While working as a PhD candidate in the Biomedical Microdevices and Nanotechnology Laboratory, I have developed microfabrication skills in a cleanroom environment in addition to continuing to advance my general laboratory skills. During my PhD I have worked on the following techniques:• Photomask design for photolithography using AutoCAD• Photolithography for lift-off processing• Fabrication with positive and negative photoresist• Design, fabrication, and testing microfluidic MEMS devices for the detection and analysis of single microparticles• Design, fabrication, and testing of microdevices and biosensors• Worked in cleanroom environment developing skills including photolithography, wet/dry etch, and thin film deposition• Utilized electrical impedance spectroscopy methodologies to characterize microelectrode systems and for particle sensing in microfluidic impedance flow cytometers• Maintained mammalian cell cultures using aseptic technique

Worked as a teaching assistant for the senior design projects class. This class was designed for seniors in their final academic year to work on real world problems that were general supplied by industry partners. Students were challenged to apply the knowledge they gained during their program to produce a functional solution that could be employed by a company. They worked with industry professionals during the course and were able to demonstrate their final product designs at the end of the year. For this course I assisted with class lectures, exams, and project expos. I also performed organizational duties for classes and graded student exams and quizzes.

• Assisted in the development of laboratory lesson plans• Responsible for organization and maintenance of laboratory equipment• Presented laboratory recitation before sessions and graded student laboratory reports

Performed research in the Biomedical Microdevices and Nanotechnology Laboratory (BMNL) focusing on employing electrical impedance spectroscopy as a sensing modality to create biosensors for analytes ranging in size from small biomolecules to entire cells. For this project I maintained cell cultures of both HeLa and HEK cell lines.In addition to my thesis project, I was also responsible for learning new surface characterization techniques and employing them to assist on projects within the BMNL laboratory. I performed surface characterizations using SEM, AFM, profilometry, and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) along with other techniques.My other duties in the BMNL laboratory included working to establish laboratory protocols for ELISA testing, fabrication processes, 3D printing, and protein surface modifications for immunoassay biosensor development. I was also responsible for training teams of undergraduate and high school students to prepare them for working in a research laboratory. I supervised and mentored groups of up to 8 students as they performed research in the BMNL laboratory.

• Ordered equipment and components for and was responsible for the establishment and organization of instructional laboratory space for the initial offering of a newly created laboratory class• Instructed students on the use of basic circuit components and breadboarding for circuit design and testing• Supervised students as they built and tested circuits using common equipment including DC power supplies and oscilloscopes• Assisted with creating and proctoring quizzes and exams, preparing and presenting lectures, and preparing laboratory instruction manuals

This position was for a newly created instructional laboratory class being offered by the department of bioengineering. Because of the need to establish a new laboratory space, this position required a wide variety of responsibilities as well as an ability for rapid learning and adaptability. The responsibilities included:• Identifying the necessary laboratory equipment and consumables for biomechanical and molecular biology experiments• Purchasing the aforementioned items and working with the purchasing department and supply chain to ensure timely delivery and correct fulfillment of all orders• Coordinating with facilities management for the installation of machines including a servohydraulic test system and atomic force microscopes• Meeting with representatives for instrument setup and training to prepare systems and prepare for instructing students in proper operation of all laboratory equipment• Ensuring weekly that laboratory spaces were prepared and properly equipped for instructional sections• Starting and maintaining E. coli and bacteriophage cultures for use by students in all instructional sectionsAdditionally, I provided introductory sessions before each laboratory section to introduce proper techniques for general laboratory practices and techniques including pipetting, gel electrophoresis, bacterial culturing, plating and growth of bacteria, DNA isolation, atomic force microscopy, biomaterial testing.

Demonstrated laboratory skills for students and supervised groups in a laboratory setting as they completed designated experiments. Maintained laboratory space and prepared equipment and samples for student use during laboratory sessions. Skills taught included: • Molecular biology laboratory techniques: cell counting with hemocytometer, spectrophotometry, ultracentrifugation, serial dilutions, fluorescent and phase contrast microscopy, microplate reader analysis for enzyme activity, Ames test• Bacterial techniques: preparing growth media, sterile technique, inoculation, replica plating, plating/streaking, isolating single colonies, phenotyping and genotyping of E.coli and yeast• DNA and protein handling: DNA isolation, gel electrophoresis, PCR, proper enzyme handling, restriction enzyme digest and ligation, plasmid mapping• Cell culturing techniques and analysis: aseptic cell culturing, cell viability testing, transformation efficiency, differential centrifugation for cell fractionation, transfection of HeLa cells