High School Assistant

Surekha Gajria

*******@****.****.***

EDUCATION

University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA September 2009 - Present

Visiting Scholar

Developed DNA biomaterial films for use as gene delivery vehicles. Supervised several undergraduate students in research

(2010-2011).

Wrote a successfully funded grant proposal to the National Science Foundation to develop DNA biomaterials to reprogram

stem cells in collaboration with advisor Prof. Tirrell a postdoctoral colleague, and two UC Berkeley professors which was the

highest ranked proposal in its review group.

University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA September 2006 - Present

Ph.D. Materials Chemistry, GPA 3.87

Thesis entitled "Structural Variations of Nucleic Acid-Surfactant Films and Application for Cell Transfection."

Advisors: Profs. Matthew Tirrell and Craig Hawker.

Developed and characterized novel structure of DNA biomaterials. Studied structural interactions within material for

applications including biological, mechanical, and microanalytical studies.

Supervised several undergraduate students in research (2007-2008).

Mentor at UC Santa Barbara to several undergraduate students. Helped oversee small research projects of 3 undergraduate

chemistry majors and one high school student for periods of a few months each (Fall 2006-Winter 2007).

Williams College, Williamstown, MA September 2002 - June 2006

B.A. Chemistry and English, GPA 3.25

Honors thesis in Chemistry with Prof. Sarah Goh entitled "The Synthesis of Polymeric Micelles in Drug Delivery."

Synthesized and characterized micelle formation of several copolymers for use as drug delivery vehicles.

1960's Scholar in Biology and Chemistry/Biochemistry, Williams College (2003-2006). Read papers by and attended private

meetings with professional scientists who gave seminars at Williams College.

HONORS/AWARDS

3rd prize, 2009 UC Berkeley Bioengineering Retreat poster competition (September 2009).

MRL Travel Fellowships to attend conference (March and December 2008).

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA September 2006 - March 2009

Taught two introductory chemistry lab courses weekly. Gained organizational and mentoring experience.

Genzyme Company, Cambridge, MA Summers 2005 and 2006

Synthesized and characterized several potential anti-cancer drugs.

Williams College, Williamstown, MA Fall 2003 - Spring 2006

Laboratory teaching assistant, tutor, and problem set grader.

Williams College, Williamstown, MA Summer 2004

Synthesized several carbazole alkaloids including murrayafoline and murrayaquinone.

Gillette Company, Boston, MA Summers 2002 and 2003

Organized and supervised shave tests within the company, analyzed data from tests and submitted reports and performed

laboratory work involving shave gel development and experimentation, and rheology experimentation.

SKILLS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Highly experienced in biomaterial characterization and purification techniques (including AFM, SAXS, HPLC, FT-IR- and

NMR- spectroscopy, confocal microscopy, circular dichroism).

Knowledge of small molecules and polymer synthesis (including nanoparticles and peptides).

Experienced in cell viability assays and solid state cell transfection techniques.

Experienced in biomolecular amplification, purification and labeling techniques.

Broad knowledge of supramolecular chemistry and biomaterial characterization and development.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Played viola in Williams Student Symphony Orchestra 2003-2006.

Active member of WRAPS (Williams Recovery of All Perishable Surplus) and Berkshire Food Project: delivered, prepared,

and served meals to local community organizations 2004-2006.

Sacristan (in charge of sacristy) and coordinated ministry schedule for Williams Catholic 2005-2006.

Volunteered with Mother Teresa s Missionaries of Charity for one month in Calcutta (January 2005).

PUBLICATIONS

Gajria, S., Neumann, T., and Tirrell, M. "Review: Self-Assembly of Nucleic Acid-Lipid Materials" (submitted).

Gajria, S., Neumann, T., Weinstein, J., Schaffer, D., and Tirrell, M. "DNA-Surfactant Films Used for Human Cell

Transfection" (in preparation).

Neumann, T., Gajria, S., Bouxsein, N., Jaeger, L., and Tirrell, M. "Structural Responses of DNA-DDAB Films to Varying

Hydration and Temperature." J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2010, 132 (20), pp. 7025-7037.

Neumann, T., Gajria, S., Jaeger, L., and Tirrell, M. "Reversible switching of a DNA-DDAB film" J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009,

131 (10), pp. 3440-3441.

Smitthipong, W., Neumann, T., Gajria, S., Li, Y., Chworos, A., Jaeger, L., and Tirrell, M. "Noncovalent Self-Assembling

Nucleic Acid-Lipid Based Materials." Biomacromolecules, 2009, 10 (2), pp. 221-228.

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

Gajria, S., Neumann, T., Weinstein, J., Schaffer, D., and Tirrell, M. "DNA-Surfactant Films: Structural Transition for Cell

Transfection and Drug Delivery." Annual Meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society, Austin, October 8, 2010.

Gajria, S., Neumann, T., Jaeger, L., and Tirrell, M. "Reversible Structural Transition of a DNA-Lipid Film." Spring meeting

of MRS in San Francisco, Synthesis of Bio-inspired Hierarchical Soft and Hybrid Materials (MM) Symposium oral

presentation, April 7, 2010.

Gajria, S., Neumann, T., Weinstein, J., Schaffer, D., and Tirrell, M. "Structure and Application of DNA-Surfactant Films for

Gene Delivery." Spring ACS meeting in San Francisco, PMSE oral presentation, March 23, 2010.

Gajria, S., Neumann, T., Jaeger, L., and Tirrell, M. "DNA-Surfactant Films: Structural Transition for Cell Transfection and

Drug Delivery." UC Berkeley Bioengineering Retreat poster session, September 18, 2009.

Gajria, S., Neumann, T., Jaeger, L., and Tirrell, M. "Structural Switching of a DNA-DDAB Film is Fast and Reversible."

Spring ACS meeting in Salt Lake City, PMSE oral presentation, March 25, 2009.

Gajria, S., Neumann, T., Black, M., Smitthipong, W., Jaeger, L., and Tirrell, M. "Structural Behavior of a DNA-DDAB Film

and Applications for Drug Delivery." Fall meeting of MRS in Boston, Advances in Drug Delivery (HH) Symposium oral

presentation, December 1, 2008.

Gajria, S., Neumann, T., Black, M., Smitthipong, W., Jaeger, L., and Tirrell, M. "Novel Tailorable Nucleic Acid-Based

Films for Drug Delivery." Fall meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) in Philadelphia, Polymeric Materials and

Science Engineering (PMSE) division poster session, August 19, 2008

CITIZENSHIP

United States, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)

LANGUAGES

English (native), German (conversational), Hindi (basic)

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