Robert Kauffman Email & Phone Number

Memphis, Tennessee, United States

Specialist in Assay Development

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta, GA

• Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases; Emory Vaccine CenterInvestigating the human immune response to infectious diseases and vaccines.Primary Skills: Recombinant antibody generation, cloning, FPLC.
• Developed new molecular and protein expression tools, significantly improving throughput while lowering the cost of the laboratory's recombinant monoclonal antibody (mAb) generation pipeline.
• Generated over 300 single-cell derived mAbs from infectious disease and vaccine studies (Cholera, HIV, Flu, Zika, Dengue). MAbs with diagnostic or therapeutic potential under patent consideration.
• Awarded mBio Editor's Choice award for publication detailing the specificity and functional properties of cholera infection derived monoclonal antibodies.
• Received highly competitive vaccinology training postdoctoral fellowship.
• Implemented novel FPLC protein purification and fluorescent microscopy tools and equipment.

Davis, CA

• California National Primate Research CenterCenter for Comparative MedicineDevelopment and implementation of a non-human primate model of HIV therapyPrimary Skills: Single-copy PCR, next-generation (454) sequencing.
• Independently developed and published an award winning PhD dissertation proposal.
• Designed sensitive single-copy qPCR assays and phylogenetic analyses to investigate HIV drug resistance and viral evolution in low viral load primate plasma and tissue samples.
• Oversaw next-gen 454 sequencing studies, analysis, instrumentation training, and maintenance.
• Established and managed laboratory after 2010 relocation from California to Georgia.Advisors: Thomas W. North, PhD (UC Davis) and Raymond F. Schinazi, PhD (Emory University)

Knoxville, TN

• Department of MicrobiologyResearch Focus: Surveillance and molecular mechanisms of Mycobacterium ulcerans pathogenesis.Primary Skills: Bacterial culture, environmental sample nucleic acid extraction, qRT-PCR.
• Received award for Dept. of Microbiology's best undergraduate research.
• Developed quantitative PCR methods for detecting bacterial DNA within environmental samples.
• Cultured Mycobacterium ulcerans and isolated secondary metabolites.Advisor: Pamela L.C. Small, PhD

Knoxville, TN

• Center for Environmental MicrobiologyGeneration of bioreporter assays for environmental microbial detectionPrimary Skills: Cloning, PCR, bacteriophage culture, luciferase assaysSelected Accomplishments:
• Contributed to the development of a bioreporter assay to assess food spoilage.
• Managed media preparation facility for 20-30 scientists.Advisors: Gary S. Sayler, PhD and Steve Ripp, PhD

Doctor Of Philosophy (Phd), Microbology

Activities and Societies: President of the Microbiology Graduate Student Association (2009-2010); Graduate Student Council Representative.

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Microbiology And Biochemistry, Summa Cum Laude Gpa: (3.8/4.0)

Activities and Societies: Four years undergraduate research experience; Fort Sanders hospital emergency room volunteer; Instructor.