Project Scientist with expertise in Molecular Biology and Immunology

Faramarz Taheri, DVM, PhD

**** ****** **., *** *-107, Los Angeles, CA 90045 *********@*****.***

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

A Project Scientist with expertise in Molecular Biology and Immunology, and more than 10 years of hands-on experience in crafting experimental designs, writing Standard Operation Protocols (SOPs), development and optimization of new analytical methods, and conducting research projects in various disciplines.

Integrating diverse technical skills, vigorous performance, and intuitive implementation and analysis of laboratory assays, as well as resolving complex technical problems, providing interpretation remarks, and exploring new research horizons.

Training and supervising junior researchers on technical skills, problem-solving, performance improvement, and teamwork approach.

EDUCATION

PhD, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC), New Orleans, LA - 2006 Dissertation: Transcriptional Regulation of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Gene Expression by Platelet- Activating Factor: The role of MEK/ERK signaling pathway in the overturn of Sp1 from a repressor to an inducing element in human corneal epithelial cells DVM, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran - 1987

Dissertation: Comparative Histopathology of Avian Lymphoid Leukosis and Human Malignant Lymphomas

Other Trainings and Expertise:

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Ocular Immunology; SERI, Harvard Medical School, Boston

Research Fellowship in Rheumatology, LSUHSC, New Orleans, LA

DNA Cloning and Gene Expression Workshop, NIGEB, Tehran EMPLOYMENT

Apr 2016-present, Project Scientist

Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, UCI, Irvine, CA

Developing in vitro and in vivo models and carrying out experiments on new research projects

Writing protocols and procedures needed for conducting experiments and collecting samples

Processing and analysing data collected from experiments and writing reports

Training and supervision of junior staff and students on methodologies and experiments Oct 2014-Dec 2015, Molecular Biology/Immunology Research Consultant Breast Cancer Research Program, JWCI, Santa Monica, CA

Advising on experimental design and testing samples

Collaborating in data analyses and writing reports July 2009-Aug 2014, Research Associate in Pathology NEPRC, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Conducting experiments and testing samples from various research projects

Examining research reviews, data processing and analysing, and writing reports

Developing models and writing protocols for research projects

Writing detailed technical procedures for sample collection and processing Dec 2006-Dec 2008, Postdoctoral Research Fellow

SERI, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Training in ocular immunology and antigen presentation in the anterior chamber of the eye

Examining the anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID) responses

Investigating the regulatory T cell (Treg) activation and the role of MMP-9 during an ACAID model Jan 2001-Dec 2006, Graduate Teaching Assistant and PhD Candidate Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, LSUHSC, New Orleans, LA

Taking coursework, writing grant proposals, and conducting dissertation research project

Teaching Biochemistry and supervising summer students at the Neuroscience Center of Excellence

Presenting scientific data at the academic conferences and retreats Sept 1998-Dec 2000, Postdoctoral Research Associate Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, LSUHSC, New Orleans, LA

Conducting research on tumor immunology and immunotherapy

Team leader and coordinator of designing and implementation of research projects

Data analysis and manuscript preparation for publication LAB & ANALYTICAL SKILLS

Well experienced in cell and tissue culture techniques and treatment strategies: o Pharmaceutical testing and range finding

o Gene expression and gene silencing

o Protein expression and transcription studies

Knowledgeable and confidently utilizing immunological methods: o Cell and tissue immunochemistry, immunofluorescence and confocal photomicrography o Immune staining and multicolour flow cytometry analysis of surface and cytoplasmic markers o ELISA and Luminex protocols for antigen and antibody detection o SDS-PAGE Zymography for gelatinase activity analyses o Western blotting and immune detection of protein levels and phosphorylation

Practiced expert in cellular and molecular biology techniques: o Molecular Cloning and restriction enzyme analysis, vector design, and plasmid construction o Bacterial transformation, plasmid propagation, and gel purification o Cell transfection with plasmid and viral vectors, and tissue gene delivery using a Gene Gun o Gene expression analysis by RT-PCR using traditional, real time, and multiplexing methods

Computer and software aptitude:

o Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint o Graphpad PRISM on PC and Mac

o FlowJo, SPICE, ImageJ, and ImageLab

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

1. Taheri, F., Ekmekciyan K.M., Azimi Fouladi, M., Roy, S., Vahed, H., BenMohamed, L. Scaffold and Level of Inflammasome Activation in the Cornea by Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 is Strain-Dependent. (in preparation) 2. Gonzalez, G., Fell, R., He, J., Campbell, J., Burdo, T.H., Autissier, P., Annamalai, L., Taheri, F., Parker, T., Lifson, J., Halpern, E.F., Vangel, M., Masliah, E., Westmoreland, S.V., Williams, K.C., Ratai, R.E., Temporal and Compartmental Changes Related to HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder in a Primate Model for Antiviral Therapy. (Submitted) 3. Harbison, C.E., Taheri F., Knight H., and Miller, A.D. Immunohistochemical Characterization of Large Intestinal Adenocarcinoma in the Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta). Vet. Pathol. 2015 Jul;52(4):732-40. 4. Taheri, F. and Bazan H.E. Platelet-activating Factor Overturns the Transcriptional Repressor Disposition of Sp1 in the Expression of MMP-9 in Human Corneal Epithelial Cells. IOVS, 2007 May; 48(5): 1931-1941.

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