Xuan An Le

Research Assistant at Kellogg Eye Center, Protocol Developer at Michigan Synthetic Biology Team currently looking for summer internship in biomedical engineering and research

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Abcouwer Lab, Kellogg Eye Center May 2022 - Present

Research Assistant

• Configured and maintained automatic Nextflow RNA sequencing pipeline in Linux. Prepared RNA-seq analysis data for 9 ophthalmology studies on topics such as ganglion cell biomarkers and VEGF regulation in retinal detachment.
• Performed enrichment and differential analysis and visualized results as volcano plots using R, DESeq2, and Excel. Identified key differentiated gene groups for scRNA datasets by generating k-mean clusters via R, Seurat, Loupe.
• Spearheaded morphology quantification of microglial cells and monocyte-derived macrophages via Aivia software and Python, reducing 66% manual work hour. Identified morphological differences in 16 categories in 300 cells.
• Summarized analysis results and visualization using GraphPad Prism and Powerpoint for weekly presentation. Developed protocol for lab member training on transcriptomics and cell quantification.

Protocol Developer and Math Modeling

• Coordinated literature research for optimal antimicrobial peptides-encapsulin combination for non-antibiotic antibacterial drugs development for iGEM 
• Modeled antimicrobial peptide and encapsulin production and assembly rates from E.Coli vector using MATLAB.
• Performed Gibson Assembly on E.Coli with AMP and encapsulin DNA. Conducted growth, protein, and cytotoxicity assays. Developed and revised assay protocols and delegated tasks based on assay results on a weekly basis.
• Won Gold Medal in iGEM 2022. 

Michigan Neuroprosthetics October 2021 - Present

Backend developer

• Revised EMG classifier model’s training using Python and Sklearn machine learning library to predict prosthetic arm’s hand gesture from user’s forearm EMG signals.
• Achieved 98% accuracy with Sklearn support vector classification (SVC) machine learning approach and training data from UCI EMG library.

• Mechanical Prototyper/Market Researcher
• Conducted market research for low-cost designs for pediatric mobility devices.
• Finalized 2 outsourceable pediatric wheelchair designs using stroller frames, reducing the cost by 78% in the hand cranked design and by 45.67% in the conventional design. Outsourced the conventional design due to higher self-assembly feasibility

• Software: Python , MATLAB, C++ with Arduino, R, Excel, Microsoft Team
• Dry Lab: Seurat, Benchling, Nextflow, DESeq2, Aivia, Powerpoint, ImageJ, fluorescence image analysis, Loupe, lib prep, Differential Expression analysis, statistical analysis, GraphPad Prism
• Wet Lab: BCA assay, Bradford assay, cytotoxicity assay, bacterial growth assay, gel electrophoresis, fluorescence microscopy, live/dead assay, PCR, adherent cell culture, microscopy, Gibson Assembly, Lab Protocol Development, Protein Purification, Fermentation
• Hardware: circuitry, woodwork, power tools, autoclave

University of Michigan, BSE Biomedical Engineering Ann Arbor MI, 2021-2024

GPA: 3.8

Relevant Coursework credits/experience:

• Math and Computer Science: Calculus 1+2, Differential Equations, Intro to Statistics, Programming and Data Structure, Discrete Math, Data Structure and Algorithm
• Life Sciences: Intro to Chemistry, Intro Biomechanics, Molecular Biology, Biophysical Chemistry and Thermodynamics, Human Stem Cells and Medicine (UCLA), Intro Neuroscience (UCLA), Engineering Biological Solution (Hydrogel and Recombinant DNA)