Halei Zhai

HSW ***, *** Parnassus Ave, Email: ac0gpd@r.postjobfree.com

San Francisco, CA, 94143 Phone (Cell): 415-***-****

OBJECTIVE: Seeking one research or engineering position in healthcare industry.

SUMMARY:

1. Multidisciplinary background in physical chemistry, material science and biochemistry: five-year Ph.D. research training in physical chemistry (functional colloids and interface) and three-year UCSF postdoctoral training in biochemistry / biophysics.

2. Proven ability to lead and work with cross-functional teams from industry, clinical care, and academia.

3. Thirteen first author or co-authored papers, one intellectual patent, and two invited talks at international conferences.

4. Comprehensive skill sets in colloidal science and biochemistry: (A) synthesis and characterization of functional colloids; (B) surface modification / bioconjugation of colloidal / film surface; (C) Biomolecular interaction with SPR, ITC, and AFM based single molecular interaction force spectrometry; (D) biomolecular conformation and aggregation analysis with CD, FTIR, UV-Vis, ELISA, and DLS; (E) HPLC, FPLC, SEC, IEX, and ultrafiltration for biomolecular separation; (F) protein engineering, wildtype protein extraction, and organic synthesis of small peptides.

SKILLS:

1. Colloids synthesis: fabrication of uniform silica, mesoporous silica, hydroxyapatite, metal nanoparticles, magnetic (Fe3O4), polystyrene, poly (methyl methacrylate) colloids.

2. Colloids characterization: dynamic light scattering, turbidity, sedimentation, SEM, TEM, BET, and AFM.

3. Interface characterization: Langmuir adsorption analysis, surface tension, surface contact angle, FTIR, UV-vis, fluorescent spectroscopy, zeta surface potential measurement, and chemical surface groups titration.

4. Colloid surface modification: incorporation of colloids into tunable silica shell, chemical modification / bioconjugation of silica surface through silane coupling agents, chemical modification / bioconjugation of gold surface with PEGylated crosslinker.

5. Purification of biomolecules: preparation of SEC and IEX columns, FPLC, HPLC, SEC, IEX, salting out, and ultracentrifugation for engineered proteins and wildtype proteins.

6. Protein / peptide engineering: recombinant protein expression, wildtype protein extraction, solid - state organic synthesis of peptide, purification, crosslinking, and immobilization.

7. Other characterization methods: SPR, ITC, TGA - DSC, western blot, ELISA, polarized light microscope, and nanoindentation.

8. Knowledge of US FDA regulation on drug development and health policy.

9. Computer skills: Microsoft Office, Corel Draw, Image J processing, Origin, ChemDraw, Igor and MDI-Jade.

SELECTIVE RESEARCH PROJECTS:

Postdoctoral researcher at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) 2013-present

Project 1: Expression, purification and characterization of recombinant tooth protein aggregates (Team project of UCSF, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

1. Selective sequences mutation, primer design, and expression of mouse dental proteins with Primer-BLAST, PCR, Gel electrophoresis, and E.coli protein expression system.

2. Purification and identification of expressed recombinant protein with FPLC, HPLC, SDS - PAGE, western blot, and LC-MS.

3. Investigation of the conformation of proteins with CD, UV - Vis, dot blot, and THT florescence spectroscopy.

4. In-situ monitoring of protein aggregates with dynamic light scattering, polarized light microscope, and AFM imaging.

Project 2: Surface functionalization and bioconjugation of material surface for protein - protein and protein - enzyme binding assay. (Team project of UCSF, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

1. Thermal deposition and plasma cleaning of metallic film.

2. Bioconjugation of protein / enzyme molecules on metallic, silica or silicon nitrate supports for AFM based single molecule binding force analysis; immobilization of enzyme molecules with carboxymethylated dextran for SPR assay.

3. Characterization of bioconjugated surface with contact angle measurement, fluorescence microscope, and liquid atomic force microscope imaging of surface morphology.

4. Quantitative determination of protein - protein and protein - enzyme intermolecular binding with SPR, and AFM based single molecular binding force spectrometry.

5. Investigation of the physical and chemical stability of conjugated protein molecules with high resolution AFM imaging, contact angle change, and AFM based single molecular binding force spectrometry.

Project 3: Discovery, organic synthesis, and application of tooth targeting antibacterial peptide for preventing oral bacterial attachment. (Team project of UCSF, UCSF children hospital and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab) IP: SF2017-065

1. Extraction, purification, and identification of peptide from porcine tooth with FPLC, HPLC, SDS-PAGE, and western blot.

2. Solid state organic synthesis, purification, and identification of artificial peptide with CEM microwave peptide synthesizer, HPLC, and LC-MS.

3. Investigation of adsorption / disassociation kinetics of peptide on tooth crystal surface with HPLC, fluorescent spectroscopy, and in-situ liquid AFM imaging.

4. Assay of oral bacteria attached on peptide modified tooth crystal surface with SEM imaging and fluorescent staining analysis.

Research Assistant at Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University 2008 - 2013

Project 1: Protein guided formation of bone-like hybrid colloids for tissue engineering.

1. Monitoring the formation of protein-biomineral hybrid colloids with light scattering and TEM.

2. Investigation of the protein conformation, content, and thermal response with FTIR, Raman, and DSC - TGA analysis.

3. Measurement of stability and mechanical strength of protein - biomineral hybrid colloids with automatic titration system and nanoindentation analysis.

4. Biocompatibility evaluation of hybrid colloids with Quantitative Cytotoxicity - MTT Assay and microplate BioRad protein quantification assay.

Project 2: Modulation of mesenchymal stem cell attachment with adsorption of fibronectin on calcium phosphate colloids.

1. Synthesis, characterization, and fibronectin modification of bone-like calcium phosphate (hydroxyapatite) colloids.

2. Determination of fibronectin modified on colloids surface with FTIR and BCA analysis.

3. Monitoring the mice mesenchymal stem cells proliferation and differentiation with MTT assay, ALP activity, and real time -PCR.

4. Observation of live cell density and morphology with calcein AM staining and florescent microscope.

Project 3: Design of biomimetic graphene oxide-hydroxyapatite artificial nano - bone for tissue engineering.

1. Chemical modification of graphene surface with nano hydroxyapatite colloids to improve the biocompatibility.

2. Structure characterization with FTIR, Raman, TEM, and DSC / TGA.

3. Mechanical property determination with dynamic mechanical analyzer.

4. Biocompatibility evaluation with MTT assay by using human osteosarcoma cells.

EDUCATION:

Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry 09/2008 - 06/2013

Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, PR. China

1. “Evonik Industry Scholarship for young investigator with outstanding research performance in 2010”.

2. “Kwang Hua Scholarship for young investigator outstanding research performance in 2012”.

3. “Excellent Research Paper Award, 16th Chinese Conference on Crystal Growth and Materials”.

B.S. in Chemistry 09/2004 - 06/2008

Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, PR. China

1. “The Excellent Undergraduate Thesis of Zhejiang University in 2008”.

2. “National Encouragement Scholarship for student with outstanding academic performance in 2006”.

LANGUAGE:

Fluent in English and native speaker of Mandarin Chinese.

PUBLICATIONS:

1. M. M. Carneiro, Karina; Halei Zhai et al. Amyloid-like ribbons of amelogenins in enamel mineralization. Scientific Report. In review process. Co-first author.

2. Halei Zhai, Wenge Jiang, Jinhui Tao, Siyi Lin, Xiaobin Chu, Xurong Xu and Ruikang Tang. "Self Assembled Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Elastic Crystal Via Biomimetic Mineralization." Advanced Materials 22, no. 33 (2010): 3729-3734.

3. Halei Zhai, Xiaobin Chu, Li Li, Xurong Xu and Ruikang Tang. "Controlled Formation of Calcium-Phosphate-Based Hybrid Mesocrystals by Organic–Inorganic Co-Assembly." Nanoscale 2, no. 11 (2010): 2456-2462.

4. Halei Zhai, Yan Quan, Li Li, Xiang-Yang Liu, Xurong Xu and Ruikang Tang. "Spontaneously Amplified Homochiral Organic–Inorganic Nano-Helix Complexes Via Self-Proliferation." Nanoscale 5, no. 7 (2013): 3006-3012.

5. Halei Zhai; Zhu Li; M. M. Carneiro, Karina; Ashby Paul, De Yoreo, James; Habelitz, Stefan and Li, Wu *. Sequential Digestions of Amelogenin by MMP20 and KLK4 to mimic proteolysis in tooth enamel development. Journal of Dental Research. In preparation.

6. Halei Zhai; Zhu Li; M. M. Carneiro, Karina; Paul Ashby; James De Yoreo; Stefan Habelitz, and Wu Li *. Assembly state of Amelogenin determines its digestion behaviors. Journal of Dental Research. In preparation.

7. Quan Yan, Halei Zhai et al. "Lamellar Organic–Inorganic Architecture Via Classical Screw Growth." CrystEngComm 14, no. 21 (2012): 7184-7188.

8. Chun-Long Chen *, Li Zhu Li, Halei Zhai et al.. Identification and characterization of amelogenin apatite-binding domains: new insights into amelogenin interactions with apatite surfaces. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. In review process.

9. Gengxin Zhu, Shasha Yao, Halei Zhai et al. (2016). Evolution from classical to non-classical aggregation-based crystal growth of calcite by organic additive control. Langmuir 32(35):8999-9004.

10. Cuilian Liu, Halei Zhai et al. (2016). Cells Recognize and Prefer Bone-like Hydroxyapatite: Biochemical Understanding of Ultrathin Mineral Platelets in Bone. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 8(44):299**-*****.

11. Halei Zhai, Yan Quan, and Ruikang Tang, Spontaneously amplified homochiral organic-inorganic material via self-proliferation, 16th Chinese Conference on Crystal Growth and Materials. Invited talk.

12. Yan Quan, Halei Zhai and Ruikang Tang, Lamellar organic-inorganic architecture via screw growth16th Chinese Conference on Crystal Growth and Materials, 16th Chinese Conference on Crystal Growth and Materials.

Jinghui Tao, Wenge Jiang, Halei Zhai, Xurong Xu, and Ruikang Tang. Structural components and anisotropic dissolution behaviors in one hexagonal single crystal of β-tricalcium phosphate. Crystal Growth and Design 8 (7), 2227-2234.

13. Jinghui Tao, Haihua Pan, Halei Zhai, Xurong Xu, and Ruikang Tang. Controls of tricalcium phosphate single-crystal formation from its amorphous precursor by interfacial energy. Crystal Growth and Design 9 (7), 3154-3160.

14. Li Ling, Halei Zhai, Xurong Xu, and Ruikang Tang. The luminescent enhancement of LaPO4: Ce3+, Tb3+ nano phosphors by radial aggregation. Frontiers of Materials Science in China 4 (4), 382-386.

Complete list of published papers: scholar.google.com.hk/citations?user=dC_OH_0AAAAJ&hl=zh-CN

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