Product Development Project Management
Resume:
David J. Wright, PhD
Senior Research Biochemist
Citizenship: US
Professional Experience and Goals
I have 20 years of biotechnology industry experience, from bench-level
discovery research through product development and project management. My
personal focus is the creation of molecular tools. I have a strong
background in protein chemistry, enzymology, molecular biology, and
biological applications of nanotechnology. My professional goals are to
continue to advance knowledge of life processes at the molecular level and
to create biomolecular systems with useful biological or chemical
activities.
Areas of Expertise
Bioconjugation chemistry
Chemical and enzyme kinetics
DNA and RNA oligonucleotide synthesis and purification
Fluorescence spectroscopy
Immunoassays (ELISA, FP)
Protein engineering
Protein expression and purification
Quantum dot nanocrystal bioconjugation and biological applications
Recombinant DNA technology
Statistical Design of Experiments methodology
Employment
2012-present
Independent Biotechnology Consultant
Current clients:
Crux Solutions LLC (Eugene, OR)
Intelligent Material Solutions (San Diego, CA)
MagnetoOrganics LLC (Eugene, OR)
2006- 2011
Life Technologies Corporation (Molecular Probes)
Eugene, Oregon
Staff Scientist, Bioconjugation Services
-Lead Bioconjugation Scientist for Quantum Dot Nanocrystal R&D and Custom
Conjugation Services
-Developed improved conjugation chemistries for quantum dot
bioconjugation
-Performed detailed biochemical and kinetic analysis of quantum dot
nanocrystal bioconjugation
-Fabricated hundreds of quantum dot nanocrystal conjugates for Customs
business and R&D
-Served as subject matter expert in bioconjugation and DNA replication
enzymology for NextGen DNA sequencing R&D
2002-2006
Promega Corporation
Madison, Wisconsin
Senior Research Scientist, Proteomics
-Lead research scientist for development of site-specific protein
labeling
methods for proteomics
-Built expression vectors that combined enzymatic protein labeling
technology with Flexi vectors
-Demonstrated utility for rapid screening of expressed proteins using in
vitro translation systems
-Evaluated numerous protein labeling methods, including:
--farnesyl protein transferase for C-terminal labeling with farnesyl
pyrophosphate analogs
--dye-labeled GST-chloroquinone adducts for labeling of GST fusion
proteins
--tRNA-based labeling by amber suppression in in vitro translation
extracts
-Developed a novel amino-terminal protein labeling method based on
luciferin chemistry
1993-2002
BD Technologies
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Scientist, DNA Amplification Systems and Biosensors
-Technical lead scientist for thermophilic Strand Displacement
Amplification
(SDA) development
-Developed and patented BsoBI/Bst polymerase SDA system currently used in
BD
ProbeTec ET and Viper clinical diagnostic instruments
-Isolated and characterized thermophilic DNA polymerases and SSB proteins
-Developed alternative SDA systems that do not require phosphorothioates
-Developed and patented an SDA-based SNP analysis method
-Developed and patented an engineered glucose biosensor
-BD's principal investigator on a successful DoD/DoE-funded pathogen
detection program
Postdoctoral Research
1992-1993
American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellow
Biology Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Mentor: Professor Darrel L. Stafford
-Analyzed kinetic mechanism of the vitamin K-dependent gamma-glutamyl
carboxylase
-Demonstrated processive carboxylation of a Factor IX-derived peptide
substrate
-Published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry
-Wrote chapter on carboxylase for "Thrombosis and Hemostasis"
-Trained and supervised graduate students
1990-1991
American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellow
Biology Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mentor: Professor Paul R. Schimmel
-Examined recognition of glutamine-specific tRNA by Escherichia coli
glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase
-Published in Biochimie
-Purified and characterized Saccahromyces cerevisiae glutaminyl-tRNA
synthetase
-Published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Biochemistry
Duke University, 1990
Advisor: Professor Paul L. Modrich
Dissertation: DNA Cleavage and Facilitated Diffusion by EcoRI Endonuclease
-Performed detailed kinetic analysis of DNA cleavage by EcoRI
endonuclease
-Published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry
-Identified functionally critical amino acid residues in EcoRI
endonuclease
using site-directed mutagenesis
-Published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry
Bachelor of Arts, Biology
California State University, Fresno, 1982
-Graduated cum laude with minors in Chemistry and Mathematics
-Key advanced coursework: Microbial Genetics, Advanced Cell Biology,
Biochemistry of Proteins
Additional Information
Publications
Wright, D.J., K. King, and P. Modrich (1989) "The Negative Charge of
Glutamate 111 is Required to Activate the Cleavage Center of EcoR I
Endonuclease", J. Biol. Chem 264: 118**-*****
Ludmerer, S.W., D.J. Wright, and P. Schimmel (1993) "Purification of
Glutamine tRNA Synthetase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae", J. Biol. Chem.
268: 5519-5523
Wright, D.J., S.A. Martinis, M. Jahn, D. Soll, and P. Schimmel (1993)
"Acceptor stem and anticodon RNA hairpin helix interactions with glutamine
tRNA synthetase", Biochimie 75: 1041-1049
Wright, D.J., D.P. Morris, and D.W. Stafford (1995) "Vitamin K-dependent
Glutamyl Carboxylase", pp. 309-330 in Molecular Basis of Thrombosis and
Hemostasis, H. Roberts and K. High, eds. (Marcel Dekker, New York)
Haaland, P.D. and D. Wright (1995) "Experimental Design Software Improves
the Efficiency of Product Development", Scientific Computing and Automation
12(4): 37-40
Morris, D.P., R.D. Stevens, D.J. Wright, and D.W. Stafford (1995)
"Processive Post-Translational Modification", J. Biol. Chem. 270: 30491-
30498
Spargo, C.A., M.S. Fraiser, M. Van Cleve, D.J. Wright, C.M. Nycz, P.A.
Spears, and G.T. Walker (1996) "Detection of M. tuberculosis DNA using
Thermophilic Strand Displacement Amplification", Molecular and Cellular
Probes 10: 247-256
Wright, D.J., W.E. Jack, and P. Modrich (1999) "The Kinetic Mechanism of
EcoRI Endonuclease", J. Biol. Chem. 274: 318**-*****
Patents and Patent Applications
Fraiser, M.S., Spargo, C.A., Walker, G.T., Van Cleve, M.D., Wright, D.J,
and Little, M.C. "Strand displacement amplification using thermophilic
enzymes" (US Patent 5,684,211)
Fraiser, M.S., Spargo, C.A., Walker, G.T., Van Cleve, M., Wright, D.J., and
Little, M.C. "Strand displacement amplification using thermophilic enzymes
(US Patent 5,744,311)
Nadeau, J.G., Dean, C., Dey, M., Howard, D., Schram, J. and Wright, D.J.
"Detection of mycobacteria by multiplex nucleic acid amplification" (US
Patent 5,811,269)
Amiss, T.A., C.M.Nycz, J.B. Pitner, D.B. Sherman, and D.J. Wright "Binding
Proteins as Biosensors" (US Patent 6,855,556)
Wright, D.J., M.A. Milla, J.G. Nadeau, and G.T. Walker "Methods for
Detecting Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms" (US Patent 7,223,536)
Wright, D.J., L. Meisenheimer, J. Anderson, and J. Shultz "Site-specific
labeling of proteins using cyanobenzothiazole derivatives" (patent pending)
Professional References
James D. Hirsch, PhD
Life Technologies Corporation
29851 Willow Creek Rd.
Eugene, OR 97402
Professor Paul L. Modrich, PhD
Department of Biochemistry
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC 27710
Professor Darrel W. Stafford
Department of Biology
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
Professor Paul R. Schimmel
The Scripps Research Institute
La Jolla, CA 92037
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