Worked as part of the Transport PDB structure determination pipeline in the Chang Lab over expressing, purifying, and crystallizing various human/mammalian/eukaryotic membrane transporter proteins such as P-glycoprotein (Pgp), SLC2A1, SLC2A5, MPDU1, SLC35F1, ABCB6, ABCG5G8, and several others. Successful at this point in getting crystals for SLC2A1, MPDU1 and SLC35F1. Worked on an affinity maturation project in the Chang Lab for the purpose of developing an in vitro system for generating antibodies to specific antigens.Worked on a bio fuels program in the Chang Lab an attempt to get specific biological organisms to better manufacture various biofuels of interest

Various band photography projects.

Worked as a 1st year Steamfitter Apprentice for A.O. Reed and Bingham Heating and Air.

Worked for UCSD Temporary Services to aid in setting up labs for students in the Division of Biology. Made stock solutions and buffers. Repaired some equipment. Inventoried supplies. Knowledge of UC and EH&S laboratory safety procedures.

Worked on an affinity maturation project in the Zwick lab to enhance the binding and neutralization of an anti HIV gp41 antibody via mutagenesis.Cloned several libraries with mutations in the variable antibody CDR region as well as mutations made by error prone PCR. Purified several mutant (Fab) antibodies over protein columns.Ran several ELISAs on crude Fab preps to determine concentration as well as binding of Fabs to gp41.Ran neutralization assays to determine if mutant Fabs could block HIV infection of U87 cells expressing CD4 and CXCR4.

Worked for UCSD Temporary services as a general laborer at the Central Utilities Plant on the UCSD campus.

Worked individually on several projects wherever molecular biology techniques were needed.Cloned several recombinant human antibodies to hCD40, hCD134 (OX40), mLight and the M2 influenza antigen and expressed them in mammalian cells. The hCD40 and M2 influenza projects eventually reached completion and were transferred to Kirin Pharmaceuticals for further clinical development. Cloned several T-Cell receptors and ligands and stably expressed them in mammalian cells such as hOX40, mOX40, hOX40 ligand, and also made a functional chimera human-mouse OX40.Cloned the pfiT gene from Pseudomonas fluorescens.

Worked individually on a project to clone various T-cell signaling genes into a retroviral expression vector and to generate and clone dominant mutants of the wild types

Designed and ran assays and experiments. Engaged in problem solving and troubleshooting in support of clinical and pre-clinical studies for the development of immune based and gene therapies. Worked in team groups as well as individually on various projects. Contributed to the engineering of a gene delivery system for in vivo therapeutic treatment of HBV infection.Designed and cloned anti-sense constructs to TGFBeta-1 for the purpose of down-regulating TGFBeta-1 in tumor lines.Participated in the development of a therapeutic cancer vaccine using established tumor lines with cytokine-secreting carrier cells, resulting in the initiation of two phase I clinical trials for colon cancer & glioma. One of these studies did show and increase in T-Cell precursor frequency.Worked individually on a project to develop an in situ PCR assay for cells in suspension using fluorescent primers to quantify HIV DNA & RNA in PBMCS. This resulted in what was probably one of the more reproducible assays of its type at that time.Worked on a collaborative effort to develop a quantitative RT-PCR assay for HIV in plasma. This assay was used to help evaluate viral burden in a phase II clinical trial the results of which were used to help design a larger phase III trial.Processed samples in a BSL3 containment facility and performed various assays in support of clinical trials for the development of an immune-based therapy for HIV infection.

Worked as a Field Artillery Crewman in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. Active during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.