Benjamin Gilman Email & Phone Number

Durham, Nc, Us

Durham, Nc, Us

Durham, North Carolina, Us

I engineer the protein and RNA components of CRISPR-based gene editing tools to improve editing efficiency and expand the range of feasible edits in systems from mammalian cells to plants.

Austin, Texas, Us

• Performed plasmid and cell line development, strain selection, and characterization to increase production yield and improve quality attributes for antibody-based biologic drugs (Engineered Toxin Bodies) in GMP manufacturing, including 3 candidates entering/undergoing Phase I trials• Used next-generation sequencing (RNAseq) to guide cell line and process development• Constructed a unique CRISPR-based genome editing system to generate desired mutations in production cell lines• Developed novel high-throughput methods to accelerate drug candidate selection and strain development• Managed upstream fermentation at a CRO to test new strains and plasmids as well as develop upstream process modifications that significantly improved yield• Performed downstream purification to support cell line development and test process modifications designed to improve product quality attributes.• Trained and managed a direct report, as well as other scientists throughout CMC

Austin, Tx, Us

Used genetic and biochemical methods to study transgene silencing and the roles of a long non-coding RNA in germ line development

Austin, Tx, Us

• Instructed three lab sections per semester for a senior-level biochemistry lab program with over 250 students per year• Responsible for teaching underlying concepts and providing direct supervision for experiments involving protein and nucleic acid identification and quantification, protein expression and purification, and kinetic characterization

Austin, Tx, Us

Studied the mechanism by which DEAD-box RNA helicases use ATP hydrolysis to power remodeling of structured RNAs in labs of Dr. Rick Russell and Dr. Alan Lambowitz.• Developed a high-throughput, in vivo method to select functional variants of a DEAD-box RNA helicase from mutant libraries in yeast• Utilized in vitro kinetic assays with purified mutant enzymes to determine the roles of specific amino acid residues and motifs in ATP-driven RNA unwinding• Constructed a reporter system in tissue culture cell lines to study the biological function of a human DEAD-box protein implicated in tumorigenesis

• Founded a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation promoting international sports competition• Led procurement, event planning, member relations, marketing, and training while maintaining growth in participation and revenue from 2-3 scheduled events per month

Boulder, Colorado, Us

Studied many facets of transcription initiation by human RNA polymerase II in the joint lab of Dr. James Goodrich and Dr. Jennifer Kugel. • Used kinetic and biophysical approaches to discover novel steps in the mechanism of transcription factor assembly at human promoters during mRNA transcription initiation• Identified the DNA helicase target of an anti-proliferative natural product• Characterized an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity of RNA polymerase II which destabilizes bound, inhibitory, non-coding RNA• Responsible for expression and purification of necessary transcription factors used to generate an in vitro human RNA Polymerase II transcription system

Ph.D., Biochemistry

Ba Biochemistry