colorimetric Tissue Imaging (H&E, Alcian Blue/PAS) | Live Cell Imaging | Time Course Imaging | Primer, Probe, and Gene Design | Plasmid Assembly and Transformation | Gibson Ligation | LIC | Site-Directed Mutagenesis | PCR | RT-qPCR (cells, tissues) | Genomic DNA Isolation | RNA Isolation | BL1, BL2 best practices | Mammalian, Yeast, Insect, and Bacterial Sterile Cell Culture | Flow Cytometry | FACS | Primary Immune Cell Isolation and Differentiation (Blood) | Transient Transfection | Reporter Gene Assays | Baculovirus Generation | Immunoprecipitation (Lysate) | Antimicrobial Assays | NGS/16 S Project Management

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

- Facilitated laboratory migration from U-Wisconsin to MIT, ensuring a swift and efficient transition.- Applied a multifaceted approach, utilizing cellular, biochemical, and biophysical assays to illuminate the molecular recognition properties of human innate immune lectins.- Executed the rederivation and characterization of a murine KO model, shedding light on the pivotal role of soluble innate immune lectins in orchestrating the intricate interplay between microbial colonization and host metabolism in vivo. - Engineered and characterized a cutting-edge recombinant human lectin toolkit, expanding the analysis of both commensal and pathogenic microbial glycans, demonstrating a commitment to advancing state-of-the-art research tools.Key Skills: Project Management | Rodent Husbandry | Transgenic Animal Design and Characterization | Genomic Engineering | Necropsy | Tissue Collection & Processing | Blood Draws | Genotyping | IP injections | Oral Gavage | Tissue Fixation and Embedding | Tissue RNA extraction and RT-qPCR | Recombinant protein expression & purification | Protein bioconjugation | Circular Dichroism (CD) | Biolayer Interferometry (BLI) | Differential Scanning Fluorimetry (DSF) | Protein-ligand interactions | Spectroscopic Assays | Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) | Enzyme-Linked Lectin Assay (ELLA) | SDS-PAGE | Western Blotting | Confocal Microscopy | Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) | Immunohistochemistry (IHC) | Colorimetric Tissue Imaging (H&E, Alcian Blue/PAS) | Primer, Probe, and Gene Design | Plasmid Assembly and Transformation | Gibson Ligation | Site-Directed Mutagenesis | PCR | RT-qPCR (cells, tissues) | Genomic DNA Isolation | RNA Isolation | BL1, BL2 best practices | Mammalian, Yeast, Insect, and Bacterial Sterile Cell Culture | Flow Cytometry | Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) | Transient Transfection | Virus Generation and Transduction | NGS/16 S Sample Prep and Project Management

Madison, Wisconsin, United States

- Conducted research at the dynamic intersection of microbiology, glycobiology, and innate immunity through frontier research. -Engineered and rigorously characterized a transgenic mouse model, providing a powerful platform to delve into the intricate role of lectins in governing microbial colonization.Skills: Transgenic Animal Design and Characterization | Transgenic Animal Project Management | Rodent Handling | Dosing | Anesthesia | Euthanasia | Necropsy | Homologous Recombination (yeast) | Viral Transduction | Tissue Collection & Processing | Blood Draws | Genotyping | IP injections | Oral Gavage | Sterile Fecal Collection | Tissue Fixation and Embedding | Tissue RNA extraction and RT-qPCR | Molecular Biology | Recombinant Protein Expression and Purification | Protein Engineering | Protein Crystallography | Biophysical Characterization | Protein-Ligand Interactions | Mammalian, Insect, and Bacterial Sterile Cell Culture | Data Analysis | Microbiome Analysis |

Ann Arbor, Mi

Collaboratively led and instructed advanced graduate-level coursework in the field of Chemical Biology.Discussion topics included Diversity-Oriented Synthesis, Combinatorial Synthesis, Peptide Synthesis, Bioconjugation, Bio-orthogonal labeling, Discovery Proteomics, Activity-Based Protein Profiling, GPCR Pharmacology, Genetic Code Expansion and Unnatural Amino Acid Incorporation, Non-Ribosomal Peptide Synthesis, Polyketide and Natural Product Synthesis, Bump-in-Hole Engineering, Directed Evolution, Genomic Engineering, PROTACs, Bifunctional Molecules and Molecular glues, Targeted protein degradation, Forward and Reverse Chemical Genetics, Pharmacokinetics, Chemoenzymatic Synthesis, Enzymatic Transformations, Proximity-Induced Labeling, Fluorogenic Labeling, among others.Skills; Communication | Teaching | Presentation Skills | Time Management | Leadership Skills | Collaboration | Continuous Learning | Adaptability | Quality Focus

University Of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Pioneered the capture and identification of direct cellular targets of transcriptional activators within live S. cerevisiae by employing covalent chemical capture and integration of genetically incorporated photo-labile amino acids. The research presented in this thesis contributes significantly to a comprehensive model for the recruitment of combinatorially assembled transcription complexes. This model posits that activator proteins strategically target both the essential enzymatic subunit and exchangeable factors that tune the location and activity of coactivator complexes. The proposed recruitment model stands as an insightful mechanism empowering transcriptional activators to selectively recruit the appropriate complex isoform and precisely orient it at a gene promoter for optimal functionality.Skills: Recombinant protein expression | Protein purification | Unnatural amino acid incorporation | Protein Engineering | NMR | Protein-Protein Interactions (PPI) | Protein-target identification | In vivo Protein Interaction Mapping | SDS-PAGE | Western Blotting | Chemical Biology | Primer, Probe, and Gene Design | Plasmid Assembly and Transformation | LIC | Restriction Enzyme Mediated Cloning | Site-Directed Mutagenesis | PCR | RT-qPCR | Gel Purification and Extraction | Genomic DNA Isolation | RNA Isolation | BL1, BL2 best practices | Mammalian, Yeast Sterile Cell Culture | Transient Transfection | Reporter Gene Assays | Dual Luciferase Assays | Immunoprecipitation (Lysate) | Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) | Cell Fractionation | Genomic Engineering | Homologous Recombination (yeast) | Genotyping | Project Leadership | Experimental Design | Time Management | Multitasking | Presentation Skills

Wixom, Mi

Tested and evaluated the performance of experimental glazing formulations for polycarbonate substrates in compliance with OEM and SAE operating procedures in an ISO 9000 certified laboratory.Skills: SAE & OEM Adherence | ISO9000 Lab Practices | Electronic Notebooking | Instrument Calibration & Maintenance | Statistical Analysis | Process Performance | Certificate of Compliance | Collaboration | Teamwork | Data Analysis | Technical Reports | Written Communication | R&D | Project Prioritization |

Bowling Green, Oh

Kinetically characterized the electron transport pathway of the anaerobic parasite H. diminuta using steady state approaches.

Ph.D., Chemical Biology

Thesis: Covalent chemical capture of transcriptional protein-protein interactions using genetically incorporated photo-crosslinking amino.

B.S., Biology And Chemistry