Justice Lu Email and Phone Number

• Successfully conducted single-cell, bulk RNAseq and proteomic analysis and identified gene candidates to greatly enhance olfactory receptor cell surface expression in a genetic screen.• Developed various machine learning model to predict protein and ligand binding of olfactory receptor. • Conducted olfactory receptor protein engineering and analysis to identify key residues involved in receptor ligand interaction.• Utilized single-cell RNAseq to identify novel signatures in nasal… Show more • Successfully conducted single-cell, bulk RNAseq and proteomic analysis and identified gene candidates to greatly enhance olfactory receptor cell surface expression in a genetic screen.• Developed various machine learning model to predict protein and ligand binding of olfactory receptor. • Conducted olfactory receptor protein engineering and analysis to identify key residues involved in receptor ligand interaction.• Utilized single-cell RNAseq to identify novel signatures in nasal biopsies of covid-19 patients.• Built variety of analysis pipelines for facilitating data analysis and efficiency. Pipelines Including protein alignment, 96-well plate analysis, single cell analysis, 16S analysis. Show less

- Built an end-to-end pipeline for analyzing bulk RNA sequencing results with regression CNN.- Successfully strategized and modified analysis pipeline to increase sample targets by x10 for ML training

• Conducted genetic screen to identify novel regulators of lipid metabolism and adipose tissue morphogenesis in zebrafish. Identified genes may represent new therapeutic targets for human diabetes, obesity and associated disorder through control of distinct lipid metabolic processes. • Characterized novel zebrafish model of Maple Syrup Urine Disease caused by genetic deficit in branched chain amino acid metabolism (in collaboration with Dr. Jessica McCann).• Tested the ability of… Show more • Conducted genetic screen to identify novel regulators of lipid metabolism and adipose tissue morphogenesis in zebrafish. Identified genes may represent new therapeutic targets for human diabetes, obesity and associated disorder through control of distinct lipid metabolic processes. • Characterized novel zebrafish model of Maple Syrup Urine Disease caused by genetic deficit in branched chain amino acid metabolism (in collaboration with Dr. Jessica McCann).• Tested the ability of distinct bacteria and nutrients to stimulate enteroendocrine cell activation.• Mentored undergraduate student research project on adipose tissue development.• Presented my research projects and journal club papers in weekly lab meetings.• Methods utilized: Confocal/ stereofluorescence microscopy, image analysis, genotyping/sequencing, DNA extraction, HRMA, PCR, TOPO cloning, lipophilic dye staining, immunofluorescence, histology, glucose assay, acridine orange staining, ImageJ, Prism, R. Show less

• Completed structural and functional imaging of zebrafish brain utilizing different reporter lines, immunofluorescence assay and fluorescence microscopy in order to discover the organization of visual circuits and how the vertebrate nervous system processes visual information.• Served as point of contact between joint laboratory communication and projects, reviewed and wrote animal and lab safety protocols, as well as order and inventory of laboratory.• Oversaw lab procedures and… Show more • Completed structural and functional imaging of zebrafish brain utilizing different reporter lines, immunofluorescence assay and fluorescence microscopy in order to discover the organization of visual circuits and how the vertebrate nervous system processes visual information.• Served as point of contact between joint laboratory communication and projects, reviewed and wrote animal and lab safety protocols, as well as order and inventory of laboratory.• Oversaw lab procedures and experiments for all lab members.• Methods utilized: Microinjection, confocal/2-photon microscopy, primary neuronal culture. Show less

• Successfully generated transgenic zebrafish line overexpressing microRNA722 in neutrophils, and demonstrated improved neutrophil motility in tail wounded and bacterial systemic model.• Participated in weekly joint lab seminars and journal club presentations.• Methods utilized: Microinjection, tail wounding, fluorescence microscopy, Sudan black staining, molecular biology, Prism.

• Studied motion detection in European starlings project by collecting electroretinograms from brain/muscle tissue, successfully troubleshooting and building a model as well as data analyzing using R programming with the goal to minimize bird strike for commercial and military aircraft.

• Cultured HeLa cells over 20 generations and assembled microchips for cell culture to isolate cells performing antigen selection, during the process lab and sterile techniques are acquired.