Quality Control Training

Kendra Cox, Ph.D.

**** *. **** **** ***. #****

Sunnyvale, CA 94089

Email: ************@*****.***

SKILLS

Instrumentation/Software

• CE, HPLC, MALDI-TOF MS, ESI-MS, UV-vis and CD spectroscopy, potentiometric

autotitration system, 1H and 13C NMR (1D and 2D), fluorometer, PCR thermal cycler

• Various instrument software, data-fitting software, and statistical analysis software

Lab Skills

• Organic chemistry methods: Synthesis, purification, and characterization of small

molecules, flash/column chromatography, TLC, biphasic extractions

• Analytical chemistry methods: Spectroscopic titrations (UV-vis, CD), pH meter

titrations, CE and HPLC method development, IR data analysis

• PCR, Q-PCR, quantification of DNA, purification of DNA, agarose gel electrophoresis,

PAGE

• Standard microbiological techniques

Training

• Training in Design of Experiment methods and statistics

• Training in cGLP/cGMP regulation compliance

• HPLC Maintenance/Chemstation software training from Agilent Technologies

• MALDI-TOF MS training from Bruker Daltonics

EDUCATION

Doctorate of Philosophy in Chemistry, May 2006 (Analytical Chemistry and Biochemistry)

Title of Dissertation: “Structural, Protonation, and Complexation Studies of Ionophores A23187,

4-ClA23187, and 23,24-Br2A23187”

University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, cum laude, May 1999

University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

EXPERIENCE

Scientist, Development January 2007-February 2009

Cepheid Sunnyvale, CA

Position involved development, optimization, and validation of analytical methods to detect and

quantify components of molecular diagnostic products.

• Capillary electrophoresis (CE), HPLC, MALDI-TOF MS

• Optimization and validation of CE-based method of purity assessment of non-labeled

oligonucleotides (primers) as part of quality control documentation

• Development of IE-HPLC method for analysis of dye-labeled oligonucleotides (probes)

• Development of oligonucleotide identification method by molecular weight (MALDI-

TOF MS)

• Development of Mg2+ and EDTA quantification assays through complexometric titration

• Development of glycerol quantification assay through enzymatic kinetic assay

Research Assistant/Post-doctoral Fellow September 2005 – September 2006

Georgetown University Washington, DC/Annapolis, MD

Fluorescence Activated Sensing Technology (FAST) Biodefense Initiative: The goal of this

initiative was to produce a stand-alone detection system for biological threat agents.

• Characterized nicking enzymes suitable for assay

• Assisted in DNA target selection screening

• Investigated methods for improving positive signal in CE detection system involving

biotinylated probe/magnetic streptavidin coated beads

• Investigated sonication as spore-cracking technique monitored by real-time PCR

Graduate Research Assistant August 2000 – September 2005

University of Oklahoma Norman, OK

Research involved synthesis of derivatives of ionophore A23187 and characterization of

structural and binding properties of these derivatives. I developed skills in spectroscopic titration

and determination of protonation and metal binding constants through multi-variate data analysis.

• Synthesized and purified two halogenated derivatives of A23187: 4-ClA23187 and

23,24-Br2A23187

• Characterized products by ESI-MS, 1H and 13C NMR, UV-vis, and TLC

• Performed structural studies of many A23187/metal complexes in solution (circular

dichroism and UV-vis) and solid state (X-ray crystallography)

• Determined binding constants of A23187, 4-ClA23187, and 23,24-Br2A23187 with 5

metal ions in 80% CH3OH/H2O by potentiometric and spectrophotometric titration using

data fitting programs PKAS/BEST (potentiometric data) and SPECFIT

(spectrophotometric data)

ACTIVITIES

• American Chemical Society: member, 2001-present

• Chemistry and Biochemistry New Millenium Fellowship, 2000-2002

PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

• T.Kiesling, K.Cox, E.A.Davidson, K.Dretchen, G.Grater, S.Hibbard, R.S.Lasken,

J.Leshin, E.Skowronski, and M.Danielsen. “Sequence Specific Detection of DNA using

Nicking Endonuclease Signal Amplification (NESA)” Nucleic Acids Research (2007)

35 (18) e117

• Kendra L. Cox, Timothy P. Thomas, Douglas R. Pfeiffer, Masood A. Khan, and Richard

W. Taylor, “Structural Studies of the Complexes of Ionophore A23187 with Divalent

Cations” 228th National American Chemical Society Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, Aug.

22-26, 2004

• Kendra L. Cox, Timothy P. Thomas, Douglas R. Pfeiffer, Masood A. Khan, and Richard

W. Taylor, “Solid State Complexes of A23187 with Divalent Cations” 59th Southwest

American Chemical Society Regional Meeting, Oklahoma City, OK, Oct. 25-28, 2003

REFERENCES

Available upon request

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