• Directed all aspects of the research and development department. Successfully planned and executed projects to validate and characterize cell products to be used in manufacturing and in veterinary clinical applications.• Oversaw and improved SVF preparations and MSC culture.• Evaluated SVF and MSC propagation kinetics and telomerase activity.• Analyzed in vitro differentiation potential of SVF and MSC.• Determined potential in vitro anti/pro-inflammatory characteristics of SVF and MSC.• Identified specific growth factors and cytokines present in SVF and MSC cell lysates as well as MSC conditioned cell culture medium using array-based multiplex ELISA.• Assessed SNPs in dog leukocyte antigen (DLA)/Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I and II genes.• Characterized SVF and MSC biology post cryopreservation and thaw.• Designed and engineered recombinant cell penetrating iPSCs transcription factors to generate non-virally induced pluripotent stem cells.

• Initiated and managed a three-year study evaluating the effects of a combinatorial set of therapeutic treatments including bone marrow transplantation, gene therapy, radiation therapy and/or medicinal therapy (ACE inhibitor) on a mouse model of chronic kidney disease (Alport Syndrome: a Col4a3-/- mouse model of glomerulonephritis). • Setup and managed an ISO class 7 cleanroom equipped with ISO class 5 biosafety cabinets capable of producing and banking clinical grade adult stem cells for future therapeutic applications.• Evaluated the use of germline stem cells for the treatment of male infertility in the mouse model.• Designed and engineered recombinant cell penetrating iPSCs transcription factors to generate non-virally induced pluripotent stem cells. • Assessed other methods to induce pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) without the use of virus: mRNA transfection, DNA plasmid transfections, recombinant protein transfection, and recombinant proteins conjugated to single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT).• Assisted in the generation and characterization of virally iPSCs derived from human RPE cells (retinal pigment epithelium) as well as human and mouse keratinocytes.

• Initiated and managed the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Lab Core: Provided all biochemistry and molecular biology services for the research and development department.• Characterized the multipotent potential of germline stem cells and compared their plasticity to other adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells.• Assessed chondrogenic differentiation of mouse and human germline stem cells using micromass plating, 3D cell culture, and basement membrane matrices (e.g. Matrigel, Geltrex).• Managed the cell cultures of both human and mouse embryonic stem cells as well as adult stem cells.• Evaluated cell fusion based reprogramming using both electro and polyethylene glycol (PEG) fusion techniques.

• Evaluated EGFR and PDGFR signaling in PC12 cells.• Generated mutated EGFR and PDGFR expression constructs.• Isolated and characterized progenitor cells derived from porcine bladder.

• Generated and characterized mouse embryonic fibroblast cell lines lacking fibronectin and focal adhesion kinase.• Studied the mechanotransduction signaling pathway of these when cells when exposed to shear stress laminar flow.• Evaluated a keratinocyte restricted knockout of focal adhesion kinase both in vivo and in vitro.• Maintained and managed knockout/transgenic mice colonies.

• Generated and characterized mouse embryonic fibroblast cell lines lacking fibronectin (FN) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK).• Studied the mechanotransduction signaling pathway of FN-/-, FAK-/- cells when exposed to shear stress laminar flow.• Evaluated the hair cycle and wound healing in keratinocytes with a restricted knockout of focal adhesion kinase both in vivo and in vitro.• Maintained and managed knockout/transgenic mice colonies. • Oversaw general lab operations: Supply/reagent inventory, ordering, and equipment maintenance.