• Conducted research on my own, mentored project studying the endocannabinoid system’s role in modulating pain• Performed chemical lesioning and virus-mediated gene insertion via stereotaxic surgeries to study Parkinson’s disease using optogenetics in mouse models• Managed mouse colonies, conducted behavioral testing, and dissected mice brain samples for biochemical experimental analyses• Mentored undergraduate students and edited manuscripts of scientific articles, review papers, and grant proposals

• Took charge of laboratory logistics and assisted lab members with projects centered on learning & memory, addiction, and Parkinson’s disease• Managed mouse colonies, conducted behavioral testing, and dissected mice brain samples for biochemical experimental analyses• Mentored undergraduate students and edited manuscripts of scientific articles, review papers, and grant proposals

• Filled in as an emergency substitute teacher for 1 month, preparing lesson plans and teaching 5 classes: 2 regular biology classes, 2 advanced anatomy & physiology classes, and 1 advanced placement biology class

• Authored a literature review on the role of Interleukin-1 signaling in cognitive and behavioral deficits observed after traumatic brain injuries• Administered traumatic brain injuries to mice using the “blast” model and prepared RNA isolations for quantitative real-time PCR analyses• Conducted behavioral testing on mice to assess hopelessness (forced swim test) and anxiety (the open field test & elevated plus maze)

• Taught five sections (four advanced courses, one regular course) of high school physics as an emergency substitute teacher for two weeks• Implemented teachers’ lesson plans to teach STEM, English literature, and Spanish courses of all high school grade levels

• Taught intensive 5-week “bootcamp” courses to equip students with strategies & content knowledge to perform successfully on the ACT• Provided private, one-on-one tutoring for all sections of the ACT: English, Mathematics, Reading, & Science

• Created a report outlining issues centered on the lack of potable water for Syrian refugees living in Lebanon• Formally proposed the use of “PUR Packets” for on-site water purification in order to reduce the high cost of clean water transport to camps

• Held two-hour private tutoring sessions 5 evenings/week for STEM courses and a monthly three-hour Chemistry class at no cost to students • Trained novice tutors in the appropriate pedagogical styles for interacting with students in the context of one-on-one tutoring sessions

• Observed the pharmacodynamic testing and data collection of a novel therapeutic via chronoamperometric experimentation• Bred mice for the generation of a novel mouse model expressing a conditional allele of the Interleukin-1 Receptor Type 1 (IL-1R1)• Generated data for a figure demonstrating no significant effect of IL-1R1 deletion on mouse metabolism

• Led an intensive English language course teaching individuals between 7-18 years of age with limited English experience• Created lesson plans to provide structure and standardization for my own class and for those taught in the future

• Shadowed physicians across several departments and helped interpret medical Spanish for physicians, patients, and patients’ families• Assisted Spanish-speaking and Arabic-speaking patients with filling out forms in English

• Worked under the direction of a graduate student exploring the genetic basis of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex• Used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique to genotype mice & sectioned and plated mouse brain tissue samples for Immunohistochemistry (IHC) analyses

• Checked patients in, organized patient charts, and delivered charts to nurses upon patient check-in• Updated families in the waiting room on the status of the patient in surgery and escorted families to the patient's room post-operation• Attended weekly tumor board conferences where experts from myriad specialties collaborated to determine the best course of treatment for patients