Conor Dickson Email & Phone Number

Philadelphia, Pa, Us

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

● Propose and design experiments investigating the intracellular signaling underlying IPSCdifferentiation into T cells in order to advance platform technology improvements.● Work in a highly collaborative team environment while cultivating independent side projects.● Develop, test, troubleshoot, and optimize IPSC differentiation protocols, detection of phenotypicmarkers via flow cytometry, and cell signaling reporter detection experiments.● Testing of pharmacological efficacy using coculture killing assays with indication specific targetcells in order to assess cytotoxcitiy and persistence of allogeneicT cells.● Detect and quantify immunological phenotypes of allogeneic T cells using custom multicolorflow cytometry panels tailored for various immune cell characterizations.● Maintain, expand, and cryogenically preserve mammalian cell lines.● Perform lentivirus transduced cell line generation for cell signaling reporter experiments.● Document experimental methodss and results using electronic laboratory notebooks (ELN),perform statistical analysis of experimental data, and communicate results via PowerPoint slidedecks and departmental oral presentations.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

● Worked independently as part of a team of scientist and associates dedicated to performingliterature analysis of rare disease indications, developing in vitro models of pathologicalsignaling, developing analytical methods of target efficacy, and developing small moleculetherapeutic candidates.● Developed/optimized functional cell signaling models and analytical assays to assess smallmolecule candidate efficacy before vectorization of therapeutic constructs into gene therapyplatform technology.● Provided oral presentations of project design, rationale, and results to colleagues and managers.● Generated cell lines using plasmid and viral vector (lentivirus/AAV) methods.● Developed a functional cell signaling model to detect changes in ERK1/2 signaling from designand optimization to target testing while continuously improving throughput and quantifiability ofanalytical assay readout.● Tested and optimized detection and quantification of relevant signaling proteins using automatedwestern blot (Simple Western), ELISA, and Immunocytochemistry (ICC).● Designed a high throughput cell signaling luciferase reporter assay using CRISPR/Cas9 mediatedcell line generation.● Designed a live cell imaging screening assay of AAV transduction in primary cell lines.● Performed assays to quantify vector construct expression and subcellular localization using livecell imaging (IncuCyte), immunocytochemistry (ICC), DNA extraction and PCR.● Synthesize information on functional assays through literature review and propose strategies,timelines, benchmarks, and feasibility for in-house development.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

● Developed the application and studied the effects of mRNA electroporated CAR T Cells forimmunotherapy using in vivo and in vitro models of pediatric brain tumors.● Analyzed experimental data and presented findings at laboratory and department level meetings.● Developed and optimized a high dimensional flow cytometry panel on the Cytek Aurora to assessthe relationship between tumor microenvironment, CAR-T cell efficacy, and tumor expansion.● Screened CAR-T Cell efficacy using xenograft models of pediatric brain tumors and in vitrocytotoxicity and persistence assays.● Transfected T Cells with CAR-encoding mRNA and verified expression via flow cytometry.● Performed regular maintainence, stimulation, and cryopreservation/thawing of primary Tcells.Maintained primary and immortalized pediatric brain tumor cell lines.● Generated xenograft models of pediatric brain tumors, plate based assays, and tissuehistology/cytometry assays.

Burlington, Vermont, United States

● Studied the electro/neurophysiological basis of childhood epilepsy and its cognitive outcomesusing rodent models of early life seizures.● Designed, executed, and analyzed in vivo and in situ neurophysiology experiments characterizinginterhemispheric communication associated with the disease etiology of epilepsy.● Desgined and optimized the detection of neuronal markers using IHC and immunoblot assays.● Transformed raw electrophysiological data using custom Matlab script and analyzed signalproperties using SPSS and Graphpad.● Provided training and mentorship to undergraduate students and new hires.● Drafted a first author publication, contributed research to several other publications, andpresented scientific findings at conferences and symposiums.

Burlington, Vermont, United States

Training in behavioral and electrophysiological experimental techniques (see skills)Assessing efficacy of optogenetic stimulation in a novel transgenic rat lineImmunohistochemical assays of viral transfection