Sherman Ku Email & Phone Number

Seattle, Wa, Us

Seattle

Seattle, Wa

Member of a team dedicated to understanding human cortical development and lineage using an in vitro differentiation model. Primary goals include understanding population heterogeneity and cell types during neuronal differentiation. Responsibilities include development of barcoded lineage tracing.• Developed a novel high-throughput barcoded viral lineage tracing platform to study cell fate • Created a highly diverse 200,000-member barcoded retroviral library• Built custom code for barcode data analysis using Perl, Python, and the Bowtie2 algorithm• Generated an empirical error model to correct for experimental noise during barcode detection

Member of the above team. Responsibilities include cell line engineering and exploring miRNA regulation of differentiation.• Supervised flow cytometry core facility and developed SOPs and documentation • Created and evaluated transgenic hESC lines based on marker genes of interest • Designed Southern experiments for all transgenic hESC lines for targeting validation • Standardized cell line engineering protocols, improving reproducibility and onboarding/training • Increased single-cell cloning efficiency for hESC/iPSCs through protocol optimization • Significantly improved PCR detection assay for gene editing by implementing critical, novel controls • Established in vitro transcription protocol for generating over-expression mRNAs • Optimized DNA/RNA delivery to differentiating neural progenitors (viral and non-viral) • Identified novel miRNA markers of neuronal differentiation based on genome-wide miRNA profiling • Designed cell culture screens for experimental validation of miRNA candidates • Managed collaboration with Fluidigm Corp. and provided pre-production feedback for Callisto prototype

Continuation of thesis work for publication.

La Jolla, Ca

Studied Friedreich’s ataxia and related heterochromatin pathology. Created iPSC model, discovered disease mechanisms, conducted compound screening for potential therapeutics.• Developed the first in vitro iPSC-derived neuronal disease model of Friedreich’s ataxia• Demonstrated recapitulation of key phenotypes, including heterochromatin compaction• Discovered partial mechanism of disease-associated repeat instability due to MSH2 repair protein• Optimized drug screen based on disease phenotypes in differentiated neurons• Demonstrated efficacy of lead HDAC inhibitor compound • Created a multivariate normalization for quantitative PCR data to minimize experimental artifacts• Obtained laboratory compliance with ISCRO/IBC regulations• Coordinated with contractor to spec and build new tissue culture room• Supervised CIRM intern

Atlanta, Ga

Studied DAP1 function in S. cerevisiae through yeast genetics, molecular biology, and analytical GC techniques• plasmid construction and bacterial amplification• confocal microscopy• tetrad dissection/mating

Phd, Molecular Biology

Activities and Societies: • Guest Instructor, CIRM Stem Cell Education Outreach Program (2009) • Student Tour Guide, X-Sci High School.

Bs, Applied Biology

Activities and Societies: President of GT Hong Kong Student Association (2003-2004)