Developing innovative new treatments for diseases.

I performed due diligence on grants and investment opportunities for WRF. This included technical evaluation and market research for very early stage technology startups in the Seattle area.

I worked in the laboratory of Dr. Leslie Goo, where we investigated the role of antibodies in infection by dengue virus, Zika virus, and West Nile virus. From patient samples, we identified numerous antibodies that blocked infection by Dengue and Zika virus, including one that is among the most potent ever discovered. The antibodies we found may form the basis of future treatments or vaccines for these diseases.

I completed my Ph.D. in the lab of Kathleen Collins M.D., Ph.D. My thesis project demonstrated that mannose receptor is a restriction factor of HIV Env and that two HIV accessory proteins inhibit mannose receptor's activity. A paper describing the work was published in the journal eLife in March 2020. The project gave me extensive experience in viral vector design, primary cell culture, gene knockouts, multi-color flow cytometry and fundamental techniques including cloning, western blot, qRT-PCR, and ELISA.During my PhD I received the Cell Biotechnology Training Grant (T32) and a Ruth Kirschstein National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health (F31).

I investigated the mechanisms by which the metabolic state of T cells effects their differentiation into helper subtypes, especially Th17 cells, which are implicated in a variety of autoimmune disorders. The work involves primary cell culture, multi-color flow, and establishing new SOPs for modified and improved assays.

I worked on several projects studying potential applications of a nanoparticle that can direct DNA, therapeutics, and fluorescent markers to to Her2+ breast cancer cells. The projects required extensive molecular and cell biology work including cloning, protein purification, cell culture, and western blotting. I also assessed the ability of compounds to treat xenografted human tumors in mice, which gave me experience in mouse colony management, sub-q injections and many other protocols relevant to in vivo models.

CSOs are a division of the police department consisting of approximately 60 student employees. The department performs many types of duties from campus and building patrols to promoted positions. Promotions that I held were bike patrol, dispatcher, and field training officer. Two full time managers are in charge of the divison but a group of 9-10 supervisors, including myself, help handle staffing issues, discipline, hiring, training, public relations and relations with clients. I was specifically responsible for library shifts and hiring/training.

I designed and conducted experiments to study the location and orientation of transmembrane domains of the membrane transpoter protein lactate permease. I combined plasmids to fuse reporter proteins to segments of lactate permease, then assayed the activity of the reporter proteins to determine their location relative to the cell membrane.

I performed varuious office duties including bookkeeping, bill paying, and receptionist duties. I helped the firm move offices and install and maintain a new computer system.