I provide operational leadership for both strategic and tactical activities for business operations of the OBAO. I am responsible for daily operations, staff oversight, planning, and financial management of the office. I apply expert level subject matter knowledge to the four research and teaching compliance committees administratively supported by the office, which includes the fields of biosafety, infectious agents, and molecular, cellular, and developmental biology. I have expertise in federal and state guidelines and regulations involved research oversight and expertise in research administration and research compliance programs. I collaborate to control University-wide policy and procedure formation for the four compliance committees and proactively assess compliance to protect University interests. I support and provide professional development, training, and educational opportunities to members of the administrative staff, members of the different research review groups as well as the PIs proposing research subject to oversight.I thrive on handling complex tasks with the aim of facilitating the conduct of research through the optimal implementation and procedural directives of several research oversight programs. I understand the specific needs or requirements of investigators and act accordingly should a regulatory or administrative issue arise. I partner with four chairs and numerous internal University units to achieve directives, generally by developing new systems, new products/offerings, new methods or approaches, and new operating procedures. I develop innovative solutions as challenges arise in research that may have precedent-setting implications for the U. I build and manage day-to-day and long-term relationships with faculty, staff, external regulatory agencies, external partner institutions, and external business partners involved in research compliance activities administered by the OBAO.

Conducted research into the pathogenesis of severe malaria and its long-term neurologic deficits andcognitive impairments. Published research findings and contributed to successful grant applications.Mentored and directed research projects for medical fellows, post-docs, technicians, and graduate, medical,and undergraduate students at labs in Minnesota, Kenya, and Uganda.

Investigated the molecular pathogenesis of cerebral malaria from patient samples and clinical outcomes.Trained undergraduates, medical students, and graduate students in scientific methodology, moleculartechniques, statistical analyses, and biosafety. Developed, optimized, or adapted assays for humangenotyping, Plasmodium parasite detection and speciation, antibody quantification, and analytequantification. Traveled to Kenya and Uganda to set up lab facilities, train staff, and execute project goals.

My post-doctoral research projects furthered my interests in molecular viral pathogenesis and translational research. To this end, my research encompassed the identification of viral vaccine targets, constructing DNA vaccines, and testing novel methods of vaccine delivery in mice, including particle-mediated biolistics and electropermeabilization. I constructed and tested the immunological efficacy of four DNA vaccines which included overseeing and directly designing and developing three antibody-based assays for the detection ofviral gene expression and the detection of virus-specific antibodies. These assays also required the generation of several assay reagents including both antigen preparations and fluorescently-labeled antibodies.

My overall research interests during my graduate education encompassed molecular virology and viral pathogenesis. My doctoral project was to investigate the interactions between the regulatory protein Rev of equine infectious anemia virus and host-cell splicing factors.