Research experience

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Research Assistant
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, CSULB
Mentor: Deepali Bhandari, Ph.D.

Topic: Generating phosphomimetic and non-phosphorylated mutations on cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5)                                   (June 2017 -- Present)

•         Co-expression of CDK5 and regulatory protein P35 as well as CDK5 and P25, a condensed form of P35, in E.coli SoluBL21 cells to test the similarities with the mammalian cells. The proteins were purified using Ni+-NTA affinity chromatography and analyzed via western blotting to confirm the presence of the protein complexes. Like in mammalian cells, P25 appears to be more stable than its precursor P35 in bacteria as well.

•         Plasmid cloning by restriction enzyme digest. Cloning DNA templates S47A and S47D proteins with CDK5p25 and CDK5p35. The gene of interest was amplified from a vector DNA by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) before it was cloned into an expression vectors CDK5p25 and CDK5p35. Restriction digest of template DNA to be cloned was performed by using restriction enzymes EcoRI and BamHI. Isolation of CDK5p25 and CDK5p35 vectors and inserts (S47A and S47D) was accomplished by running digested DNA on agarose gel and conducting gel purification.

•         Zyppy plasmid purification

•         DNA ligation

•         Bacterial transformation

•         Diagnostic restriction digest

•         Protein characterization (SDS-PAGE, Affinity             Chromatography)

•         ZYMOCLEAN DNA Recovery

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BUILD (Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity) Program Trainee

(June 2017--  June 2018)
California State University, Long Beach

•         Submitting a weekly Activity Log

•         Attend Colloquium events and Responsible Conduct of Research training workshops

•         Attend Learning Community Sessions every week and Graduate Record Examination workshops

•         Meet with the training director every semester

•         Participate in tracking activities

 

Microbiology Lab Assistant                                                                   October 2014 – June 2015
Life Sciences Department, Los Angeles City College

•          Make lab solutions and media

•          Maintain laboratory cleanliness and organization

•          Aid professors in laboratory preparations

•          Follow safety rules to enhance laboratory routine