Tran Tan Khoa Dang

Lab Management: Supported daily operations for teaching labs (MCB 150L, 133L). Ensured strict adherence to EH&S safety protocols regarding bio-waste disposal and chemical safety.

Equipment Maintenance: Performed routine cleaning and maintenance of equipment (autoclaves, glassware washers). Assisted with troubleshooting and repair arrangements.

Inventory Control: Kept laboratory equipment and chemical inventory updated; assisted with ordering and receiving supplies.

Laboratory Assistant II at UC Berkeley – Dept. of Molecular and Cell Biology (2024-03 – Present)

• Lab Management: Supported daily operations for teaching labs (MCB 150L, 133L). Ensured strict adherence to EH&S safety protocols regarding bio-waste disposal and chemical safety.
• Equipment Maintenance: Performed routine cleaning and maintenance of equipment (autoclaves, glassware washers). Assisted with troubleshooting and repair arrangements.
• Inventory Control: Kept laboratory equipment and chemical inventory updated; assisted with ordering and receiving supplies.

Undergraduate Student Researcher (MCB 150L Module) at UC Berkeley – Dept. of Molecular and Cell Biology (2024-08 – 2024-12)

• Primary Cell Isolation & Culture: Isolated and processed primary mouse lymphocytes from spleen and thymus tissues into single-cell suspensions. Maintained myeloma and hybridoma cell lines using strict aseptic techniques.
• Molecular Cloning & RT-qPCR: Extracted genomic DNA from fibroblasts and lymphocytes to analyze germline and recombined sequence. Extracted RNA from hybridomas and stimulated RAW macrophages (LPS/CpG). Synthesized cDNA and performed RT-qPCR to quantify CXCL10 gene expression.
• Cellular Engineering & Immunology: Executed PEG-mediated cell fusions to generate monoclonal antibodies. Characterized antigen-specific (OVA and HEL) clones using ELISA, SDS-PAGE, and Western Blotting. Performed 3-color flow cytometry (FITC, PE, APC) to analyze T-cell surface markers (CD4, CD8, TCR).
• Bioinformatics & Data Analysis: Successfully cloned and amplified Ig variable regions into pCR2.1-TOPO vectors and transformed competent E. coli. Prepared and analyzed Sanger sequencing data using ApE and IgBLAST to determine V(D)J recombination patterns.

Bachelor of Arts in Molecular and Cell Biology – University of California, Berkeley (2025-12)