Ester Kalef Ezra Email & Phone Number

London Area, United Kingdom

London, England, United Kingdom

Project: Investigate the nature and roles of somatic CNVs in Parkinson's Disease• Optimized and employed multiple methodologies for single-cell isolation, scWGA (single-cell whole genome amplification), library preparation for scWGS (single-cell whole genome sequencing), scRNA-seq and scDNA/RNA multiome• Assisted in single-cell long read calls validation to test Sniffles2 tool• Recognized for teaching and supervision activities as an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy• Volunteer: - Interview Panel member- UCL IoN (Institute of Neurology) Equality, Diversity & Inclusion committee member- UCL IoN PhD Cohort co-lead for Welcome Event planning- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Trainee Career Coaching committee member- ASAP Celebration of Scientific Achievements Workshop Reviewer committee member- Chairperson for 2nd Annual Single-Cell Omics

Uxbridge, London

• Marked >40 UG Life Science students on written essays and oral presentations (~200 hours).• Led a laboratory practical for MSc students and adapted the procedures to Covid-19 restrictions (~10 hours).

Uxbridge, London, Uk

Investigated metabolic signature of Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA) & studied FRDA mouse models:• Authored a publication in Frontiers in Neuroscience related to my study characterizing the characteristics of novel humanized FRDA mouse models and co-authored in Front. Genet. epigenetic therapeutic approaches for FRDA.• Examined the role of sphingolipids in FRDA using primary fibroblasts to perform metabolomics and lipidomics analysis from multiple donors. For some experimental needs, I handled more than 40 cell flasks simultaneously.People and Lab Leadership:• Coached and directly day-to-day supervised 4 students and 2 technicians/interns in the laboratory.• Acted as point of contact in the laboratory for various activities, such as purchasing orders and deliveries.• Lectured in an online MSc class for which I received very positive feedback from the students.• Redesigned & demonstrated lab practicals to MSc students that went very smoothly and students highly engaged.

London, United Kingdom

Research: Optimized and performed cell migration assays and immunohistochemistry experiments to study the mechanism of Sulf1/2 function in cardiovascular development and myocardial repair.Leadership: Educated 2 MSc students in the lab on cell culture methodologies and data analysis.

Stockholm, Sweden

Enabled the laboratory setup and studied the role of ER and mitochondrial in skin wound healing:• Performed drug screening scratch assays on multiple human primary skin fibroblasts and Western Blot assays.• Analyzed and presented the results in local scientific meetings.• Assisted the team to successfully secure further funding by editing draft proposals and optimizing methods.• Created and organized human donor biobanks (tissues and patients’ fibroblasts).• Organized initial laboratory set-up from the beginning and purchased consumables and related equipment.

Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Project: Intra-mitochondrial gene expression. Analysis of the role of Mitochondrial Ribosomal Protein L41 (MRPL41) in the process of protein synthesis and integration of proteins into the inner mitochondrial membraneAchievements: Successfully generated 5 plasmid constructs & developed 4 CRISPR/Cas9 human KO MRPL1 cell lines.

Department Of Biology - University Of Crete

Dissertation: Mitochondrial targeting of human GDHs: presequence structure, function and evolution Supervisor: Prof. Kostas TokatlidisAdvisors: Assoc. Prof. Despoina Alexandraki, Assist. Prof. Babis SpilianakisAssist. Prof. Ioannis Zaganas, Assist. Prof. Cleio Spanaki, Princ. Res. Kyriacos Petratos, Prof. Nektarios TavernarakisElucidated how human glutamate dehydrogenases (hGDHs) are imported into mitochondria by employing various cell biology and biochemistry methodologies in yeast, bacteria & human cells: • Generated 33 plasmid constructs by molecular cloning and 19 plasmids by site-directed mutagenesis. Performed multiple mitochondrial assays to assess how hGDHs are imported into mitochondria.• Investigated the evolution of the mitochondrial targeting signal of hGDHs in silico, in organello, and in culture.• Presented the results in numerous prestigious conferences and written research grant reports• Publicized results as 1st joined author in Bioch. J. and co-authored 2 review studies (Biology, Neurochem. Res).Demonstrated laboratory practicals to UG students for 3 semesters (volunteer work).

Master'S Degree, Protein Biotechnology, Excellent

M.Sc. thesis (1-year long): Genetic and biochemical analysis of oxidative protein folding in the mitochondria. Thesis defended.

Specialized Graduate Training Program, Laboratory And Medical Genetics, Excellent

Distant Specialized Graduate Program (03/10/2016 - 30/06/2017) Final Grade: Excellent Specialized Graduate Training Program (~280 h.

Bachelor'S Degree, Biology, Very Good

Activities and Societies:• Courses: Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Developmental Biology, Genetics, Microbiology, Biochemistry.

High School (Honour'S Degree), Excellent

Accredited Public Greek High School • Accredited Public Greek High School • Mandatory Courses: Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics.