Engineering Assistant

*** **** ********** ***** #**

ALEXANDER J. BLAKE C hicago, IL 60657

919-***-**** a *******@*****.***

Research Scientist/ R&D Engineer

Highly enthusiastic, dynamic, results-driven Research Scientist. Great skills working independently, as part

o f a team, and supervising. Very focused, creative with excellent organization and time management skills.

S ignificant experience with CAD modeling software, MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) fabrication

t echniques, device prototyping, and a number of programming languages (such as Matlab and LabVIEW).

F amiliarity with neurophysiology and neurosurgery and using TDT systems with NeuroNexus probes to

r ecord/stimulate brain tissue. Knowledge in electronics design, assembly code, and CNC machining

t echniques. Experience in molecular biology techniques and cell-based assays. Outstanding ability to

g ather, analyze and write scientific reports. E xcellent English and intermediate Spanish communication

skills, both oral and written.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE AND STRENGTHS

Western Blot/PCR/ELISA/Immunostaining

MEMS Fabrication

Two-photon Microscopy, SEM, and MRI

CAD Modeling and Prototyping

Strong Work Ethic

HPLC and FTIR

Effective Leadership and Management

Electronics Design s kills

Electrophysiology Techniques Trained in GMPs

Neurophysiology and Neurosurgery Action Oriented

Mammalian Cell Culture and Isolation Applied Engineering/ Biomaterials

E DUCATION

Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, March 2010

Minor Neuroscience

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Recipient of Graduate Engineering Research Scholars Scholarship, 2004 – 2010

Bachelors of Science in Applied and Materials Science, May 2004

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

WORK EXPERIENCE

University of Illinois – Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chicago, IL

Postdoctoral Research Associate, 03/2010 – Present

Lab of Prof. David Eddington

Research Summary: Spatiotemporal control of neurochemicals using an i n vitro b rain slice microfluidic

d evice

Quantify how dopamine and other neuromodulators influence the ability of the prefrontal cortical

n etwork to maintain spatiotemporal activity patterns associated with working memory and other executive

f unctions: (1) Design and prototype a microfluidic brain slice device and software that integrates with standard

pharmacology/electrophysiology tools, a nd (2) perform simultaneous ensemble fluorescence imaging and

e lectrophysiology in the mouse cortical microcircuit.

Measure the spatial and temporal profile of dopamine using computational fluid dynamics, cyclic

v oltammetry, and fluorescence microscopy to characterize and optimize a library of chemical delivery profiles

t o perform high-throughput pharmacology/electrophysiology s tudies to help elucidate the modulatory effects of

n eurotransmitters on neural network activity patterns.

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University of Wisconsin – Department of Biomedical Engineering, Madison, WI

R esearch Assistant, 0 6/2004 – 03/2010

Lab of Prof. Justin Williams

Research Title: Enhancements to brain tissue perfusion and cell culture devices through microfluidics

Design, prototype, and test a dual-perfusion microfluidic brain slice chamber through which the

m icroscale dimensions of the fluid chamber significantly reduce the perfusate volume and promote a faster

e xchange of oxygen and nutrients at the tissue-fluid interface that can sustain the viability of tissue slices up

t o 800 micron thick. Using laminar flow, areas on the brainstem and rostral medulla tissue slice are isolated

i n two different environments simultaneously to elucidate the role different areas play in respiratory activity.

Study the effects of oxygen, perfusate media flow rates, and reactor temperature to maximize the i n

v itro b rain slice recording environment and implement multisite penetrating microelectrode arrays to identify

a nd map the spatial activity patterns in neural networks to enhance stroke and epilepsy models.

WARF (Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation), Madison, WI

Technical Writer and Licensing Intern, 08/2008 – 06/2009

Evaluate patent disclosures, information from inventors, and scientific journals to formulate marketing

s ummaries and strategies for intellectual property managers. Summary of technology portfolios are published

o nline through w ww.warf.org o r w ww.discoveryportal.org .

DoIT (Division of Information Technology), Madison, WI

Technical Support and Documentation Specialist, 10/2004 – 5/2008

Provide technical support and manage the help documentation database to support the computing needs of the

students, faculty, and staff at the UW–Madison campus.

PEOPLE Program, UW-Madison

Teacher, Summer 2005 – 2 009

Teach a one-week Neuroscience and three-week Engineering class for minorities and low-income

m iddle and high school students to encourage them to continue college enrollment and graduation.

University of Wisconsin – Department of Biomedical Engineering, Madison, WI

S URE/REU Undergraduate Researcher, Summer 2003

Lab of Prof. John Kao

R esearch Title: Synthesis and analysis of poly(ethylene glycol)-diacrylate macromer polymerization within a

multicomponent semi-interpenetrating polymer network system .

Synthesize hydrogel networks and confirm gelatin backbone modifications using HPLC, Mass Spectrometry, and

FTIR to develop a biodegradable membrane that enhances the skin wound healing process, such as the use of different

peptide sequences.

Perform a series of cell culture tests on different hydrogel networks and evaluate the surface

b iocompatibility.

Flexcell International Corp., Hillsborough, NC

Lab Assistant, 10/2002 – 5/2003; Microfluidics Consultant, 12/2009 – Present

Test and validate the oxygen, media pulsation and flow rates, and temperature to design a bioreactor

s ystem for modulating cellular shear stress and extracellular signaling to: (1) design a bioreactor for studying

h eart valve tissue engineering, and (2) help elucidate the cellular-scale mechanisms of native aortic valve

d ysfunction.

Provide ongoing consulting work in the prototyping and validation of a new MEMS device for cellular

s hear stress applications.

AJ Blake Page 2 of 5

Glaxo Research Labs, Chapel Hill, NC

Summer Lab Assistant, 5/2002 – 8/2002

Construct a bioreactor composed of three layers, each having a unique permeability, and maintain a

c ulture of mouse liver cells (Hep3B) to develop an artificial liver that can be an alternative to current

d ialysis machines.

University of North Carolina Tech Store, Chapel Hill, NC

Computer and Software Support Specialist, 5/1999 – 8/2002

Provide computer and software support and manage the sales floor to support the computing needs of the

students, faculty, and staff at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill campus .

ADVANCED TRAININGS

EMERGING TECHNIQUES IN PROTEIN AND GENETIC ENGINEERING, MADISON WI

BIOPHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGY CENTER INSTITUTE AND PROMEGA CORPORATION,

S UMMER 2008

Laboratory techniques and lecture series including design of siRNA target sequences and oligos,

t ransfection, quantitative PCR, and protein expression in vitro.

CORE TECHNIQUES IN PROTEIN AND GENETIC ENGINEERING, MADISON WI

BIOPHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGY CENTER INSTITUTE AND PROMEGA CORPORATION,

S UMMER 2007

Laboratory techniques and lecture series on clone isolation, purification, protein purification, reverse

t ranscription of RNA, PCR amplification, gel electrophoresis, and Western Blot.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Biomedical Engineering Society

Society of Photographic Instrumentation Engineers

P UBLICATIONS/PRESENTATIONS

Peer-Reviewed Manuscripts

Blake AJ, Regehr K, Puccenelli J, Williams JC, Beebe DJ. “A method for passivating PDMS microfluidic

devices,” Lab on a Chip. Submitted August 2010.

Oppengard S, Blake AJ, Williams JC, Eddington DT. “Precisely Controlling Oxygen Conditions within the

Boyden Chamber with a Microfabricated Insert,” Lab on a Chip. August 2010.

Blake AJ, Rodgers FC, Bassuener A, Hippensteel JA, Pearce TM, Pearce TR, Zarnowska ED, Pearce RA,

Williams JC. “A microfluidic brain slice perfusion chamber for multisite recording using penetrating electrodes,”

J. Neuro. Methods. May 2010;189(1):5-13.

Blake AJ, Pearce TM, Rao NS, Johnson JM, Williams JC. “Multilayer PDMS microfluidic brain slice chamber for

controlling slice microenvironment,” Lab on a Chip. Front Cover July 2007.

Witte RP, Blake AJ, Palmer C, Kao WJ. “Analysis of poly(ethylene glycol)-diacrylate macromer polymerization

within a multicomponent semi-interpenetrating polymer network system,” J. Biomed. Mater. Res. Dec

2004;71(3):508-18.

Conference Presentations

Blake AJ, Cheng K, Johnson SM, Williams JC. “Microfluidic Platform for Imaging and Recording Dynamic

Cellular Events in Complex Tissue Networks.” Oral presentation at the NEMB, Houston, TX; February 2010.

AJ Blake Page 3 of 5

Hedrick MS, Johnson SM, Blake AJ, Williams JC. “Localization of the amphibian respiratory rhythm

generator using a multilayer PDMS microfluidic chamber.” Oral presentation at the Experimental Biology,

Anaheim, CA; April 2010.

Vivanco J, Smith B, Blake AJ, Ploeg H, Turner KT. “3D Elastomeric Scaffolds- Fabricated by Casting in Micro

End Milled Molds.” ICOMM Conference Proceedings Paper. Accepted December 2009.

Blake AJ, Pearce TM, Johnson SM, Pearce RM, Williams JC. “Multilayer PDMS microfluidic chamber for

controlling brain slice microenvironment.” Poster presentation at the Society for Neuroscience, Chicago, IL;

November 2009.

Blake AJ, Pearce TM, Rao NS, Johnson SM, Pearce RM, Williams JC. “Multilayer PDMS microfluidic chamber

for controlling brain slice microenvironment.” Oral presentation at the Biomedical Engineering Society, St.

Louis, MO; November 2008.

Blake AJ, Pearce TM, Rao NS, Johnson SM, Pearce RM, Williams JC. “Multilayer PDMS microfluidic chamber

for controlling brain slice microenvironment.” Poster presentation at the Society for Neuroscience, San Diego,

CA; November 2007.

Pearce TM, Oakes SG, Blake AJ, Williams JC. “Open environment micro device for integration of patch

clamp instrumentation with targeted microfluidic chemical delivery,” MMB Conference Proceedings Paper.

Accepted May 2005.

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