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Research
Experience

May 2022 - Dec 2022

Senior Research Associate @ Cellino Biotech

Developed an automated, high-throughput induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) culture expansion platform by supporting QC analyses. Conducted qPCR, library prep, flow cytometry and data analyses using excel and Graphpad Prism

Aug 2019 - Jan 2022

Research Assistant @ Icahn School of Medicine at  Mount Sinai

Lab of psychiatrist and geneticist Alex Charney MD, PhD. Using a Genome-Wide Association Study Polygenic Risk Score analysis, I investigated the neurogenetic contributions of Major Depressive Disorder by using programming tools like R, Plink, and Python. Wrote and published thesis paper: Polygenic Risk of Major Depressive Disorder.

Jun 2019 - Aug 2019

Research Intern @ Massachusetts General Hospital

Lab of neurosurgeon William Curry Jr, MD. Investigated the relationship between the immune system and isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH-1) mutations in glioblastoma mouse models. Conducted glioblastoma cranial injections, cranial surgery on mice to harvest tumor post -injection, tumor sectioning, immunostaining and flow cytometry. Shadowed Dr. Curry in clinic and operating room. Co-authored publication:https://doi.org/10.1080/2162402X.2020.1 806662.

Sept 2018 - May 2019

Scientist I @ Thermo Fisher Scientific

 Developed, optimized, and commercialized cell culture media product related to cellular therapy applications using  hematopoietic stem cells. Duties included cell culture, counting of HPSCs, confirming shelf-life of media system, engrafting HPSCs in mice bone marrow, confirming results via flow cytometry, and analyzing data using Flow Jo, Excel, and Graphpad Prism

 Jun 2017 - Sept 2018

Research Fellow @ National Institutes of Health

Conducted RNA sequencing and analyses on a rat and choline rescue model of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Tools used: RNA sequencing, cell culture of dopaminergic stem cells, qPCR, immunostaining, light and confocal microscopy, and data analyses.

Jun 2016 - Aug 2016

Research Intern @ Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Investigated the effects of THC exposure, the most active ingredient in cannabis, on developing induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived neurons. Tools used: Cell culture, qPCR, immunostaining, light and confocal microscopy Co-authored publication:http://doi.org/10.1159/000477762.

Jun 2015 - Aug 2015

Research Intern @ Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Lab of Kristen Brennand, PhD. Helped to produce a method for rapidly reprogramming neuronal progenitor cells into astrocytes and pure glutamatergic neurons to help us study child-onset schizophrenia and the effects of teratogenic exposure on developing cells. Tools used: Cell culture, qPCR, immunostaining, light and confocal microscopy. Co-authored publication: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymeth.2015.11.019.

 Jun 2014 - Aug 2014

Research Intern @ Weill Cornell Medical College

Lab of Teresa Milner, PhD: Examined if chronic stress induced alterations of the hippocampal delta opioid receptors following acute oxycodone administration. Tools used: Light and electron microscopic immunochemistry Co-authored publication: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ynstr.2016.11.002. 

Jan 2013 - Jan 2016

Research Assistant @ Hunter College

Lab of Herman Pontzer, PhD. Examined if underlying causes of metabolic diseases in the Hadza hunter-gatherer tribe of Tanzania by comparing their daily caloric sugar intake, energy expenditure, and metabolic health conditions with other global population groups of similar or different lifestyles. Tools used: Picarro Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy System, nutritional analyses, Exel.

Education

2024-present

Boston University School of Medicine | MS Medical Sciences

1st year Medical School Coursework

2019 - 2022

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | MS Biomedical Science | Neuroscience & Genetics Thesis

Neuroscience & Genetics. Thesis project: Polygenic Risk of Major Depressive Disorder. 

2012 - 2015

Hunter College of CUNY | Bachelor's Degree

Psychology with concentration in Neuroscience.

Certificate
& Skills

  • Google UX design & research certificate

  • Qualitative & quantitative research methods

  • Usability testing

  • Interviews

  • Field Studies

  • Card Sorting

  • Ethnography

  • Figma

  • Canva

  • PowerPoint

  • Excel

  • Statistics

  • Responsibility and conduct in research

  • Ethics in research and medicine

  • Rigor & responsibility

  • HIPPA

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