Performs in-vitro biochemical and cell-based assays contributing to the research and development of novel pharmaceutical compounds. Conducts bioassay resistance studies of noble antibiotics including aminoglycosides and carbapenems.Performed pre-culture/fermentation of streptomycete protoplast transformations, nucleic acid isolation from transformed protoplasts (quality control), and chemical extractions from fermentation broths to assist in library processing of potential noble… Show more Performs in-vitro biochemical and cell-based assays contributing to the research and development of novel pharmaceutical compounds. Conducts bioassay resistance studies of noble antibiotics including aminoglycosides and carbapenems.Performed pre-culture/fermentation of streptomycete protoplast transformations, nucleic acid isolation from transformed protoplasts (quality control), and chemical extractions from fermentation broths to assist in library processing of potential noble compound producers.Tested the minimal inhibitory concentration of potential house noble compounds against several clinical isolates; assessed mechanisms of resistance resulting in improved drug activity.Set up and conducted small scale bioreactor of confirmed noble antibiotic producers; isolated drug from fermentation broth to assess biological activity.Successfully applied a range of molecular biology skills including plasmid restriction enzyme digests containing noble antibiotic pathways, PCR, DNA cloning and expression, and homologous recombination.Implemented several standard operating procedures to evaluate the biological activity of novel compounds resulting in improved workflow processes; screened against world-wide derived bacterial isolates, including over 200 bacterial strains. Assayed toxicity of confirmed biologically active compounds to determine levels and applicability of testing in animal models. Contributed experience and knowledge to the development of in-house protocols utilizing directed discovery and combinatorial genetics; provided molecular designs of biologically active chemical structures to create synthetic chemical pathways resulting in increased activity of novel compounds. Mimicked bio-synthetic chemical pathways to design synthetic chemical pathways; increased the activity and purity of novel compounds produced by biochemical systems without the drawbacks of biologically unstable pathways. Show less