High School University

Shabnam Tavassoli

CONTACT *** *** ***., ***. ** *******.*********@*****.***

E-mail:

Mountain View, CA Phone : 415-***-****

94043

SUMMARY Expert in molecular biology, cell biology, and fungal genetics with 7 years of hands

on laboratory experience

Expert in microscopy and image processing using epifluorescent, confocal and

transmission electron microscopy

Experienced with a grant writing and ability to solve technical problems

Solid communication skills, able to work independently, and as part of a team.

Amyris Inc. Dec 2012 Dec 2013

WORK

EXPERIENCE Scientist (Contractor)

Amyris uses its industrial synthetic biology platform to convert plant sugars into a

variety of hydrocarbon molecules like a long-chain hydrocarbon, farnesene (biofuel). I

joined Amyris to understand and improve farnesene transport out of yeast cells during

biofuel production. My goal was to understand the morphological differences between

farnesene producers and non-producer yeast strains, which in turn may have suggested

genetic remedies/modifications for improving biofuel production. I used molecular

biology techniques and live cell imaging to address these issues. Additionally, I was

responsible for strain engineering and rational design for over-production of desirable

microbial metabolites.

SKILLS Knowledge and expertis e:

F ungal genetics, Synthetic biology, Biofuel, Fermentation, Membrane biology,

Phospholipid metabolism, Microscopy, Molecular biology

L aboratory s kills :

1.PCR and primer designing; 2.DNA and plasmid isolation/purification; 3.Advanced

molecular cloning, bacterial transformation, restriction digest; 4-Yeast two-hybrid

screens; 5.Confocal (Zeiss Pascal) and epifluorescence microscopy (Leica DM5500B)

including standard image acquisition, stacking, spectral analysis, agarose embedding live

cell imaging, staining with dyes such as Nile Red, DAPI, BODIPY, FM4-64;

6.Transmission electron microscopy (Hitachi H7600) from processing, sectioning, stating

to image taking; 7. Flow cytometry; 8.Cell culture; 9. Illumina MiSeq instrument;

10.Nanodrop and electrophoresis; 11.Western blot; 12.Tecan automatic liquid handling

robot; 13.Tetrad dissection; 14.Genome-wide synthetic lethal screen (SGA) using Singer

RoToR robot

Computer s kills :

1.Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); 2.Photoshop and illustrator;

3.LSM Imager; 4.ImageJ; 5.Cellprofiler; 6.JMP (statistical software); 7.Bioinformatics

skills using software and web resources (Blast, Java Treeview, etc.) 8.Python (basic)

Shab nam Tavas s o li 1

Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental 2006 2012

EDUCATION

Biology

University of British Columbia

Ph.D advisor: Dr. Chris Loewen

Thesis: Plasma membrane–endoplasmic reticulum contacts are important for

phospholipid metabolism and growth in buddying yeast

B.Sc. in Cellular and Molecular 2001 2005

Biolog

University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Independent courses

Next generation sequencing by Dr. Paul Wolber from Agilent at

SJSU

Microbial physiology by Dr. Ton van Maris from Delft Technical

University at Amyris

Hematology at SJSU

Clinical Chemistry at UC Berkeley Extension

P UBLICATIONS Tavassoli, S., Chao, J.T., Young, B.P., Cox, R.C., Prinz, W.A., de Kroon, A.I. and

Loewen, C.J. (2013) Plasma membrane-endoplasmic reticulum contact sites regulate

phosphatidylcholine synthesis. EMBO Rep. doi:10.1038/embor.2013.36

T avassoli, S., Chao, J.T., and Loewen, C. (2009) A high-throughput method to globally

study the organelle morphology in S. cerevisiae. J Vis Exp. (25) pii: 1224. doi:

10.3791/12242) Loewen, C.J.R, Young, B.P.,

T avassoli, S. and Levine, T.P. (2007) Inheritance of cortical ER in yeast is required for

normal septin organization. J.Cell Biol. 179(3): 467-8

SELECTED Tavassoli, S., Chao, J.T., Young, B., and Loewen, C. (October 2011) Plasma Membrane –

CONFERENCE Endoplasmic Reticulum Junctions are required for Phosphatidylcholine Synthesis in

PRESENTATIONS Yeast. Cellular Traffic of Lipids and Calcium at Membrane Contact Sites, Snowbird Ski

and Summer Resort, Snowbird, UT, USA

T avassoli, S., Chao, J.T., Young, B., and Loewen, C. (July 2011) Plasma Membrane –

Endoplasmic Reticulum Junctions are required for Phosphatidylcholine Synthesis in

Yeast. Gordon Conference, Molecular and Cellular Biology of Lipids, Waterville Valley,

New Hampshire, USA

T avassoli, S., Chao, J.T., Young, B., and Loewen, C. (July 2010) Genome-wide screens in

yeast identify new highly conserved components regulating phospholipid metabolism.

Yeast Genetics and Molecular Biology meeting. University of British Columbia, Canada

T avassoli, S., Chao, J.T., Young, B., and Loewen, C. (July, 2008) A novel role for cortical

endoplasmic reticulum in nuclear migration. Yeast Genetics and Molecular Biology

meeting. University of Toronto, Canada

T avassoli, S., Gavric, O., Young, B. and Loewen, C. (July, 2007) Biogenesis of

Shab nam Tavas s o li 2

Endoplasmic Reticulum in Yeast. Canadian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular &

Cellular Biology, 50th Annual Meeting, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

HONORS AND The Pacific Century Graduate Scholarship Research award, 30,000 (09/2008-

AWARDS 08/2011)

University of BC Graduate Fellowship Research award, $21,000 (09/2008-08/2011)

Gordon Conference Junior Scientist award (07/2011)

ASBMB Lipid Symposium award (10/2011)

U BC, Faculty of Graduate Studies travel award (11/2011)

Best talk award recipient at Loon Lake Cell Biology Retreat (05/2009)

Ranked 402th in "National Iranian Entrance Exam for B.Sc. Studies" in Iran

among more than 500'000 high school students

T wo of my students from “Let’s Talk Science Fair Mentorship” received gold

medal in BC and were selected from the hundreds of projects to attend the

Canadian national science fair in Prince Edward Islands(list available) (2012)

MENTORING Training students and scientists for microscopy.

AND Supervising 5 UBC undergraduate students (Biochemistry and Life Sciences) in

SUPERVISING summer co-up and senior year (list available) (2007-2012)

Mentoring high school students for “Let’s Talk Science Fair Mentorship” by

NSERC & CIHR sponsors” to promote science by connecting university students

and researchers to their community. UBC mentorship program collaborates with

the UBC Trek Program to engage high school students from Vancouver's Eastside

with students and scientists at UBC. Two of my students was selected for the

National Science fair (list available) (2011-2012)

REFERENCES Quinn Mitrovich Scientist 3

Amyris Inc.

5885 Hollis St. Suite 100

Emeryville, CA 94608

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

1-510-***-**** Tel (ext 488)

1-510-***-**** Fax

Christopher Loewen

Associate Professor, Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences

Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia

2350 Health Sciences Mall

Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z3

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

Tel: 604-***-****

Fax: 604-***-****

Shab nam Tavas s o li 3

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