Summary of Qualifications

Detail-oriented and results-driven Research Scientist with strong analytical, critical thinking and project management skills. Proven success leading research teams and utilizing exceptional communication skills to relay protocol and procedure. Proven expertise in in vivo pharmacology and in vitro molecular biology on obesity, diabetes and metabolic diseases. Experienced in product design and development. Possesses the self-motivation and intellect necessary to excel in fast-paced challenging environments. Proficient in the use of Graphpad, Endnote, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, FlowJo, DSI Dataquest ART, Bio-Plex, VectorNTI and DNAStar.

Selected Skills and Techniques:

Biochemistry: protein/DNA gel electrophoresis, western blot, Co-immunoprecipitation, bacterial protein expression and protein affinity purification, in vitro enzyme assays (in vitro activity assays), in vitro RNA and protein synthesis, free fatty acid and cholesterol measurement, glucose uptake assay

Bioanalytical chemistry: ELISA for tissue and cytokine analysis, knowledge of HPLC and LC/MS

Cell Biology: various human cell line and primary cell culture, preadipocyte and myoblast differentiation, transfection (overexpression & silencing), infection, adenovirus and lentivirus preparation, primary adipose stem cell and adipose cell isolation, fluorescent microscopy, single and dual luciferase assay, 96-well assays, cell based assays, flow cytometry.

Microbiology: bacterial and virus culture, transformation, isolation

Pathology: tissue preparation for sectioning, immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence, experience with histology and pathology tissues during development of obesity and diabetes

Molecular biology: RNA&DNA isolation, molecular cloning, site-directed mutagenesis, Real-time PCR, yeast two hybrid

Research animals: rodent colony breeding and management, genotyping, dosing (oral gavage, injections), xenograft model, rodent surgeries (telemetry transmitter implantation, renal denervation), mouse MRI for body composition assessment, mouse metabolic cages for energy expenditure assessments, automated measurement of food consumption, glucose tolerance test, insulin tolerance test.

Professional Experience

University of Minnesota – Minneapolis, Minnesota 4/2012 - Present

Research Scientist

Promoted by this public research university for the further development of the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology. Utilizes experience in molecular cellular biology, enzymology and pharmacology in the design, implementation and evaluation of research studies centering on links between cardiovascular disease and obesity as well as diabetes at the molecular and whole animal level. Develops independent projects and proposals, collects data, analyzes findings and collaborates on reports and publication so findings.

Led team responsible for conducting all continuing studies related to the role of neuropeptide Y in stress mediated alterations in metabolism and in turn, driving force for the university’s attainment of $1.2 million in research funding over a four-year period.

Led the research to reveal the importance of dipeptidyl peptidases (DPPs) in adipogenesis and glucose homeostasis by cell models and animal model.

Established enzyme activity assay to measure the DPP activity from cells and tissues.

Proved that renal nerve ablation normalizes blood pressure and decreases renal inflammation but has no effect on glucose metabolism in obese hypertensive C57BL/6 mice

Trained the technicians and students for mastering molecular and cellular assays and animal experiments

University of Minnesota – Minneapolis, Minnesota 9/2010-3/2012

Post-doctorate Associate

Recruited by this public research university with research team for further development of projects in Georgetown University Medical Center

Supervised molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry assays and led the animal experiments for the start-up division to ensure the success of various projects.

Discovered that neuropeptide Y signaling was upregulated during early stages of human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells differentiation

Proved chronic cold stress increased the blood pressure in mice by transplanted radio transmitter.

Set up the ELISA assays for detection of sympathetic efferent markers in kidney and inflammatory markers in the plasma

Georgetown University Medical Center – Washington, D.C. 5/2008 - 8/2010

Post-doctorate Associate

Brought on to collaborate on a variety of critical projects regarding neuropeptide Y in maternal stress induced obesity and metabolic syndrome. Gained knowledge for various animal and human fat pad pathological analysis and immunohistochemistry.

Revealed the importance of neuropeptide Y in maternal-stressed-programmed, specifically abdominal obesity and glucose intolerance in a sex and time specific manner.

Identified that prenatal low protein diet offspring have increased adipose stem cell number and enhanced adipogenic potential.

Proved neuropeptide Y signaling mediated stress-hormone-induced adipogenesis in murine Embryonic Stem Cells.

Revealed that stress induced up-regulation of neuropeptide Y signaling was associated with marked decrease in DNA methylation at promoter regions

Set up the platforms of isolation of murine/human adipose cells and adipose stem cells; established the differentiation of murine/human adipose stem cells and embryonic stem cells.

Original contributions have been included in media reports and press releases that increased the visibility of the university and its research efforts.

Chinese Academy of Sciences – Shanghai, China 9/2002 – 3/2008

Research Assistant, Institute for Nutritional Sciences

Selected to design experiments, conduct multi-step procedures using molecular biology and biochemistry techniques, conduct animal experiments and assist with maintain lab equipment.

Credited with discovering APOA-1, the main component of HDL, improves glucose metabolism by activating AMP-activated protein kinase in muscle and adipose tissues; the discovery was published in Diabetologia for exclusive research in the diabetic field

APOA-1and HDL have been used to improve glucose homeostasis in type 2 diabetes patients based on our research.

Discovered that diet plays a dominating role in shaping gut microbiota by overriding host genetics by feeding Apoa-I knockout mice and wild-type controls on either a normal chow diet or a high fat diet

Set up the platforms of glucose uptake assay, glucose tolerance test, insulin tolerance test. Established the C2C12 myoblast culture and differentiation

Collaborated with a team of lab members to publish four research papers in high-profile journals.

Hornor and Awards

2012 Pat Simons Travel Award, the Obesity Society

2012 Press release, The FASEB Journal

2011 Press release, American Physiological Society, Experimental Biology Meeting

2007 Outstanding PhD candidate Award, Chinese Academy of Sciences

2005 President, Student Union, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Education

Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai, China

PhD in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry 9/2002 – 3/2008

Inner Mongolia University Hohhot, China

Bachelor of Science in Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology 9/1998 – 6/2002

Volunteer

Invited Journal reviewer 11/2011 - present

Journals: Endocrinology, Endocrine, Cell Biology International, American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, Journal of Applied Physiology, American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology, Journal of Diabetes & Metabolism, Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, PLoS one

Community Child Care Center– St. Paul, MN 5/2014 - present

Parent Involvement Coordinator

Coordinates parent involvement tasks with the parents and the Director.

Brainstorm with Director possible parent involvement opportunities.

Work with Fundraiser when volunteers are needed for events.

Distribute and maintain parent surveys about involvement interests.

Responsible for calling new families when they start at the center

Selected Publications and Presentations

1 N. Asirvatham-Jeyaraj, R. Han, J. Feige, J. Foss, M. Razolli, A. Bartolomucci, Y. Shimizu, and J.W Osborn. Renal nerve ablation normalizes blood pressure and decreases renal proinflammatory cytokines but has no effect on glucose metabolism in obese hypertensive C57BL/6 mice (in submission), 2015

2 R. Han*, X Wang, W Bachovchin, Z Zukowska, J.W Osborn, Inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase 8/9 impairs preadipocyte differentiation, Sci. Rep. 5, 12348; doi: 10.1038/srep12348 (2015). (*Corresponding author)

3 R. Han*, JB Kitlinska, WR Munday, I. Gallicano and Z. Zukowska. Stress hormonal epinephrine enhances adipogenesis in murine embryonic stem cells by up-regulating neuropeptide Y system, PLoS ONE, 7(5): e36609, 2012 (* Corresponding author)

4 R. Han*, A. Li, L. Li, JB Kitlinska and Z. Zukowska. Maternal low-protein diet up-regulates the neuropeptide Y system in visceral fat and leads to abdominal obesity and glucose intolerance in a sex- and time-specific manner. The FASEB Journal, 26 (8), 3528-3536, 2012 (* Corresponding author, Press Release)

5 C. Zhang, M. Zhang, S. Wang, R. Han, Y. Cao, W. Hua, Y. Mao, X. Zhang, X. Pang, C. Wei, G. Zhao, Y. Chen and L. Zhao. Interactions between gut microbiota, host genetics and diet relevant to development of metabolic syndromes in mice. The ISME Journal, 4, 232–241, 2010

6 X. Sun, J. He, C. Mao, R. Han, Z. Wang, Y. Liu, Y. Chen. Negative regulation of adiponectin receptor 1 promoter by insulin via a repressive nuclear inhibitory protein element, FEBS Letters, 582(23-24): 3401-7, 2008

7 R. Han, R. Lai, Q. Ding, Z. Wang, X. Luo, Y. Zhang, G. Cui, J. He, W. Liu, Y. Chen. Apolipoprotein A-I stimulates AMP-activated protein kinase and improves glucose metabolism, Diabetologia, 50:1960-1968, 2007

8 X. Sun, R. Han, Z. Wang, Y. Chen. Regulation of adiponectin receptors in hepatocytes by the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonist rosiglitazone. Diabetologia, 49: 1303–1310, 2006

9 R. Han, X. Wang, J. Kitlinska, A. Li, I. Gallicano and Z. Zukowska (2012), Maternal stress, NPY system and adult metabolic syndrome (Invited speaker). From Causes to Consequences to Treatment: Obesity in Perspective, FASEB Science Research Conference, Snowmass Village, CO

10 R. Han, J. Kitlinska, A. Li and Z. Zukowska (2011) Stress-induced Epigenetic Programming for Adipogenesis: Role of Neuropeptide Y and Adipose Stem Cells (Oral presentation). Experimental biology meeting, Washington, DC (Press Release, American Physiological Society)

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