Lab Manager Cell Therapy Core Facility at Nova Southeastern University

Interim Scientific Director for Research Facilities. Manage Core and Shared Facilities Staff at NSU including Cell Therapy Core, Genomics Core, Flow Cytometry Core, Imaging Core, Vivarium and Shared equipment and labs. Liaison between researchers and Center for Collaborative Research (CCR) building facilities.

Postdoctoral appointment to conduct laboratory research in the fields of virology and molecular biology. Investigated novel phosphatidylserine-mediated entry mechanisms of Arenaviruses, Filoviruses and Retroviruses through cell surface phosphatidylserine receptors such as TIM and TAM family members.

Edit and revise manuscripts for non-native English speaking authors for the purposes of publication. Duties include correcting sentence structure, word choice, grammar, and punctuation; checking for conformity to native English standards, consistency in terminology, and manuscript format and style. I am responsible for providing structural changes to the document to ensure that the content is well organized, thoughts are complete and that the tone is appropriate for publication. Additionally, I… Show more Edit and revise manuscripts for non-native English speaking authors for the purposes of publication. Duties include correcting sentence structure, word choice, grammar, and punctuation; checking for conformity to native English standards, consistency in terminology, and manuscript format and style. I am responsible for providing structural changes to the document to ensure that the content is well organized, thoughts are complete and that the tone is appropriate for publication. Additionally, I draft cover letters, author reports and further revise documents based on client input as necessary. Show less

Thesis Title: In vitro and in vivo characterization of the infection efficiency of a modified retrovirus envelope glycoprotein for targeting gene delivery.Graduate Research Advisor: Lorraine Albritton, PhDAdvisory Committee: Mike Whitt, PhD; Stacey Schultz-Cherry, PhD; Tiffany Seagroves, PhD; Jonathan McCullers, MDResearch summary:The 14 residue receptor binding site of the Moloney Murine Leukemia virus (M-MLV) envelope surface unit glycoprotein was replaced with the… Show more Thesis Title: In vitro and in vivo characterization of the infection efficiency of a modified retrovirus envelope glycoprotein for targeting gene delivery.Graduate Research Advisor: Lorraine Albritton, PhDAdvisory Committee: Mike Whitt, PhD; Stacey Schultz-Cherry, PhD; Tiffany Seagroves, PhD; Jonathan McCullers, MDResearch summary:The 14 residue receptor binding site of the Moloney Murine Leukemia virus (M-MLV) envelope surface unit glycoprotein was replaced with the somatostatin receptor (SSTR) agonist, SST-14, creating a novel glycoprotein, Sst-RBS. This modification resulted in a switch in entry receptor from the natural MLV receptor, mCAT-1, to a family of GPCRs that recognize the SST-14 ligand. Infection of 293 cells expressing SSTR-5 display transduction levels comparable to the M-MLV glycoprotein and approaching that of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus G protein. The receptors SSTR-2, SSTR-3 and SSTR-5 are efficiently internalized after ligand binding but intracellular trafficking pathways of these SSTRs are distinct. Interestingly, the level of transduction through SSTR-5 is significantly higher than through SSTR-2 and SSTR-3. This observation allowed a direct interrogation of the entry and infection efficiency of Sst-RBS pseudovirions demonstrating that SSTR-5 allows more efficient cytosolic penetration because virion internalized via SSTR-2 and SSTR-3 were directed to less permissive environments. Additionally, ongoing in vivo experiments demonstrate proof of principle for targeted delivery in intracranially injected mice. Show less

Conducted laboratory work and research in the areas of detection, identification and characterization of biological threats under the direction of various investigators. Research projects included developing a fluorescent microsphere based system for detecting and subtyping Influenza virus A, participating in CDC's PulseNet Program for S.enterica Typhimurium and E.coli 0157:H7 Multi-Locus Variable Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA) programs, and characterization of community acquired Methicillin… Show more Conducted laboratory work and research in the areas of detection, identification and characterization of biological threats under the direction of various investigators. Research projects included developing a fluorescent microsphere based system for detecting and subtyping Influenza virus A, participating in CDC's PulseNet Program for S.enterica Typhimurium and E.coli 0157:H7 Multi-Locus Variable Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA) programs, and characterization of community acquired Methicillin Resistant S.aureus isolates using MLVA and PCR for the presence of pathogenic gene cassettes. Show less

Worked to detect and isolate viruses for the purpose of Public Health Surveillance in the State of Florida. Examples include respiratory viruses such as SARS Coronavirus, Influenza virus A and B, respiratory syncytial virus A and B, arboviruses such as West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus and eastern equine encephalitis virus; enteroviruses and norovirus using cell culture techniques, quantitative real-time PCR, RT-PCR and serum neutralization assays.