Shane Houston, Phd Email & Phone Number

Lisburn, Gb

Birmingham, England, United Kingdom

As an Account Manager at Nonacus, I support diagnostic and translational research NGS labs and genomic healthcare providers in the UK and Ireland by offering tailored solutions for precision oncology/liquid biopsy workflows, prenatal healthcare (NIPT) and cfDNA/ctDNA analysis. I work closely with clients to understand their specific challenges and requirements, ensuring they receive the best-suited pre-analytical, genomic and bioinformatics solutions for their needs.

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Belfast, United Kingdom

Working within the Plouffe Group focusing on the application, creation and validation in various mammalian cell types of novel BRET and eBRET based bio-sensors to study dynamic protein–protein interactions to elucidate novel and clinically relevant signalling pathways within the nascent field of non-canonical G-protein signalling. Key skills within the role included: working with GPCR's, routine laboratory stock upkeep and maintenance, bioluminescent biosensor construct creation-transfection-validation, BRET and eBRET based pharmacology dose-response assays, mammalian cell culturing, bacterial cell culturing, biosensor assay optimisation, overlap extension PCR, endpoint PCR, gradient PCR, recombinant DNA cloning, Sanger sequencing, site directed mutagenesis and real-time live cell fluorescent assays.

Belfast, United Kingdom

Door to door field sales-based role. Using a CRM system to identify existing & potential new customers to sign on for either monthly direct debit or pay as you go based keypad electric bill switch-over from competitors. Results orientated and commission based competitive environment with salary in parallel. Consistently exceeded weekly KPI's for keypad and direct debit switchovers from competitors. Key skills in the role included:-𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭-𝐇𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭 𝐂𝐑𝐌 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞-𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬-𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭-𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬-𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞-𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬-𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐏𝐈'𝐬

Belfast, United Kingdom

A postgraduate research degree at Queens University Belfast undertaking a 3 year research project focusing on the potential for creating and applying an inducible gene expression system in Arabidopsis thaliana towards inducibly expressing microbial lignin-degrading enzymes to the plant cell wall in planta for enhanced bioethanol production. Key skills in the role included:-𝐏𝐂𝐑 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐪𝐏𝐂𝐑-𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐍𝐀 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐍𝐮𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬-𝐃𝐍𝐀 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐍𝐀 𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲-𝟑𝟎-𝟔𝟎-𝟗𝟎 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭-𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭-𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬-𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬

Belfast, United Kingdom

Studied a BSc Bachelors Degree in Biological Sciences with the hope of gaining a PhD after my third year of study (achieved). Module choices sway my degree to the Molecular Bio-sciences end of the broad spectrum that biology covers, with particular emphasis on cell biology and biochemical techniques such as SDS-PAGE, PGE and ELISA assays.

Belfast, United Kingdom

Working in a fast paced brasserie restaurant as a waiter, serving customers both at breakfast and dinner services as well as private events hosted by the hotel such as academic conferences, business meetings, hen nights and bachelor parties. Providing room service when needed during breakfast and dinner service and working the bar at times of high service in Metro Bar. Key skills in the role included:-𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞-𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬-𝐔𝐩-𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬-𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠

Reutlingen Area, Germany

The project was initially divided into three main parts:1) Transcriptome-wide shRNA screening to identify new target genes associated with pancreatic cancer,2) Target selection followed by generation and validation of pancreatic cancer knockdown cell lines stably expressing target-specific shRNAs3) In-depth functional studies using these cell lines for identification of the biological mechanism of the targets association with pancreatic cancerAfter successful screening and target identification, further analyses now are focused on selected hits, including BCL9L. BCL9L is a central transcriptional regulator of WNT signaling. Its binding to β-Catenin activates the transcription of target genes involved in Epithelial-Mesenchymal-Transition (EMT) among other processes. Results achieved so far implicate for the first time that BCL9L has a decisive role during growth and metastasis of pancreatic cancer.My role as an intern involved supporting the further mechanistic validation of BCL9L via two approaches:1. Validation of altered sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cell lines towards cytotoxic drugs in the absence of BCL9L- The use of available pancreatic cancer cell lines stably expressing BCL9L shRNA and respective control cells. Treating these cells with combinations of cytotoxic drugs including the current standard-of-care for pancreatic cancer, Gemcitabine, and compounds recently described to target the interaction of BCL9 with β-Catenin. Differential responses of the mentioned cell lines towards these treatments will be quantified in plate-based cell viability and proliferation assays, which will be performed in 96-well format and read in a PHERAstar Plus microplate reader. These experiments are of central importance for assessing whether approaches targeting the BCL9L/β-Catenin interaction alone or in combination with approved treatment strategies can increase the efficacy of pancreatic cancer therapy.2.2. Establishing an (F2H) -based assay.

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Operating tills as well as carrying out regular cash drops for security reasons. Maintaining shop cleanliness and signing off on large stock orders when delivered. Carrying out stock rotation and maintaining a high level of cleanliness of the shop on a regular basis.

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Providing optimal customer care in the form of operating tills as well as having a knowledge of the broad range of brands and offers available from the company. Also hepping to maintain shop cleanliness and stock flow.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Ph.D., Biochemistry And Molecular Biology, Viva Passed

A postgraduate research degree at Queens University Belfast undertaking a 3 year research project focusing on the potential for creating.

Bachelor Of Science - Bsc, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, (79%) Top In Year