Assistant University

Thamara Janaratne, Ph.D.

***** ***** ****** ***** **, SP30-101, La Jolla, Ca, 92037 . Mobile:

817-***-**** . Fax: 858-***-**** .

E-mail: jthamara @scripps.edu

Research Scientist with well-documented success and more than a decade of

experience in chemistry, protein science, molecular biology, analytical

biochemistry, protein conjugation, and protein crystallography. An

effective educator, communicator, and presenter who articulates complex

concepts with precision and impact to all levels of audiences. Core skills

include:

Chemistry: Multistep organic synthesis, unnatural amino acid synthesis,

organometallic synthesis, Petide bond formation

reactions, polymer modifications, manipulation of air

sensitive reagents and reactions, TLC, flash

chromatography, reverse phase and size exclusion

purification techniques, clear understanding of

structural determination using NMR and Mass spectral

techniques, FT-IR, Schlenk technique, high vacuum

lines, glove box, good laboratory practice,

particular attention to safety, automation techniques

Protein Science: Small and large scale recombinant protein expression and

purification (E. coli & mammalian), protein

conjugation, enzyme kinetics, protein engineering,

unnatural amino acid incorporation, mammalian cell

culture and cell transfection methodologies, cell

lysis techniques, ultracentrifugation

Protein Analytical Techniques: ACTA-FPLC, IMAC, IEX, SEC, SDS-PAGE, native

gel, western blotting, UV/Vis, Fluorescence, MALDI-

MS, CD, SLS, LC-MS, ThermoFluor, Bradford, high-

throughput techniques

Molecular Biology: PIPE cloning, PCR, site-directed mutagenesis, primer

design, dPCR, plasmid DNA purification,

transformation, Agarose gel Electrophoresis

Protein Crystallography: LCP, sitting and hanging drop, Microbatch,

seeding, cryo-screening, looping, Reductive

Methylation, Surface Entropy Reduction, Minstrel HT-

UV, Oryx8, CrytalTrak, high-throughput techniques

Computer Proficiency: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Endnote, ChemDraw,

SciFinder Scholar, DNASTAR, Pub Med, Pymol, PDB

Professional Experience

Genomics Institute of Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, CA 2006 -

Present

Visiting Scientist

The Scripps Research Institute, Joint Center for Structural Genomics

(JCSG), La Jolla, CA 2006 - Present

Research Associate

. Synthesizes organic compounds, unnatural amino acids and polymers

required for conjugation.

. Conjugates proteins with polymers and small molecules,

. Incorporates unnatural amino acids into proteins site specifically.

. Combines breakthrough leadership and extensive industry knowledge to

develop new technologies to improve recombinant protein expression levels

and protein quality in E. coli and mammalian systems.

. Expertise in cloning, expression, and purification of soluble and

membrane proteins and protein complexes.

. Utilizes a variety of biophysical techniques and functional assays to

characterize proteins.

. Optimizes expression, stability, and crystallization by engineering

proteins; refolds proteins.

. identifies and implements new protein crystallization, purification, and

characterization technologies. Conducts state-of-the-art throughput

crystallization screening of membrane and soluble proteins.

. Blends scientific expertise with deep knowledge of record-keeping and

documentation to prepare research reports, give presentations, contribute

to publications, and review numerous manuscripts for Protein Expression

and Purification, the peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Key highlights:

. Brought on board to establish a chemistry lab; quickly designed and

launched the lab while honing an in-depth knowledge of protein science

techniques.

. Developed a novel and efficient technology to conjugate polymers to

proteins.

. Infused the department with a fresh take on protein problem solving,

conceptualizing new ideas to express, purify, and crystallize difficult

protein targets previously unsolved by the JCSG pipeline.

. Broadened experience in methodically designing, interpreting, and

troubleshooting complex experiments.

. Teamed up with the senior scientist at Genomics Institute of Novartis

Research Foundation to develop methods to characterize proteins and

chemically modified proteins using MALDI-MS and ANSEC.

. Gained substantial experience in many protein analytical techniques,

including MALDI, LC-MS, ANSEC, CD, SDS-PAGE, SLS, UV-Vis, and

Fluorescence.

Bayer, Baytown, TX 2005

ChemisT

. Recruited to troubleshoot the obstacles and reaction conditions of a

large-scale prepolymer product used in the production of optical lenses.

. Received Occupational Safety and Self Administration (OSHA) training

for good laboratory practice.

Key highlights:

. Quickly adjusted to the industry culture to solve the prepolymer

production issues to deliver the solution prior to the company

deadline.

University of Texas at Arlington, TX 2000-2006

GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT, PhD CANDIDATE (2001 - 2006)

. Initiated and established the anticancer drug discovery project in the

lab.

. Synthesized and tested potential anticancer drug targets against mouse

melanoma cancer.

. Performed extensive studies to identify the mechanism of drug activity.

. Trained and guided junior PhD student and undergraduates.

. Prepared research reports, gave presentations and contributed to

publications.

Key highlights:

. Discovered a new anticancer drug active against mouse melanoma cancer.

. Facilitated the filing of a university patent and funding of a $500K

from the National Cancer Institute for discovering a new anticancer

drug potent in in-vivo mouse melanoma cancer models.

. Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry awarded me the Outstanding

Graduate Student Award (2004-2005).

Graduate Teaching Assistant (2000 - 2001)

. Instructed undergraduate students organic and analytical chemistry;

guided undergraduate and graduate students on good clinical practices and

efficient laboratory techniques.

Key highlights:

. Successfully educated and trained, graduate and undergraduate students

while pursuing the PhD in Chemistry.

University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka 1998 - 2000

Assistant Lecturer

. Taught undergraduate students theories and good laboratory practices in

organic, inorganic, analytical, biochemistry and physical chemistry.

Education & Professional Development

Ph.D in Chemistry, University of Texas at Arlington, TX (2006)

B.Sc. (Hons) in Chemistry, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (1998)

Awards and Honors

. Outstanding Graduate Student Award ( 2004-2005)

Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Texas at

Arlington

. Provost's Award (2004)

ACES (Annual Celebration of Excellence by Students in Graduate

Research)

http://www.uta.edu/aces/archive/2004/winners.php

Department of Science, University of Texas at Arlington

. NIH Funded Postdoctoral Fellowship (2006-Present)

The Joint Center for Structural Genomics; The Scripps Research

Institute, La Jolla, CA

Professional affiliations

American Chemical Society

Reviewer, Journal of Protein Expression and Purification

patents

MacDonnell, Frederick M.; Janaratne, Thamara K.; Awashti, Sanjay.

Ruthenium complexes with modifying activity enhanced under hypoxic

conditions. U.S. Pat. Appl. Publ. (2007), 22pp. CODEN: USXXCO US

200-***-**** A1 20070412 CAN 146:372793 AN 2007:408562 CAPLUS.

publications and presentations

1. Janaratne, Thamara K.; Lesley, S. A Crystal Structure: Amino Acid ABC

Transporter Complex (in Preparation).

2. Janaratne, Thamara K.; Okach, L.; Brock, A.; Lesley, S. A.

Solubilization of Native Integral Membrane Proteins in aqueous buffer

by non-covalent chelation with monomethoxy polyethylene glycol (mPEG)

polymers. Bioconjugate Chem. (Accepted).

3. Lezna, R. O.; de Tacconi, N. R.; Janaratne, Thamara; Munoz Zuniga, J.;

MacDonnell, F. M. Reversible Multi-Electron Reduction of 9,11,20,22-

Tetraaza-tetrapyridopentacene (tatpp) as axial Ligand in the

[(bpy)2Ru(tatpp)]Cl2 Complex. J. Argent. Chem. Soc. (2009) 97(1), 273-

288.

4. Janaratne, Thamara K.; Yadav, A.; Ongeri, F.; MacDonnell, F. M.

Preferential DNA Cleavage under Anaerobic Conditions by a DNA Binding

Ruthenium Dimer. Inorganic Chemistry (2007) 46(9), 3420 3422.

5. Janaratne, Thamara K. Investigation of Ruthenium (II) Polypyridyl

Dimmers as Potential Chemotherapeutic Agents. (2006), 251pp.

6. Janaratne, Thamara K.; MacDonnell, F. M.; Awashti, S.; Singhal, S. S.

Topoisomerase I and II inhibition by the DNA intercalating ruthenium

dimers, [Ru2(phen)4tatpp]4+ and [Ru2(phen)4tatpq]4+. 12th International

Conference on Biological Inorganic Chemistry, University of Michigan,

Ann Arbor, MI, United States, July 31- August 5 (2005).

7. MacDonnell, F. M.; Janaratne, Thamara K.; Awashti, S. Preferential DNA

double stranded cleavage under anaerobic conditions using a redox

active ruthenium polypiridyl dimer: Potential towards hypoxia selective

cancer Chemotherapy. 12th International Conference on Biological

Inorganic Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United

States, July 31- August 5 (2005).

8. Janaratne, Thamara K. Ruthenium dimers as potential chemotherapeutic

agents. Presentation, 7th Annual Celebration of Excellence by Students

in Graduate Research, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX,

United States, April 12 (2004).

9. Janaratne, Thamara K.; MacDonnell, F. M. Cleavage of supercoiled

plasmid DNA induced by a dinuclear ruthenium complex,

[Ru2(phen)4(tatpp)]Cl4. Abstracts, 60th Southwest Regional Meeting of

the American Chemical Society, Fort Worth, TX, United States, September

29-October 4 (2004).

10. Janaratne, Thamara K.; MacDonnell, F. M. Neutral ruthenium

metallointercalators containing dipyridophenazine as an intercalating

ligand. Abstracts of Papers, 225th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans,

LA, United States, March 23-27 (2003).

11. Liyanage, J. A.; Janaratne, Thamara Chemical speciation: A guide to

understand titrimetric analysis. Journal of Chemical Education (2002),

79(5), 635-636.

REFERENCES

Available upon request

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