SCIENTIST / July, 2019 — Present

Research focus: My research has focused on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying Gulf War Illness Traumatic Brain Injury and Alzheimers disease to identify candidate biomarkers and uncover molecular targets for therapeutic intervention. Supported preclinical development of oleoylethanolamide (OEA) as a therapeutic for Gulf War Illness (GWI)related CNS symptoms through PKPD studies in mouse models. Designed and executed oral gavage dosing regimens across multiple concentrations and treatment durations; performed tissue collection for biodistribution analysis. Processed biological samples and contributed to LCMSMS analysis including OEA extraction peak picking and quantification using TraceFinder in collaboration with a mass spectrometry core. Led studies investigating APOE genotypedependent lipid metabolism dysregulation in Alzheimers disease. Awarded a competitive grant to evaluate pharmacological modulation of fatty acid oxidation (FAO) pathways to restore cerebrovascular energy metabolism. Performed Western blot ELISA lipidomics and metabolomics to assess pathway modulation and treatment efficacy. Developed a novel ELISA-based biomarker assay for GWI and authored a Department of Defense grant proposal as PI (currently under review).

SCIENTIST / July, 2019 — Present

Research focus: My research has focused on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying Gulf War Illness Traumatic Brain Injury and Alzheimers disease to identify candidate biomarkers and uncover molecular targets for therapeutic intervention. Supported preclinical development of oleoylethanolamide (OEA) as a therapeutic for Gulf War Illness (GWI)related CNS symptoms through PKPD studies in mouse models. Designed and executed oral gavage dosing regimens across multiple concentrations and treatment durations; performed tissue collection for biodistribution analysis. Processed biological samples and contributed to LCMSMS analysis including OEA extraction peak picking and quantification using TraceFinder in collaboration with a mass spectrometry core. Led studies investigating APOE genotypedependent lipid metabolism dysregulation in Alzheimers disease. Awarded a competitive grant to evaluate pharmacological modulation of fatty acid oxidation (FAO) pathways to restore cerebrovascular energy metabolism. Performed Western blot ELISA lipidomics and metabolomics to assess pathway modulation and treatment efficacy. Developed a novel ELISA-based biomarker assay for GWI and authored a Department of Defense grant proposal as PI (currently under review).

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER / June, 2016 — March, 2019

Research focus: My work was focused on studying the contribution of exosomes and Heat Shock Proteins on alpha-synuclein oligomerization and its cell-to-cell propagation. Utilized cell-based -synuclein reporter models to assess aggregation changes following HSP modulation using siRNA Isolated and characterized exosomes via ultracentrifugation and evaluated their effects on -synuclein pathology in recipient cells. Contributed to Parkinsons disease biomarker discovery helping establish AlphaLISA assays for exosomal protein detection.

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER / June, 2016 — March, 2019

Research focus: My work was focused on studying the contribution of exosomes and Heat Shock Proteins on alpha-synuclein oligomerization and its cell-to-cell propagation. Utilized cell-based -synuclein reporter models to assess aggregation changes following HSP modulation using siRNA Isolated and characterized exosomes via ultracentrifugation and evaluated their effects on -synuclein pathology in recipient cells. Contributed to Parkinsons disease biomarker discovery helping establish AlphaLISA assays for exosomal protein detection.

PHD STUDENT / September, 2012 — December, 2015

Research focus: My work was focused on characterizing transcriptome profiles from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of sporadic Parkinson patients and patients with monogenic forms of the disease (G2019S LRRK2 SNCA duplication ATXN2 CAG expansions) as well as healthy controls and identify specific transcriptome changes as candidate biomarkers. Conducted a transcriptomic study profiling alternative splicing in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Parkinsons disease patients and matched controls focusing on identification of RNA-based biomarkers. Performed RNA extraction and quality control including DNA contamination assessment by PCR and collaborated with a bioinformatics core for RNA-seq library preparation and sequencing. Analyzed RNA-seq data using pathway enrichment tools to link differentially expressed transcripts to biological processes implicated in Parkinsons disease pathophysiology. Validated candidate biomarkers using RTqPCR and co-authored peer-reviewed publications highlighting dysregulated protein translation as a disease-associated mechanism. Mentored high school students through a short-term laboratory research project providing hands-on training and supervising data presentation.

PHD STUDENT / September, 2012 — December, 2015

Research focus: My work was focused on characterizing transcriptome profiles from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of sporadic Parkinson patients and patients with monogenic forms of the disease (G2019S LRRK2 SNCA duplication ATXN2 CAG expansions) as well as healthy controls and identify specific transcriptome changes as candidate biomarkers. Conducted a transcriptomic study profiling alternative splicing in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Parkinsons disease patients and matched controls focusing on identification of RNA-based biomarkers. Performed RNA extraction and quality control including DNA contamination assessment by PCR and collaborated with a bioinformatics core for RNA-seq library preparation and sequencing. Analyzed RNA-seq data using pathway enrichment tools to link differentially expressed transcripts to biological processes implicated in Parkinsons disease pathophysiology. Validated candidate biomarkers using RTqPCR and co-authored peer-reviewed publications highlighting dysregulated protein translation as a disease-associated mechanism. Mentored high school students through a short-term laboratory research project providing hands-on training and supervising data presentation.