Sam Washer Email & Phone Number

Hinxton, England, United Kingdom

Developing whole genome CRISPR screens for interrogating microglial function in neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation, such as Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease. Expert in iPSC microglial differentiations and CRISPR editing of difficult cell lines, and method development. Provide supervision and direction to Research Assistants and Associates. Frequently presenting results at scientific meetings and conferences.

Oxford, England, United Kingdom

Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the James and Lilian Martin Centre for Stem Cell Research, Sir William School of Pathology. Developing new methods to edit and differentiate induced pluripotent stem cells to microglia, while developing new assays to measure autophagy and phagocytosis. Provided support/supervision to PhD, Masters, and Undergraduate students.Postdoctoral Research Fellow, High-throughput Cellular Screening, Ebner Lab, Target Discovery Institute. Developed whole genome CRISPR screening in iPSC derived microglia for phagocytic function. Undertook wet lab work of CRISPR library preparation, differentiation of iPSC to microglia, scaling production for high-throughput screening, lentiviral generation and transduction of iPSC microglia at high efficiencies, fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS), DNA extractions and NGS library preparation and bioinformatic analysis of downstream results using bash, linux, python, and R.

Exeter, United Kingdom

I undertook my PhD within the Complex Disease Epigenetics Group at the University of Exeter Medical School under the supervision of Dr Emma Dempster, Dr Aaron Jeffries and Professor Jonathan Mill. My PhD involved understanding epigenetic and genetic contributions towards schizophrenia, through functional, molecular, and computational biology. I developed several lab methods for functionally examining how DNA methylation changes are linked to gene expression using CRISPR/Cas9, luciferase assays, and methylation microarrays.

Worked in a nursing home caring and looking after elderly persons with dementia. Main responsibilities included:Assisting with everyday living, such as getting up, washed and dressed.Serve and assist with feeding meals.Insure all residents receive exceptional care.Provide residents with a friendly approach to help them feel safe and secure.

Achieved a Class I BSc in Medical Science (Hons) with professional training year. The degree is designed around translating science into improving patient health. Taught partly by the University of Exeter Medical School and the school of Bioscience with key modules in Microbiology, Genetics, Bioinformatics, Biochemisty and Cell Biology. As well as how each of the above contribute to human diseases and how we can treat and diagnose them. Undertook a training year at the Institute of Genetic Medicine and undertook a dissertation research project on the Epigenetics of Neprilysin in Alzheimer's Disease.

Institute Of Genetic Medicine

Involved with several projects on the development of the heart in zebrafish. My main project involved developing a methodology for the analysis of c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase (JNK) splice variants through zebrafish development. Then to identify which splice variants we believe contribute to congenital heart defects by performing assays for each transcript at key developmental timepoints. I have also designed, optimised and used CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) and Cas9 technology to produce desmin and JNK knock out zebrafish to help with other studies within the lab. I have also given several talks regarding my research and CRISPR throughout my time in the institute to other institutes at the University.

Assisted science academics with their lessons to secondary school pupils, including GCSE and BTEC students. Helped to answer questions, mark work, demonstrate experiments and assisted the teacher when required. Held talks to older students about college and university life and the opportunities of a career in science.

Musgrove Park Hospital

Shadowed consultants and junior doctors in the Rheumatoid and Orthopedic departments at Musgrove Park hospital. Sat in on consultancy's and assisted in ward rounds with junior doctors. Also spoke to patients and families and assisted the doctors whenever possible.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Medical Studies

Bachelor Of Science (B.Sc.), Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies, Class I

Activities and Societies: University of Exeter Big Band, ClincSoc, Extunes, Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra.President Exeter.

A Levels

Activities and Societies: Richard Huish Big Band, Geography field study to Iceland.Chemistry - A Biology - A Geography - A Mathematics - B.