As a scientist in the lab of Dr Luke Gilbert, I leverage synthetic biology and functional genomics to enable novel viral vector design, regulate transgene expression, and investigate genetic dependencies in vivo• Independently identify and test molecular targets to enhance viral infectivity and transgene expression• Develop novel approaches to achieve tissue-specific targeting solutions for viral vectors• Optimize large-scale viral production pipelines to enable in vivo translational applications• Manage interdepartmental teams in designing and executing in vivo functional genomics projects

My graduate thesis, performed under Dr. Martin Riccomagno, is to investigate the roles of adhesion signaling and actin remodeling in several models of neuronal migration and axonal pathfinding. I leverage a powerful array of mouse transgenic, histological, surgical, tissue culture, and molecular approaches to elucidate the roles of target genes both in vitro and in vivo.• Highly organized project management with a deep understanding of mouse transgenic approaches; managed 37 transgenic lines and other lab resources to develop 5 projects to publication• Effective team builder & communicator; organized and trained 9 rotation students and 7 undergraduates and delegated tasks to ensure timely project success, presenting results at 12 conferencesProject Specifics:• Discovered cell-autonomous and non-autonomous roles for the Crk-Associated Substrate (Cas) family of adaptor proteins in cortical white matter tract fasciculation by leveraging mouse transgenics and confocal microscopy, resulting in one first-author publication (in submission)• Discovered a role for Cas proteins during development of the cerebellar system by combining mouse behavioral and histological analysis, resulting in one first-author publication (in progress)• Elucidated a novel signaling axis between Cas proteins, dystroglycan proteins, and integrin receptors during mouse cortical lamination by leveraging in utero electroporation and primary tissue culture techniques, resulting in one co-first author publication (in review)• Designed, Tested, and Validated a novel genetically encoded tool to monitor Focal Adhesion Kinase activity in vivo, resulting in 1 first-author publication (in review)• Optimized a stereotactic injection approach of introducing AAVs into brain regions to map cerebellar circuit connections, and applied this technique to discover connectivity errors in mouse mutants for the β-Chimaerin gene, resulting in 1 first-author publication

Teaching Assistant for 8 academic quarters. Overall, I practiced great autonomy in leading discussion sections, creating and administering course materials, and organizing students. • Dynamic and adaptable oral presenter with experience teaching all levels of biology, from non-specialist to introductory to advanced courses• Capable classroom leader with professionally training on issues of science pedagogy, racial diversity, equity, and inclusivity • Emotionally intelligent educator with a record of working within students’ limitations to find effective pedagogical approaches and connecting students to support systems“One of the best TAs I’ve had at UCR. Hands down. Extremely supportive. Excellent knowledge and explanation of the material. Organized and entertaining. 10/10 would recommend again.” “He was an amazing TA. He truly cared about all his students and helped them understand the material better. He was also super enthusiastic about teaching the material.”“Jason was a very effective TA. He was able to explain the material of the course and also be efficient regarding tasks in class. His command of the subject is obvious and that translates into the quality of his teaching.”As a federally-recognized Hispanic Serving Institution, UC Riverside is one of the most ethnically diverse research universities nationally. More than half the student body is first-generation and the university is ranked first nationally in awarding undergraduate financial aid, reflecting UCR's core values of diversity and social mobility. I am a staunch supporter of this mission, and I remain committed to fostering equitable and inclusive environments in my professional spaces.Appointments:BIOL 5A: Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology, Spring 2017BIOL 34: Human Heredity and Evolution, Summer 2018BIOL 102: Introductory Genetics, Fall 2017, Spring 2018CBNS 101: Fundamentals of Cell Biology, Fall 2016, Winter 2018, Summer 2018CBNS 169: Human Embryology, Winter 2017

Laboratory Assistant II in the lab of Dr. Fedor V Karginov. As a founding member of the lab, I worked with great autonomy and often took a lead role in performing experiments and managing collaborations with other labs or off-campus entities. • Cross-functional management & Creative Problem Solving; as the only staff member in a start-up-like environment I functioned as a laboratory spokesperson, administrative lead, principal technician, and I was regularly tasked to find innovative solutions to technical and spontaneous problems that arose in day-to-day laboratory operations• Peer-educator and Relationship Builder; provided technical training and oversight for 6 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, 4 undergraduate students, facilitated collaborative projects with 3 adjacent labs, and regularly liaised with 4 university agencies Project specifics:• Optimized calcium phosphate and lipofection gene delivery systems, and exploited these to introduce siRNA knockdown, luciferase reporter and CRISPR/Cas9 genomic editing constructs into mammalian cell lines• Developed a rapid screening protocol to isolate, clonally expand, and functionally validate CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout cell lines, resulting in 1 first author publication• Optimized CLIP-Seq and RNA-Seq library construction pipelines to enable global analysis of RNA Binding Protein occupancy and assess interactions with microRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulatory pathways, resulting in 2 second-author publications

Undergraduate Research Internship in Neurobiology in the lab of Dr. Qizhi Gong. Project specifics: • Investigated the role of the small Rho GTPase Rac1 in mitral cell dendritic remodeling by leveraging mouse conditional genetics and confocal microscopy, presenting results at 2012 meeting of the Association for Chemoreception Sciences (ACHEMS XXXIV)• Characterized the expression of complement factor H (cfh) protein in the mouse retina using immunohistochemistry, resulting in 1 co-authored publication