Research Associate II, Synthetic Biology - Empress Therapeutics - Cambridge, MA
(2022-05)
Drug Discovery group
- Engineered hundreds of biosynthetic gene clusters to facilitate the discovery of novel bioactive molecules, designing modular plasmids, optimizing expression, and streamlining metabolite extraction processes.
- Led transcriptomic profiling in mammalian cell models, advancing target identification and elucidating drug mechanisms of action using Perturb-seq and CRISPR dCas9-based phenotyping.
- Contributed to mechanistic and functional studies of therapeutic targets through RNAi and CRISPR-cas9 approaches, performing genetic and pharmacological target validation studies.
- Automated molecular biology workflows, improving screening throughput by ten-fold with integrated liquid handling systems and ELN/LIMS.
- Conducted gene expression and functional responses using qRT-PCR, flow cytometry, and 10X Genomics single-cell RNA sequencing.
- Harvested lentivirus and performed transfections for stable cell line generation.
- Executed and refined scripts written by colleagues for enhanced and streamlined data analysis.
- Communicated results and significant findings at extended team and cross-functional meetings.
Graduate Researcher - University of North Texas - Denton, TX
(2021-05 - 2022-05)
Department of Biomedical Engineering. Advisor: Clement Chan. Thesis: Engineering biosensors using metalloregulatory transcriptional repressors
- Genetically engineered whole-cell biosensors for monitoring and detecting bioavailable heavy metal toxins.
- Investigated and characterized five distinct metal-binding residues through fluorescence reporter assays to enhance biosensor sensitivity and selectivity.
- Designed genetic toggle switches to enable mutually exclusive ON-OFF states in response to distinct chemical signals, facilitating cellular memory and tunability.
- Implemented genetically engineered biosensors within Pseudomonas putida, optimizing the practical application of genetic biosensors in environmental monitoring.
- Presented findings in comprehensive thesis, demonstrating expertise in microbial biosensor development.
NSF Summer Researcher - University of North Texas - Denton, TX
(2021-06 - 2021-08)
Department of Physics. Advisor: Arup Neogi. Research Focus: Tissue Phantoms
- Fabricated tissue mimicking phantoms of varying echogenicities and acoustic attenuations to support development of a novel nondestructive evaluation (NDE) imaging technique.
- Conducted testing and validation of phantoms to ensure accurate representation of biological tissues.
- Actively participated in collaborative research within the Emerging Frontiers for Research and Innovation (EFRI) program promoting cross-disciplinary learning and innovative research in imagining technologies.
Community Servings - Empress Therapeutics - Cambridge, MA
(2023-01 - 2024-12)
- Coordinated and led quarterly company-wide community service events, engaging team members and fostering a spirit of volunteerism to support the Greater Boston area.
- Prepared and distributed approximately 1,000 medically tailored meals, directly benefiting individuals and families across Massachusetts affected by critical and chronic illnesses.
Sustainable Laboratories - Empress Therapeutics - Cambridge, MA
(2023-01 - 2024-12)
- Collaborated with the committee to develop and propose actionable strategies for reducing environmental footprints within the company.
- Implemented various company-wide sustainability initiatives, raising operational efficiency.
