Scientist in Neurodegeneration and NeuroREgeneration at ICR: Developing novel interventions to slow age-related cognitive decline and prevent dementia, as well as pioneering highly translational technologies to preserve existing CNS function and repair/restore damage to the brain!

Postdoctoral Research Fellow training under Dr. Rajiv Ratan:• Researching the role of heme homeostasis and ferroptosis in neurodegeneration, elucidating molecular mechanisms that underlie brain damage post stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, and neurological diseases / related models. Responsible for complete research pipeline execution, developing and investigating therapeutic targets for protecting neurons against death via: hypothesis generating literature review; in-silico bioinformatic data mining; primary cell culture testing, screening, and assay development; classical model generation with sufficiency / rescue experimentation and comprehensive mechanistic -omics studies (RNAseq, ATACseq, etc.); culminating with systematic in-vivo modeling preclinical trials for translation, IP protection and publication.• Identified a novel use for an FDA approved cancer drug, which demonstrates robust protection against ferroptosis / oxidative stress in primary cortical cultures, collaborating with labs at UCLA (Drs. Silva, Carmichael, Geschwind) and UCI (Dr. Swarup). Presented novel findings (pending publication) on pan-HDAC inhibition targeting ferroptosis / neurological disease at Society for Neuroscience (2023) and East-West Iron Club (2022 & 2023) conferences.• Project was successfully awarded an Adelson Medical Research Foundation Grant for 3 years of multi-million-dollar funding to further investigate the mechanism of action of our drug which prevents ferroptosis while also enhancing learning and memory, killing tumor cells, and fostering axonal regeneration in-vivo (“Research Maps Identifies Novel Epigenetic Modulators of Ferroptosis”, 2022 – 2025).

PhD Dissertation in Dr. Iqbal Hamza's Lab: Elucidating the endogenous function of multidrug resistance proteins (MRPs) 5 & 9 and their roles in reproduction and heme homeostasis/trafficking• Generated novel genetic ablations on heme transporters with gene editing tools (CRISPR) working with multiple model species including mice, zebrafish, worms, yeast, and mammalian cell systems. Characterized knockout animals via traditional cell biology techniques, comprehensive transcriptomics, metabolomics, viral immortalization, disease model challenges and in-silico bioinformatics analysis and modeling.• Presented research findings over a dozen times including three prestigious Gordon Research Conferences with over 150 attendees in the USA (2016 & 2018) and Spain (2019) – winner of the Jacob K. Goldhaber Travel Grant Scholarship providing funding to present and disseminate published research.• Collaborated with labs at National Institutes of Health (Drs. Bodine, Rouault), University of Cambridge (Dr. Rowich), University of Kent (Dr. Warren), University of Utah (Dr. Phillips), Boston University (Dr. Cheng) and University of Maryland Baltimore (Dr. Kane) successfully orchestrating data collection and analyses from over a dozen different researchers for peer reviewed publications.• Developed, optimized, and authored five complete IRB IACUC animal protocols approved for the Hamza and Orlando labs as well as over a dozen amendments for mouse and zebrafish projects. These included: establishing challenging surgical techniques such as retroorbital injections under isoflurane anesthesia, hepatocyte isolations, and serial phlebotomy on live zebrafish via glass capillary needles – a sui generis procedure on the UMD campus.• Awarded ANSC "Most Outstanding Graduate Student" for 2020 and "Overall Most Outstanding Graduate Student" for the College of AGNR in 2021. Recipient of Departmental Dean’s Fellowship and both the Departmental and College’s "Most Outstanding Teaching Assistant".

Mastered cryogenic fractional distillation in an ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accredited team to accurately and consistently radiocarbon date hundreds of samples daily to the highest level of internationally recognized quality and calibration. Also responsible for additional bio-based sample preparation, basic chemistry preparations as well as general lab assistance for radiocarbon dating.

• Characterize immortal damselfish cell lines• Perform microscopy imaging and both fixed and live fluorescent staining• Mastery of cell culture techniques (media prep, feeding, passaging)

Worked in Dr. Peter Glynn’s lab at RSMAS with Ph.D. candidate Ian Enochs researching marine ecology and biodiversity in Eastern Pacific coral reefs. Daily tasks involved hands on work with cryptic fauna samples learning invertebrate zoology and taxonomy.

• Worked closely with researchers from multiple institutions on a myriad of coral reef related projects, including but limited to: harvest and analysis of pharmacologically active compounds from purple rope sponges; behavioral recordings and research studying symbiotic relationship between gobies and sea grass shrimp; mitigation of invasive species working to reduce harmful ecological impact of lionfish.• Gained extensive experience in shallow diving and small boat handling, tank filling, and compressor work as well as critical leadership experience in island management through responsibilities of island/mainland communication, equipment maintenance, supply planning, island tours and office work.

Summer instructor teaching kids the fundamentals of tennis!

Selected by the Office of Naval Research for the Science & Engineering Apprentice Program (SEAP). Worked with professional and fellow engineers on naval propulsion and personnel safety systems.