Target Validation, In Vitro Screening Team

Member of the Stem Cell & Gene Editing team. Utilizing the institutes fluorescently tagged induced human pluripotent stem cell lines (hiPSCs) to research the dynamics of differentiation processes.- Actively maintain and evaluate healthy gene edited hiPSC cultures following institute SOPs.- Differentiate hiPSCs to cardiomyocytes for EMT and cardiac differentiation studies.- Perform FISH to visually investigate spatial distribution of mRNA transcripts in imaged fixed cells.- Microscopy experience with wide field microscope acquiring live, 3D, fluorescent imaging.- Perform and develop flow cytometry assays including staining surface and intracellular stemness markers, quantifying differentiated cell populations (cardiac, endothelial), and single cell FACS to isolate gene edited hiPSCs.

Undergraduate researcher involved in establishing initial tissue culture projects within the lab.- Generated patient derived leptomeningeal fibroblast cell lines for stem cell reprogramming and neuronal differentiation.- Develop and optimize fibroblast derivation protocols.- Assisted with immunohistochemistry staining of brain tissue for pathological diagnosis.- Familiarity with brain autopsy, dissection, and anatomical identification.