Immunogenicity studies supporting pipeline therapeutics and vaccines development for HSV2, Zika and Influenza• ELISPOT and flow cytometric phenotyping of primary CD4+/CD8+ T cell subpopulations during therapeutic vaccination; ELISA and neutralization assays to evaluate antibody responses• Designed novel qPCR panels to differentiate viral particles from vaccine candidates in preclinical samples• Established novel primary cell isolation protocol for mucosal immunity analysis of mouse vaginal tissue• Constructed recombinant Zika vaccine candidates using Chimerivax flavivirus• Evaluated neurovirulence and immunogenicity of Zika in newborn and adult mice• Egg-based production of influenza vaccine candidates; quantification of viral recovery by hemagglutination inhibition (HIA) assayLeadership and Mentoring• Write technical reports and protocols for preclinical studies and alliance support

Immunologic and infectious mechanisms of enteric bacterial infection• Developed and optimized flow cytometry and immunofluorescence protocols to characterize bacterial binding and protein delivery into primary immune cells• Experienced with intranasal, oral and intravenous mouse models of immune response to bacterial infection• Designed a polarized intestinal epithelial cell culture model to evaluate the dynamics of bacterial cargo delivery into the apical barrier of intestinal cells• Developed a platform for cell type-specific therapeutics delivery tool, conducted proof of concept (PoC) studies• Established a novel 3D intestinal cell culture system for in vitro modeling of enteric disease, in collaboration with a tissue-engineering group at Tufts University School of Engineering• Spearheaded collaboration using bacterial effector proteins to study HIV entry and replicationLeadership and Mentoring• Managed interdisciplinary projects with Tufts Veterinary School and Harvard Medical School• Trained and managed students on projects using animal and cell culture infection models

Laboratory modules for Dental School and Medical School Infectious Disease courses • Delivered lectures on bacteriology techniques and clinical relevance for each laboratory session • Guided students during the isolation and identification of bacteria from clinical specimens

Designed and taught Microbiology (BIO205) course and laboratory • Delivered two lectures and directed one lab session weekly, to a class of 16 students • Re-designed course syllabus and lectures to highlight the relevance of course topics to biomedical career tracks of BHCC students • Revised and added to existing laboratory units, including a module about clinically relevant approaches to studying antibiotic resistance

Molecular interactions, cellular requirements and MoA of two bacterial toxins: edema toxin produced by Bacillus anthracis and the cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) family members from several Gram-negative bacteria• Developed molecular, biochemical and cell-based assays to study the MOA and mode of action of bacterial toxins on cellular pathways• Phenotypic and functional changes elicited by edema toxin on monocyte-derived dendritic cells• Characterized cell signaling and gene expression changes elicited by edema toxin on immune cells• Developed viral vectors for cell line engineering• Designed and optimized qPCR panels to measure gene expression changes in response to edema toxin and other small molecules• Cell line development of CHO cells with alternate glycan structure, for cell binding and entry requirements of CDTsLeadership and Mentoring• Managed collaborations with Oklahoma Health Science Center, the University of Illinois, on gene expression changes mediated by anthrax edema toxin, and CDT intoxication• Mentored students on projects characterizing intracellular functions of bacterial toxins

• Delivered lectures on the subject matter of each laboratory session • Guided students during the isolation, titering and characterization of bacteriophages and viruses • Designed in-class evaluations to test students' grasp of lab concepts • Prepared exam questions for laboratory midterm and finals