Michael Rak Email & Phone Number

Senior scientist, virologist, and molecular biologist working to vectorize and characterize novel platforms for gene therapy.

Cambridge, Massachusetts, Us

Cambridge, Massachusetts, Us

Research scientist at a startup biotech company, focusing on molecular biology and viral vectors for gene therapy. Activities included cell culture, extensive molecular cloning and DNA assembly, viral vector design and QC, q-RT-PCR, western blots, lab renovation and move, safety/compliance/permits, purchasing, and contract analysis.

Chestnut Hill, Ma, Us

Joined a newly established lab, to both launch the new laboratory, both scientifically and logistically. The new lab is focused on viral mimics of peptide hormones, particularly IGF and insulin, with the ultimate goal of determining if and how the immune response to viral hormone mimics could instigate or modulate the auto-immune condition of type 1 diabetes. Projects include:• Molecular Biology: Established highly sensitive qPCR assays to detect viral gene expression from ranaviruses in mammalian and teleost (fish) models of infection. Generated and purified viral stocks. Mentored a graduate student to design and create a library of plasmids encoding epitope-tagged insulin-mimics, using Gibson-style assembly and mutagenesis. Designed viral vectors for transduction of cultured cells.• Protein Biology: Prepared and purified protein samples from tissue and plasma samples for MS. Assisted in design of antigen for generation of polyclonal antibodies.• Laboratory logistics: Set up a brand new laboratory. Wrote biosafety protocols and SOPs. Worked with vendors to equip the laboratory with a mixture of new and used equipment, as well as establishing contracts with vendors and CRO/CMOs. Established databases, organizational/recordkeeping systems, and efficient workflows for the new lab.

Tucson, Arizona, Us

My PhD training in Goodrum lab provided a deep and broad training in virology, cell biology, and molecular biology. • qPCR: Extensive experience with qPCR primer and probe design, validation, and application to quantify rare viral and cellular targets. Independently established a WHO-traceable system for precise and absolute quantitation of viral and host DNA/RNA.• Virology: Independently designed targeted mutations to infectious clones of viruses; reconstituted infectious CMV from BAC DNA; growth, purification, quantitation and characterization of recombinant viruses to study the functions of novel CMV genes. Constructed, generated, and characterized viral transduction systems as needed.• Molecular Biology: Mastery of planning, executing, optimizing, and troubleshooting recombinant DNA projects. Skills include: PCR, qPCR and qRT-PCR, 5’ and 3’ RACE to map RNA transcripts, targeted mutagenesis of DNA, manipulation and targeted mutagenesis of plasmid and BAC constructs, classical and “exotic” DNA cloning schemes.• RNAi: Experienced with the design, construction, production and use of viral constructs, including the creation of stable or inducible cell lines, siRNA/shRNA gene knockdown (via transfection or transduction), and characterization of RNAi by qPCR, western blot, and reporter assays.• Flow cytometry: Independently designed, executed, and analyzed multi-color flow cytometry experiments (BD cytometers, FACS DIVA, FlowJo).• Protein biology: Extremely skilled in independently planning, executing, optimizing and troubleshooting protein analysis and characterizations, including: western blotting, immunofluorescence, co-immunoprecipitations, and yeast two-hybrid systems.• Cell isolation: Extensive experience with isolation and culture of cells from murine and human tissue sources.• Cell culture: Extensive experience with cell culture (both primary cells and transformed lines), and cellular assays (FACS, immunofluorescence, functional assays).

Tucson, Arizona, Us

As both bench researcher and lab manager, duties included independent experimental design, execution, and data analysis of cytomegalovirus biology, focusing on newly-discovered viral proteins and their roles in viral latency. Skills and scientific details outlined in CV.• Lab manager, safety officer, radiation safety officer, and human subjects protocol compliance for a laboratory of nine people.• Maintained laboratory supplies and stocks, with a focus on expedient, cost-effective contracting and sourcing with a just-in-time inventory model.• Selected, calibrated maintained and repaired laboratory equipment as needed. Experienced with electrical and mechanical calibration/repair of lab equipment.• Designed, executed, and analyzed experiments (complete description of experiments in 2012-2018 section of resume) • Trained graduate and undergraduate students in laboratory techniques and protocols, experimental design and assay troubleshooting.

Durham, North Carolina, Us

Investigated the kinetics of antibody-antigen and TCR:MHC interactions to characterize HIV immune surveillance and understand the mechanisms of HIV immune evasion; minor projects included characterizing antibodies for post-exposure prophylaxis of infectious agents and biological toxins.Project: Characterizing the activity of broadly-neutralizing anti-HIV antibodies• Used Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR, Biacore) to characterize the auto-reactivity of broadly neutralizing monoclonal anti-HIV antibodies, to better understand antibody binding kinetics and mechanisms of action upon HIV glycoproteins.Project: Measuring the binding kinetics of intact, membrane-embedded T-cell receptor (TCR) with MHC tetramers• Isolated and cultured T-cells from genetically engineered mice.• Biochemically isolated and purified intact lipid rafts from cultured T-cells.• Expressed, refolded, and purified recombinant MHC-I into functional tetramers (Bacterial expression, Äkta FPLC with Unicorn software).• Optimized sample preparation and purification protocols increase purity and recovery beyond established protocols.• Mapped MHC:TCR binding kinetics of lipid raft-embedded TCR by SPR (Biacore), Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and quasi-electric dynamic light scattering (DLS).• Interrogated protein composition of lipid rafts by western blotting and dual-labeled immunogold electron microscopy.

Benin, Ed, Ng

Temporary employee in LabCorp's dedicated HIV lab, working under an IVD/CLIA infrastructure to quantitate HIV viral load in patient samples. Worked in a BSL 2+ environment with HIV-positive samples.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Cellular And Molecular Medicine

Bs, Biology