Kaley Wilburn Email & Phone Number

Chapel Hill, Nc, Us

Chapel Hill, Nc, Us

Durham, North Carolina, United States

Advisor: Dr. Clare Smith• Strategic development and execution of challenging interdisciplinary projects. Fulfilling aims of $1.5 million grant, discovering host genetic drivers of immune protection during lung infection.• Collaborative management, drafting, proofreading, editing, and fact-checking of scientific documents for five trainees. Elevated clarity and accuracy of manuscripts, posters, conference abstracts, thesis chapters, grants, protocols, and PowerPoint presentations. Balanced concurrent deadlines.• Wrote and published one first-author, peer-reviewed publication. Compiled and harmonized data from scientists at three institutions. Ensured collective interpretations were represented accurately.• Created and delivered engaging PowerPoint and poster presentations. Critically evaluated significant results and presented them to scientific audiences of various specialties. • Researched and analyzed literature from extra-disciplinary fields (e.g., obesity, cancer cachexia, inflammatory bowel disease) to design logical follow-up approaches for projects.• Consulted with an expert in quantitative genetics to develop bioinformatic analyses for multi-dimensional data sets. Learned R data science software to generate statistical reports and informative, visually appealing figures.• Combined meticulous attention to detail and problem-solving skills to facilitate timely, rigorous, and safe completion of experiments in a high-stakes Biosafety Level 3 laboratory. Coordinated teamwork and individual work to optimize quality and efficiency. • Built mutual trust via long-term mentorship and training of three graduate students, two technicians, and one undergraduate student. Adapted interpersonal communication to match individual needs.

Ithaca, New York, United States

Advisor: Dr. Brian VanderVen• Planned, conducted, and analyzed mechanism of action and preclinical studies to develop a novel class of small molecules as antibiotics for tuberculosis treatment. • Worked within a multi-functional team to advance one optimized compound (CLB073) to the Bill and Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute for clinical trial development.• Wrote and published one first-author, peer-reviewed publication detailing project results and their translational potential. Incorporated expert feedback from co-authors, including medicinal chemists.• Frequently created and delivered PowerPoint or poster presentations at lab meetings, semiannual department seminars, and conferences (e.g., delivered a total of 20+ interactive presentations reviewing diverse immunology and microbiology publications for journal club meetings).• Collected, organized, and critically evaluated publications from interdisciplinary biomedical literature. Distilled into written reviews of essential concepts, including two review chapters published in thesis (60 pages and 200+ references) and two collaborative review publications.• Fostered productive long-term partnerships. Resulted in co-first authorship on one publication with GlaxoSmithKline and co-authorship on three additional publications with Cornell University labs. • Complied with strict SOPs in a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory. Helped maintain a culture of accountability and integrity while assisting with technical training for two graduate students.

Ithaca, New York, United States

Advisor: Dr. David RussellOutcome: Gained experience in tissue culture, transfection, molecular cloning, and FISH:FLOW analysis. Resulted in publication “Heterogeneous Loss of HIV Transcription and Proviral DNA From 8E5/LAV Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells Revealed by RNA FISH:FLOW Analyses”

Orlando, Florida, United States

Advisor: Dr. Kyle RohdeCompleted Honors in the Major Undergraduate Thesis project, investigating novel fluorescent tools to monitor protein-protein interactions in mycobacteria for whole-cell drug screening applications.

Orlando, Florida, United States

Advisor: Dr. Stephen KueblerLearned fundamental lab techniques. Assisted postdoctoral scholar with work functionalizing the surface of polymeric microstructures, specifically focusing on electroless copper deposition.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Immunology And Infectious Disease

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Biomedical Sciences, General

Activities and Societies: Burnett Honors College Scholar, National Merit Scholar, Florida Bright Futures Scholar, undergraduate.