Postgraduate Research Intern
Resume:
MERIS JAMES
************@*****.***
PRESENT ADDRESS PERMANENT ADDRESS
* ****** ***, *** * 111 Northbrook Drive
Yonkers, NY 10710 West Hartford, CT 06117
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
NEW YORK MEDICAL COLLEGE, Valhalla, NY May 2013
Master of Science, Pharmacology
Master’s Literature Review: “Pharmacological Implications of Inducing Hypometabolism.”
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT, Storrs, CT May 2009
Bachelor of Science, Pharmacy Studies
Honors: University of Connecticut Dean’s List: Spring 2005
Relevant Coursework: Pharmacology, Cardiovascular Drug Development, Biochemistry, Mammalian Physiology,
Toxicology, Immunology, Pathobiology, Biostatistics
LABORATORY SKILLS
Agarose Gel Electrophoresis Flow Cytometry (FACS)
Western Blots Magnetic-Activated Cell Sorting (MACS)
Molecular Cloning Familiar with Transfection/Transduction
Bacterial Transformation Spectrophotometer/96-well plate reader
Plasmid Purification Oxy MaX Test Chamber operation
PCR Preparation of Buffers
Cell Culture Sterile Techniques
JOB SKILLS
Mice Handling, Mice Surgery
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Postgraduate Research Intern June 2013 – Aug 2013
PFIZER Inc., Pearl River, NY
Oncology Research Unit, Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) Biology Group
Research focused on providing a vascular niche for the expansion of Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs) under serum /cytokine-free conditions
with the ultimate goal of examining off-target toxicity (on HSCs/endothelial niche) with different antibody drug conjugates (ADCs).
Conducted individual research to meet departmental goals and gave formal presentation of final research results to the team.
Project 1: E4ORF1 Bone Marrow Expansion
Isolated lineage negative cells from mouse bone marrow by magnetic selection with mouse lineage beads.
Co-cultured mouse Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs) with Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) consisting of the
adenoviral gene, E4ORF1.
Monitored expansion of HSCs on a weekly basis by taking total cell counts upon harvesting cells and by checking expression of cell
surface markers using flow cytometry.
Stained cells with antibodies conjugated to fluorescent markers for flow cytometry analysis.
Project 2: Cloning Constructs into pLenti7-PGK-Blast2
Cloned gene constructs into the recombinant target vector, pLenti7-PGK-blast2 to examine the expression of constructs in-vivo.
Utilized TA-cloning technique using pLenti6.3 TOPO vector to subclone gene inserts from starting vectors.
Techniques such as PCR, gel purification, transformation, plasmid DNA isolation using Quiagen mini & maxi kit, restriction
digestions, and ligations were used throughout the duration of the project.
Measured DNA concentrations using Nanodrop2000 Spectrophotometer.
Graduate Research Assistant Jan 2012 – May 2013
NEW YORK MEDICAL COLLEGE, Valhalla, NY
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Project 1: Research focused on studying the protective effects of inducing a hypometabolism-like state in mammals by a naturally
produced metabolite called 5’-AMP. The aim was to generate and characterize the damage to kidney in the control and
experimental groups using renal ischemia mice models.
Executed intraperitonial injections of 5’-AMP in mice for hypometabolic preconditioning of the kidney and performed renal artery
occluding surgery to subject the mice to renal ischemia.
Estimated respiration rate and oxygen consumption using OxyMax Test Chamber respirometer and recorded core body
temperature of mice with a rectal thermometer to confirm whether animals entered hypometabolism.
Collected blood specimens by the retrorbital plexus route and isolated serum for further analysis.
Harvested kidneys and preserved them for protein analysis, fixed kidneys in formalin for pathological analysis to see whether
survival markers such as HIF-1/HIF-2α and other ischemia protection markers are up-regulated.
PUBLICATION: “A novel strategy to prevent renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.” – In preparation
Project 2: Research included the importance of Glutamine in Cancer Biology, focusing particularly on the presence of a nitrilase -like
protein 2 (Nit-2 enzyme/ω -amidase) in normal and neoplastic cells
Conducted experiments utilizing western blots to confirm the presenc e of Nit-2 enzyme in normal rat liver homogenate,
cytoplasm, and mitochondria .
Performed immunohistochemistry staining of paraffin -embedded human tissues of prostate, pa ncreas, and bladder cancer
as well as normal tissue to identify the location and intensity of Nit -2 enzyme.
Assisted in executing site -directed mutagenesis of the Nit -2 gene, as well as bacterial transformation of the mutant/wild-
type gene.
Purified mutant/wild-type plasmids from bacterial lysates and conducted DNA gel electrophoresis for each samples.
Assisted in transfecting HEK 293 cells with mutant/wild-type plasmids, performed western blot for Nit -2 expression and
analyzed Nit-2 enzyme activity by enzyme assays using spectrophotometer and 96 -well plate reader .
PRESENTATIONS
5’-Adenosine monophosphate induced hypothermia reduces early stage myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury Apr 2013
in a mouse model, Pharmacology Journal Club.
E4ORF1 Bone Marrow Expansion & Cloning Constructs into pLenti7-PGK Blast2, PFIZER, Inc. Aug 2013
WORK EXPERIENCE
Pharmacy Technician
WALGREENS PHARMACY, Tarrytown, NY Sept 2012 – May 2013
WALGREENS PHARMACY, Vernon, CT June 2007 – Dec 2012
CVS PHARMACY, West Hartford, CT Aug 2005 – May 2006
Attended physician and patient phone calls, received and processed prescriptions, prepared insurance claim forms, maintained
inventory, performed cycle counts and quality control procedures, provided customer service, maintained patient profiles and
handled money/cashier duties.
VOLUNTEER WORK
UConn Migrant Farm Workers Clinic, CT Aug 2009
South Park Inn Medical Clinic, CT Apr 2010
Worked with medical students and physician assistant students and conducted patient screening, obtained patient history, and
provided patient consultation.
Adult Day Care Center, CT Apr 2010
Provided support and presentations to educate senior citizen patients about Medicare and Medicaid .
COMPUTER SKILLS
MS Word, MS excel, MS PowerPoint, Biostatistics Software: NCSS, PASS
LANGUAGES
Fluent in English, Malayalam
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