Chad Stein Email & Phone Number

Berkeley, Ca, Us

Berkeley, California, United States

Glaunsinger Lab

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Bethesda, Md

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)Laboratory of Cell and Molecular BiologyRNA Biology Section

Pittsburgh, Pa

Grabowski Lab, Department of Biological SciencesMy thesis project focused on dissecting the connections between cancer, genotoxic stress, and alternative RNA splicing. Specifically, my research aimed to elucidate how a chemotherapeutic alklyating agent - cisplatin - caused changes in an autoregulatory splicing decision made by a splicing factor previously implicated in tumor formation, hnRNP H. I used genetic, biochemical, and molecular biological techniques to show how cisplatin treatment leads to a change in hnRNP H's own splicing pattern, likely through the protein's binding to its own pre-mRNA.

Greater Pittsburgh Area

Hold weekly recitation/review sessions for Honors Organic Chemistry 1

Giessen, Germany

Brief description:I performed in vitro research to improve the existing genome engineering technology known as TALENs, Transcription Activator-like Effector Nucleases, by swapping the standard FokI nuclease domain for a more specific EndA nuclease domain.Detailed description:Nuclease-based genome engineering has ben through three general phases:First were Zinc-Finger Nucleases (ZFNs), which consisted of a zinc-finger DNA recognition domain fused to a nonspecific nuclease domain. However, these were hard to produce and were too unspecific for clinical use. Second were TALENs, Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases. These were much easier to produce, were much more specific (by using a modular, easy to design DNA recognition domain), and have been used in several studies to help treat genetic diseases like retinitis pigmentosa and integrated HIV virus. The major disadvantage of TALENs is the requirement of a dimeric nuclease domain, which makes nuclease design more labor intensive. Finally, CRISPR-Cas is the latest iteration of genome engineering.As a DAAD RISE intern, I aided in improving the specificity of a TALEN system by swapping the canonical FokI nuclease domain with a monomeric EndA domain. The largest advantage of this was that the TALEN would be monomeric, instead of requiring the design of two complementary nucleases to give a functional FokI dimer. However, by removing the requirement for a dimer, specificity of nuclease activity became a major concern. Testing of mutant EndA domains will help alleviate this possibly problematic effect.

Greater Pittsburgh Area

Organized/planned events for residents of Brackenridge Hall, one of the University Honors College residence halls

Greater Philadelphia Area

Optimized protocols for the identification of fatty acids in cancer cells via GC/MS

Greater Philadelphia Area

Maintained lab stocks of D. melanogaster, performed pupal dissections

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Biological And Biomedical Sciences

Activities and Societies: Teaching Certificate - Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning Certificate of Distinction in Teaching - Derek.

Bachelor Of Philosophy (Bphil), Molecular Biology

Activities and Societies: Phi Beta KappaBachelor of Philosophy Thesis: "The Role of hnRNP H in the Splicing Response to Genotoxic Stress".

Study Abroad

Study Abroad