Cassandra Samples Email & Phone Number

Houston, Tx, Us

I was hired as a post doctoral scholar in Dr. John Gensel's lab to mange a human biomarker project concerning non-traumatic spinal cord injury. This has advanced my independence, improving my management, communication and organizational skills. I have also driven the writing of three grant applications in this field that I was new to in February 2024, demonstrating my ability to quickly research and learn topics to meet deadlines.Personnel management: As the primary driver of my project, I have mentored a summer undergraduate student who had no prior lab experience. Furthermore, I have directed the roles of medical post-docs who have assisted in the grant writing process and assessing human patients.Science Communication: Since starting this position I have presented my data in national and local venues, with 4 poster presentations, two data blitzes and one work in progress talk.Cold Communication: As a researcher new to the spinal cord injury field, I have had to reach out to experts in techniques and network in person at conferences that are new to me. I have developed comfort with cold contacting people.Organization: As the driver of a project I must develop timelines and make sure those I work with stick to them in order to meet deadlines.

This volunteer position, in which I planned and hosted a monthly virtual workshop event, enhanced my leadership skills and familiarity with life science business practices. The Basecamp event invites a local entrepreneur to pitch their product or idea, and attendees perform due diligence research in business development areas the entrepreneur needs the most work in. These areas include Market and competitor research, IP and regulatory affairs, Go to market strategy and more. My roles in this position included the following:Event Planning: I initiated contact with speakers, developed flyers for advertisement and customized the tools used during the event. As a monthly event, I maintained a cycle of time management to ensure the next event is always prepared. I also worked with UT Health San Antonio to plan and execute a successful career development event (BioMed Career Fest) which is now an annual event. We had more than 20 professionals attend to speak to the 100+ graduate students about their career pathways.Life Science Consulting: I earned a position as a consulting fellow and worked as a research consultant with Johnson and Johnson. I also regularly consulted with the entrepreneur speakers in the monthly basecamp event.Leadership: As director, I managed and trained volunteers in the event planning process and practiced delegation of tasks. Communication: Organizing this event required communication with the speaker, fellow Enventure leadership, my assistants and the public attendees. I also implemented a bi-annual workshop teaching consulting skills for attendees to feel comfortable when working with real entrepreneurs. Networking: To gain speakers for this event, I regularly communicated with life science businesses outside of my regular daily interactions. I am very personable and able to hold conversations with and get to know new people.

Basecamp is a halfday event which connects early stage innovators and life-science startup companies to academic trainees interested in consulting, biotechnology business and industry. Innovators present a 10min pitch and participants are split into groups to do market research supporting the needs of the innovators. Event organization: 6 basecamps since MarchMarketing and Participant recruiting: Over 100 registrants this year from at least 7 different Texas institutionsPublic Speaking and Teaching: Introducing innovators and supervising at least 3 teams myself

San Antonio, Texas Area

A student becomes a PhD Candidate after passing a qualifying exam. In my program, this involved writing a grant proposal outside of the scope of my actual research and then verbally presenting and defending the proposal in an oral exam. As a Ph.D. Candidate in the lab of Dr. Jeffery Boychuk, I learned many skills, technical and personal.Project management: As a Ph.D. student I managed, presented, and pushed forward my own projects, resulting in a published first- author manuscript.Technique development/innovation: To further pursue my study, I developed a reusable optogenetic probe utilizing easily accessible materials within our lab. I then had to perform optimization experiments to establish protocols for use of this probe.Science Communication: I presented my work and findings at more than 10 local, national, and international conferences. I regularly presented my research to my peers in various lengths of talks, posters, and chalk talks. I presented to a variety of audiences, from high school student interns to undergraduates to established professionals in my field. I have a recorded video of my dissertation presentation available on request.Science writing: I submitted two fellowship grants and I am a first author on one published manuscript and two manuscripts in progress. My written dissertation is also available through my UT Health San Antonio library.Literature Review: In the process of writing the above manuscripts and grant applications, I developed advanced skills in literature searching and reading. This training allows me to quickly absorb and understand information on a macro and micro scale.

San Antonio, Texas Area

The first 2 years of the doctoral program are very class heavy. During this period I became very proficient in time management, literature searching and writing skills.

Philadelphia, Pa

As a research technician in the lab of Dr. Ellen Unterwald, I acted in the following capacities:Collaboration management: our lab housed a rodent behavior core, and I was responsible for managing and performing, or training others to administer, the behavior tests for other labs throughout the institution.Experiment Design: I assisted in designing the behavioral assays other labs wished to perform for their own studies before I implemented the behavior testing.Research technique specialist: I learned and implemented advanced surgical techniques, behavioral assays, and quantitative tissue assessments to assist ongoing research projects.New Technician Trainer: As new employees joined the lab; I was tasked with training new technicians in behavior and tissue assessment techniques.

Parikh Labs

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Neuroscience

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Neuroscience: Systems, Behavior And Plasticity

Activities and Societies: Undergraduate Neuroscience Society, Club Ultimate Frisbee