- Led cross-functional and cross-site early drug discovery projects in the Department of Cell Biology: demonstrating adept leadership in scientific research and project management.- Integrated data from diverse functional areas to deliver comprehensive quarterly reports to the leadership team, ensuring alignment on goals, timelines, resource allocation, and risk management strategies.- Facilitated biweekly team meetings to monitor project progress throughout the quarter, while also identifying and engaging with key opinion leaders (KOLs).- Designed and executed cellular experiments to model the interactions of molecular glues targeting client proteins to 14-3-3 proteins.- Formulated and implemented cellular assays within the compound testing pipeline, employing established commercial methods alongside novel protein-protein interaction assays.- Played a foundational role by establishing standardized experimental techniques and procedures that supported team growth. - Trained incoming team members; managed three direct reports (RA, SRA, and AS).

As part of the Translational Development team, developed and executed experiments to evaluate the potential targeting of a critical component of the nonsense-mediated RNA decay pathway by the dual TORK/DNAPK inhibitor.

Investigated a mechanism for the novel long non-coding RNA, EWSAT1 (lnc277), in the pathogenesis of Ewing’s sarcoma.Prepared manuscripts for publication from graduate research.

Developed novel human and mouse systems to study Ewing’s sarcoma in the laboratory.Generated primary human mesenchymal progenitor cell lines that inducibly express the EWS-FLI1 oncogenic translocation found in the majority of Ewing’s sarcoma patients.- Identified and functionally validated 15 novel target genes of EWS-FLI1 using 3Seq and shRNA studies- Discovered a novel long non-coding RNA, lnc277, that is dependent on EWS-FLI1 for expression- Used paired-end RNAseq to determine that lnc277 regulates a subset of EWS-FLI1 targets partially via an interaction with HNRPK Generated two novel conditional mouse strains to study EWS-FLI1 in vivo.- Constructed targeting vectors and successfully targeted and screened mouse embryonic stem cells - Performed tumor studies to test whether EWS-FLI1 expression specifically in mesenchymal and neural crest compartments would induce tumorigenesis by itself or with loss of Ink4a/Arf - Analyzed EWS-FLI1 expression and effects in primary mouse cells (mouse embryonic fibroblasts, bone marrow derived mesenchymal progenitor cells and hematopoietic cells)

Managed the laboratory of 8+ people while performing independent research experiments- Used conditional Perp mice to demonstrate that the lethality found in constitutive Perp null mice is due to loss of Perp in the epithelial compartment- Performed a DMBA/TPA induced carcinogenesis study to show that Perp is required for papilloma formation