Aimee L Tripp
**** **** *** **, ***********, MN *5414
Phone: 608-***-**** : ********@***.***
Education
Bachelor of Science: Chemistry, December 2013
University of Minnesota- Twin Cities – Minneapolis, MN
Minor: Biology
Cumulative GPA: 3.62
Dean’s List: Fall 2010, Summer 2011, Fall 2012, Spring 2013
Skill Sets and Competencies
Growth, induction and inclusion body preparation of
Recombinant Protein Production and
recombinant vaccine antigens
Purification
1D SDS PAGE, IEF, 2D, and DNA Agarose gels
Electrophoresis
Protein and Carbohydrate Stains; Rotofor operation
Western Blots, ELISA assays, and Flow Cytometry
Immunology
TLC, FPLC, HPLC, affinity chromatography
Chromatography
SEC, IEX, IMAC
Reflux reactions, distillation, Rotary evaporator, and spray
Organic Chemistry Techniques
drying
Conjugation of proteins and molecules of interest including:
Combinatorial Chemistry
vaccine antigens, adjuvants, antibodies, enzymes, toxins,
fluorescent dyes, and various biotin containing reagents
Use Chitosan to synthesis Trimethyl Chitosan of varying
Polymer Modification Chemistry
“quarternization” levels and thiolated Chitosan at desirable
output levels
Building ionic hydrogels and cross-linked Nanoparticles
Hydrogels and Nanoparticles
(NPs)
Particle Size, Polydispersity Index, and Zeta Potential
Malvern Zetasizer
Measurements
1
Prepare and analyze samples with Bruker spectrometer and
H NMR Spectroscopy
Agilent Software at the University of Minnesota NMR
Center
Experience
Research Associate II
Pending, Paperwork has been submitted for promotion
Syntiron, LLC – St. Paul, MN
Create vaccine delivery systems that enhance vaccine performance by mucoadhesion, tissue penetration
properties, and/or selectively driving TH1 or TH2 responses
Synthesize Trimethyl Chitosan (TMC) with varying degrees of quarternization for analysis of tissue penetration
properties
Analyze Chitosan derivatives using 1H NMR at the University of Minnesota NMR Center. Determine degree of
quarternization and extent of chain scission and O-methylation following synthesis of TMC.
Conjugate vaccine candidates to Cholera Toxin to assess mucosal activation and production of secretory IgA
Use various Chitosan derivatives to form ionic hydrogels and nanoparticles containing vaccine candidate
antigens and adjuvants for testing in mouse and rabbit animal efficacy studies
Analyze Chitosan derivatives and nanoparticles using Malvern Zetasizer to look for change in polymer size and
surface zetapotential
Write technical monthly reports
Present current work in large group lab meetings
Techniques and Equipment: 1H NMR Spectroscopy, Malvern Zetasizer (Particle Size, PDI, and Zeta Potential),
HPLC, reversed phase and size exclusion chromatography for polymer evaluation
Research Associate I
June 2012 to Present
Syntiron, LLC – St. Paul, MN
Evaluate the following combinatorial chemistry approaches: NHS-ester chemistries using biotinylation and
fluorescent dye labeling; Thiol and Maleimide conjugation; mixed disulfide conjugation; conjugates were
purified and analyzed using desalting columns and size exclusion chromatography
Examples of products using the above approaches include: labeling IgG and IgA antibodies with fluorescent tags
for use in Flow Cytometry; producing KLH:peptide conjugates to produce epitope specific immunogens;
producing IgG:HRP conjugates for use in ELISA Assays; produce toxin conjugates using mixed disulfide linkages
An independent research project was also completed for 3 credit hours (135 hours of research) at the University
of Minnesota using the above techniques. This project resulted in high proficiency of techniques in recombinant
protein induction and purification of a His tagged Manganese transport protein, which was conjugated to
Pam3CSK4 using NHS ester conjugation approach to evaluate improvements in immune response and protective
efficacy of the conjugate.
Write technical monthly reports
Present current work to large group lab meetings
Techniques and Equipment: AKTA FPLC, HPLC, Flow Cytometry, Swiss Protein Database, BLAST sequence search
and alignment tools
Laboratory Assistant
October 2010 to June 2012
Syntiron, LLC – St. Paul, MN
General laboratory maintenance including cleaning and autoclaving glassware, ordering supplies, preparing
reagents, buffers, and growth media, and assisting the quality control group with bioburden assays to test for
vaccine sterility
Analysis of vaccine products using 1D gel electrophoresis, 2D gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing
Analysis of proteins using Bio-Rad Rotofor to look for separation between proteins and impurities
Analysis of vaccinate immune serum using Western Blot with iBlot transfer device and large format overnight
transfer techniques to look for the presence of antibodies to specific proteins
Awards
University of Minnesota- College of Science and Engineering Scholarship for Academic Excellence: Fall 2013
Vern Dale Scholarship for Academic Excellence: Fall 2010
Onalaska Rotary Club Scholarship: Fall 2010
Onalaska Area Business Association Scholarship: Fall 2010
Other Experience
Science Fair Judge, Twin Cities Regional Science Fair, Minneapolis, MN: Spring 2013
College of Science and Engineering Ambassador and Mentor, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN:
Fall 2012 – Present
Admissions Ambassador, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN: Spring 2011
Trauma and Emergency Center Volunteer, Gundersen Lutheran Hospital, La Crosse, WI: Summer 2011
Nursery Room Volunteer, First Covenant Church, Minneapolis, MN: 2012 – Present
Grounds Crew, La Crosse Country Club, La Crosse, WI: August 2006-August 2011