Engineering Assistant

Giang H.T. Au

* ****** ****. ( Sicklerville, NJ *8081 ( 610-***-**** (

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

Proven success driving groundbreaking advancement within the nanotechnology-

molecular imaging sector through scientific research and transferrable

technology. Track record of delivering:

. Innovative aqueous quantum dot molecular probes that detected cancer

cells for intraoperative breast cancer margin assessment to reduce

second surgery that resulted in licensing of the technology

. Next generation aqueous quantum dots that delivered high quantum

yields, biocompatible, surface-ready to couple with biomolecules and

reduced amount of proteins needed by 20 times.

Experience

DREXEL UNIVERSITY -- Philadelphia, PA

Research Assistant, 2009 to Present

Manage academic research laboratory and projects focused on developing

semiconductive nanoparticles for bio-applications such as molecular in-

vitro, in-vivo and ex-vivo imaging. Research Project Highlights:

. Developed and validated ligand-binding assays for antibodies/proteins

concentration determination in biological fluids and tissues using

ELISA, IHC, etc

. Characterized quantum dots surface to couple with other bio-

molecules/antibodies for cellular imaging using FTIR, Dynamic Light

Scattering, TECAN, ELISA, Flow Cytometry and SDS-PAGE methods

. Designed quantum dots/antibody conjugates to improve sensitivity and

specificity for cancer detection in biomarker immunoassays and

enhanced conjugation efficiency by 70%

. Characterized and analyzed nano-particles profiles using TEM, X-ray

diffraction, nano size distribution, Zeta Potential, Atomic Absorption

and PTI photoluminescence

. Developed a molecular fluorescence method for quantitative and

qualitative analysis of intraoperative breast cancer margin assessment

during lumpectomy surgery and reduced second surgery by 50%

. Developed Onclogy Rodent Xenograft Tumor Grafts for breast cancer

margin assessment using quantum dot conjugated antibody as molecular

probe and IVIS Lumina XR imaging system

. Performed analysis of human clinical specimens (serum, plasma, tissue,

ect.) for detection of cancer cells through biomarkers

. Performed and applied/modified different analysis methods for

cytotoxicity studies of the effects of nano-particles on cellular

proliferation and differentiation in vitro using spectrophotometric

assay

. Prepared standard operating procedures for use by laboratory personnel

and provided guidance and instruction to other team members

. Collected, interpreted and evaluated scientific data using biomedical

statistics for technical reports and publications

MERCK Co. & Inc. -- Philadelphia, PA

RNAi Therapeutics: In-vivo Biology and Histo-chemistry Co-op, September

2007-April 2008

. Maintained cell lines which used for in vivo primary screening and

xenografting cell lines for evaluating suitable tumor models

. Performed in vivo histochemistry: tissue processing, preservation of

tissue in paraffin blocks, sectioning paraffin and frozen OCT embedded

tissues using microtome and cryostat

. Established immunofluorescence (IF) assays looking for gene knock-down

using fluorescent microscopy and correlating data with other

biochemical and live imaging readouts

. Applied stem-loop RT-PCR to quantify sRNAs and Tagman RT-PCR to detect

mRNAs from mouse tissues

Giang H.T. Au

610-***-**** ( *******@*****.*** ( PAGE 2

Education

DREXEL UNIVERSITY - Philadelphia, PA

. Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Anticipated Graduation: June 2013.

. M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, 2009. Concentration in Biomaterials

and Tissue Engineering

. B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, 2009. Graduated with Distinct Honors,

Cum Laude

Publications

. Giang H.T. Au, Wan Y. Shih, Wei-Heng Shih, Linette Mejias, Vanlila K.

Swami, Kimberly Wasko, Ari B. Brooks.(2012) "Assessing Breast Cancer

Margin ex vivo using Aqueous Quantum-Dot-Molecular Probes."

International Journal of Surgical Oncology, 2012, 862157.

. Giang H.T. Au, Wan Y. Shih, Wei-Heng Shih. (2012) "Aqueous CdPbS

Quantum Dots for Near-Infrared Imaging." Nanotechnology, 23, 275601.

. Giang H.T. Au, Wan Y. Shih, Wei-Heng Shih. "High conjugation

efficiency aqueous Quantum Dots for Bioimaging." Nanotechnology,

Submitted January 2013.

. Giang H.T. Au, Wan Y. Shih, Ari Brooks, Vanlila Swami, Wei-Heng Shih.

"Near-Infrared Quantum Dots for Clear Margin Determination during

Breast Cancer Surgery" Poster Presentation at the 6th Ear of Hope

Conference - The Department of Defense (DoD) Breast Cancer Research

Program - August 2011.

. Giang H.T. Au, Linette Mejias, Wan Y. Shih, Ari Brooks, Wei-Heng

Shih, Vanlila Swami. "Methods Comparing Quantum Dots

Immunofluorescence and Immunohistochemistry for Real Time Breast

Cancer Margin Detection". Poster Presentation at College of American

Pathologists Meeting - September 2012.

Patents

. International Patent Pending #PCT/US2011/057083

o Methods for Making Water Soluble Quantum Dots

. US Patent Pending #61/491,006

o Clear Margin Determination during Surgery

Technical Skills

. Western Blots, SDS-PAGE Gel Electrophoresis, Protein Purification, Flow

Cytometry, ELISA

. Immunohistochemical and Immunofluorescent Staining using Confocal

Fluorescent Microscope

. DNA and RNA isolation, Shotgun Gene Cloning, Cell Fractionation, RT-

PCR,

. Slidebook, ImageJ, IVIS Lumina XR Imaging analysis

. Matlab, GraphPad Prism and Origin for statistical data analysis,

Affiliations

. Phi Theta Kappa,

. Tau Beta Pi: Engineering Honors Society

. Kappa Theta Epsilon: National Coop Honors Society

Contact this candidate