Maya Levy Email & Phone Number

Cambridge, Massachusetts , Us

Currently working at Gensaic (formerly M13) as a senior research associate! I am supporting the vector production platform by testing and manipulating lead phage particles on mammalian cells. This includes, but is not limited to:• characterizing complex libraries of PDPs• contributing to assay development / vector design optimization• Maintain multiple types of mammalian cell lines• Purify and characterize ssDNA constructs• Perform transfection & transduction experiments w/ panel of cell lines to evaluate novel vector designs• Perform cell characterization plate assays (e.g. FACS, Luciferase Assays, immunofluorescence imaging, NGS prep etc.)• Assist in the development of novel assays for transduction characterization• Develop in-house protein production workflow.• Assist in lab organization and operations, including ordering supplies and restocking for tissue culture• Follow lab protocols and safety rules!

New York, Ny, Us

• Perform molecular cloning, lentiviral production, transduction of cell lines and primary cells, cell culture, basic molecular biology, flow cytometry, flow sorting.• Transduce & Evaluate libraries for complex genetic screens using a CRISPR/Cas9 system in HEK293T, CD4 T cells, and CD8 T cells.This includes, but is not limited to:• Isolate CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, and PBMCs from whole blood.• Expand and maintain 293T cell lines.• Analyze experimental data and identify methodological problems/challenges. • Develop and adjust experimental protocols to ensure best outcomes + project completion in a timely manner.• Work with supervisor to plan project requirements and timelines.• Document, compile, and assist with interpreting experimental data.• Operate and maintain automated laboratory equipment to complete investigations.• Consult with senior scientists.• Prepare, order, and maintain stocks of necessary reagents, solutions and supplies.

Cambridge, Ma, Us

Wittrup Lab, Department of Biological Engineering at MITSpring and early Summer 2021, I was working on a protein engineering project in the Wittrup Lab. Through cell culture and genetic engineering, this project aimed to characterize site-specific protein phosphorylation of chemotherapeutic proteins, in an effort to increase their retention at the site of injection and therefore their therapeutic properties. The proteins of interest for this proof of concept research were catalase and the kinase Fam20C.• Designed, cloned, and purified genetic constructs in E. Coli bacteria.• Transfected human kidney HEK293 cell lines with these constructs to produce theengineered protein of interest.• Purified proteins through His-tag bind-wash-elute procedures.• Evaluated the protein’s enzymatic activity in vitro to test this material science-basedapproach to increase chemotherapy retention.• Presented research results to experts in protein engineering and characterization.• Completed extensive training in sample collection from murine models.Read the official summary below!-----------Through vaccine research, it is known that phosphorylated proteins show much stronger absorption to alum. Previous work from the Wittrup lab showed that co-expression of the kinase Fam20C with protein fusions (therapeutic protein fused to a peptide containing the kinase recognition motifs) can enable highly specific and efficient phosphorylation of the peptide linked to the target protein. When co-injected with alum, this phosphorylated protein shows enhanced intratumoral retention in murine cancer models. However, the current method for site-specific protein phosphorylation has yet to be tested in bacterial systems. As such, this project aims to use bacteria to develop and test novel methods of in-cell phosphorylation of therapeutic proteins of interest to increase their absorption, retention, and therefore therapeutic efficiency.

Cambridge, Ma, Us

Teaching Assistant of 20.320 Analysis of Biomolecular Systems, a MATLAB-based class, the primary modeling class in the Dept. of Biological Engineering at MIT.Responsibilities:• Created computational analyses of biological systems across a hierarchy of scales, including genetic, molecular, cellular, and cell population levels.• Developed MATLAB models of molecular interactions, metabolic and gene regulation networks, signal transduction pathways, cell populations in tissues, and epidemics.• Facilitated weekly office hours and recitation sections for a class of ~60 upperclassmen students.• Provided debugging support for student generated Python and MATLAB code.• Prepared and/or graded quizzes, exams, exam keys, weekly homework solutions, review sessions and project solutions.• Managed an online platform for students to ask anonymous questions and receive direct help.

Yokneam, Israel, Il

Over 15 weeks, created computational data analysis tools that will be used by Serenno to gain improvement insight for their device.• Remotely consolidated and analyzed data to gain quality control insights of a microfluidic device to monitor urine output for acute kidney injury management.• Designed interactive and modular visual analysis tools for both engineers and clinicians to view processed data from patients by demographic.• Wrote training protocols and created informative videos so that future users of software may add more modules as clinical patient dataset becomes more complex.• Self-managed during a remote internship, presented to various members of the company across a wide range of expertise, and maintained effective communication despite unpredictable re-location.

Cambridge, Massachusetts, Us

Given my extensive experience creating large-scale artistic pieces for various classes through MIT’s Art, Culture, and Technology (ACT) program, I was chosen to be a lab monitor/assistant for the Mars Lab. This is a two-story artistic production space used by graduate students in the architecture and ACT department for media production. • Maintained lab safety as well as provided structure for graduate students’ artistic production.• Trained incoming lab operators on power tools, welding equipment, sewing machines, ceramic equipment, soldering tools, textile techniques, and 3D/laser printers. Check out my projects: https://sites.google.com/view/artarchives

Cambridge, Massachusetts, Us

Over MIT's January independent activities period, as part of MISTI's Global Teaching Lab Initiative, taught two biology based classes to over 300 students in at the Liceo Classico Virgilio school in Mantova, Italy.• Developed cell biology as well as psychology related curriculum for over 300 students who speak English as a second language.• Taught 6+ hours of class daily for four weeks at the Liceo Classico Virgilio school in Mantova, Italy.• Explored complex scientific topics and generated enthusiasm in humanities-focused high school students.

Cambridge, Ma, Us

I was a member of the 2018 MIT international genetic engineering machine (iGEM), an award-winning competitive synthetic biology research team that conducts research through the Weiss Lab, as well as mentored the 2019 team. The 2018 project focused on creating a highly specific sense-and-respond system in mammalian cells so that they may detect the presence of S. mutans (the main cavity-causing bacteria in the human mouth) and release anti-plauque proteins preemptively. The 2019 project involved engineering human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells to secrete chemokines that induce chemotaxis in native neutrophil cells. • Used synthetic biology techniques to design genetic constructs and experimental plans to develop these novel molecular therapies.• Evaluated transfection of the engineered system in the target organism through fluorescent microscopy.• Varied environment conditions to optimize bacterial growth.• Worked as part of a team of a dozen students to plan, execute, and present a ten-month long research project.• Ran a three-week laboratory technique bootcamp for the 2019 team prior to their research execution, including: pipette techniques, bacteria culture, mammalian tissue culture, transfection, microscopy, and PCR. • Provided a guided framework from inception to completion for the 2019 team to meet the multi-stage deadlines, including a research documentation poster, presentation, website, and community-outreach events.• Taught the class Responsible Bio-ethic Practices to 30 students from Wuhan University at LabCentral as part of the 2018 iGEM community outreach initiative.Read more about our 2018 project, on redesigning signaling pathway in cells as a novel therapy for dental health, that won Bronze here: http://2018.igem.org/Team:MIT Read more about our 2019 project, on harnessing the immune system's ability to control the movement of other cells, that won GOLD here: https://2019.igem.org/Team:MIT

Boston, Ma, Us

As a high-school summer intern, I conducted research in the Lahav lab to evaluate oxidative stress in breast cancer cell lines. This was my first experience doing tissue culture and analyzing microscope data.• Maintained plated MCF7 and SUM149 breast cancer cell lines in a Biosafety Level-2 Laboratory.• Designed a series of experiments to test cell growth under various environment conditions, including oxidant and anti-oxidant molecules.• Analyzed cellular growth through fluorescent response microscopy, including imaging at DAPi, YFP, RFP, and GFP excitation levels. • Processed microscopy images using MATLAB, including calibrating fluorescent levels and adding pseudo-color scales.• Presented research results through a lab-wide presentation.

Boston, Ma, Us

As a high-school summer intern, I conducted research in the Lahav lab to evaluate oxidative stress in breast cancer cell lines. This was my first experience doing tissue culture and analyzing microscope data.• Maintained plated MCF7 and SUM149 breast cancer cell lines in a Biosafety Level-2 Laboratory.• Designed a series of experiments to test cell growth under various environment conditions, including oxidant and anti-oxidant molecules.• Analyzed cellular growth through fluorescent response microscopy, including imaging at DAPi, YFP, RFP, and GFP excitation levels. • Processed microscopy images using MATLAB, including calibrating fluorescent levels and adding pseudo-color scales.• Presented research results through a lab-wide presentation.

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Biological Engineering

Education record