Ashleigh Matthews, M.S. Email & Phone Number

Directly collaborates with clients from initial SoW signing through final report issuance to coordinate and oversee accurate and scientifically valid execution of preclinical in vivo oncology studies. Effectively reviews study protocols, ensuring accuracy and feasibility of study designs within execution team, and communicates study timeline, progress, and any discrepancies or issues with clients. Independently manages a team of at least three direct reports as operational support for all client studies and delegates study assignments. Performs daily quality control of study data and animal health comments to ensure accurate collection of data and comments via our Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) accurately. Assists in reformatting and updating SOPs as needed to ensure site compliance.Stakeholder in and member of the Vivarium Rounds Oversight Team, which oversees the assignment and compliance of near-daily checks by senior Study Managers. Member of the Small Animal Radiation Research Program (SARRP) Management Team, which handles scheduling and assigning all SARRP treatment plans for client studies, creating and verifying treatment plans, assisting in the SARRP training program, and troubleshooting issues with the SARRP machine and treatments as they arise.

Independently coordinated and responsible for ensuring reliable execution of client pre-clinical in vivo oncology studies. Collaborated with peers across other departments to ensure study timelines met client needs and protocols were operationally feasible. Effectively communicated with clients to align on study design and expectations and provided updates on study timelines, initiation, and progress. Utilized problem-solving skills to troubleshoot issues or escalate discrepancies to ensure study integrity and accuracy. Directly managed animal technicians and delegated study assignments and performed daily quality control of all collected study data and comments. Member of multiple sub-groups dedicated to site improvement. Assisted in implementation of training and certification on use of Small Animal Radiation Research Program (SARRP) to accurately perform radiation treatment on client studies as well as responsible for scheduling, assigning, and creating treatment plans for client studies. Trained new hires on proper stocking and upkeep of all vivarium laboratory spaces, assigning weekly laboratory maintenance tasks, and maintaining task compliance amongst technical staff.Became certified and proficient in multiple sampling techniques using mice including but not limited to- whole-body sampling, perfusion, vena cava blood collection, lung inflation, incision suturing, submental bleeds, and axial and brachial lymph node sampling.

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

Worked directly with clients to align on protocols and accurately perform pre-clinical in vivo oncology studies with little to no oversight. Independently coordinated study timelines and responsible for intradepartmental collaboration to ensure timely and often expedited study initiation. Utilized effective communication skills to update client throughout study planning and execution, escalating any discrepancies and collaborating with clients to troubleshoot issues as they arose. Directly managed animal technicians within study execution team and performed daily quality control of all collected and comments to ensure data accuracy and integrity.

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

Utilized extensive rodent handling experience and expertise to excel as a key member of execution team responsible for accurately conducting client pre-clinical oncology in vivo client studies using mouse models. Accurately and reliably collected data such as daily animal health checks, animal weights, tumor volumes, detailed clinical signs, and necropsy findings using digital calipers and analytical balances to record data into a lab information management software (LIMS). Certified and became proficient in the following specialized techniques: intratumoral injections, administration of targeted radiation treatment via Small Animal Radiation Research Program (SARRP), ascites collection, NAD sampling using perchloric acid for tissue extraction, isopentane tissue freezing, and submental bleeds.Built client reports in their entirety including the executive digest, methods and materials, results, figures, tables, appendices, and representative image scaling for bioluminescence imaging (BLI) studies with minimal oversight prior to internal review.Successfully trained and mentored multiple new hires at multiple entry positions to perform technician responsibilities independently and accurately within the study execution team.

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

Gained extensive small animal handling experience and became familiar with the protocols and procedures used to humanely and accurately perform various pre-clinical in vivo oncology studies using both competent and immunocompetent mouse models. Excelled in various animal handling and sampling techniques including but not limited to subcutaneous and intravenous cell implants, per os/oral, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, and intravenous dosing, survival and terminal blood collection, necropsy and tissue excision, and proper tissue extraction to maintain sample integrity for shipment or in-house use for downstream processing and analysis.

Ann Arbor, Mi

Excelled in coursework that covered the fundamental principles and theories of pharmacology while independently developing, organizing, and performing reproducible studies investigating the effects of the cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor system on food intake and depressive behavior in rodent models in the laboratory of Dr. Emily Jutkiewicz. Evaluated the current literature on the CB1 receptor system and its potential therapeutic use and presented findings in the form of a comprehensive written thesis and oral defense.

Ann Arbor, Mi

Independently coordinated and performed self-administration and drug discrimination behavioral assays using rodent models in the laboratory of Dr. Emily Jutkiewicz. Effectively analyzed and interpreted data from experiments and assisted in determining next steps for projects. Awarded competitive national and international conference travel awards to present research investigating the reinforcing and discriminative effects of the delta-opioid receptor system in male rats.Utilized time management, analytical, and organizational skills to obtain efficient workflows in the laboratory and vivarium spaces and ensured vivarium space and animal records were maintained and compliant with the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) and Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) International accreditation standards. Became proficient in intravenous catheter implantation surgery and repairs for self-administration assays in rats. Trained various undergraduate students, M.S and Ph.D. trainees in proper lab protocol, behavioral assays, and surgery and managed multiple undergraduate students.

University Of Pennsylvania

Supervised 10-12 female high school students for a six-week pre-college academic summer program meant to provide an immersive pre-college experience. Lived on campus with students to provide daily emotional support and ensured safety of students throughout program. Chaperoned off-campus trips and organized and supervised or actively participated in extracurricular activities and excursions to ensure students had an enjoyable experience.

Medford, Massachusetts, United States

Assisted post-doctoral fellow under Dr. Klaus Miczek in investigating the role of social experience, social defeat stress, and adaptive coping behavior during adolescence on intravenous cocaine self-administration in early adulthood with male rats. Became familiar with performing intraperitoneal injections as well as intermittent social defeat and aggression screening assays, aseptically preparing sterile surgical packs and pre-filling syringes, and assisting with daily intravenous drug self-administration procedures, data analysis, and video tracking of rodent behavior using EthoVision XT software.

Medford, Ma

Provided IT customer support by directly interacting with university students, staff, and faculty to provide solutions for issues regarding but not limited to e-mail and Wi-Fi access, password resets, Tufts software, device troubleshooting, and other computer-related issues. Logged tickets for each customer interaction using the Tufts Technology interface and escalated issues to appropriate IT subgroup as needed.

Radnor, Pa

Converted department buffer recipes from Microsoft Word documents to Microsoft Excel files and formatted files to auto calculate amounts of each component needed. Observed the procedures for antibody purification and gel analysis preparation.

Master Of Science - M.S., Pharmacology

Activities and Societies: Out of the Darkness planning committee, Scientists for Outreach on Addiction Research (SOAR) outreach.

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Biopsychology

Activities and Societies: ENVY Tufts' All- Female Step Team, Tufts Dance Collective

High School Diploma, College Preparatory