University Assistant

M. Ammar Zafar

*** ******** ****** *** ***-

***-**** **********, ** *****

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

Objective

To obtain a suitable Medical Communications position that would utilize my current scientific

knowledge, communication skills and technical writing abilities.

Summary

Self-motivated researcher with 4+ years of Post Doctoral research experience. Strong

background in bacterial genetics and molecular biology. Proficient in writing for scientific

journals with established presentation and publication history. Willing and able to learn new

systems and adapt with changing environments. Able to work independently or with a team.

Education

2009 University of Maryland Baltimore County-Baltimore, MD. USA

Ph.D. Biological Sciences

2004 State University of New York-Brockport, NY. USA

B.Sc. Biology (Magna cum laude)

Core Qualifications

• •

9+ years of Solid technical experience Mentored students in research projects

•

of general bacterial genetics and Comfortable with change

•

molecular biology techniques Ability to work well within teams and

• Strong analytical skills foster teamwork

• •

Experienced in scientific writing Strong collaborative skills

• •

Excellent communications skills Experience teaching undergraduate and

• Familiar with AMA style graduate students

Technical (Scientific) Skills

• •

Cloning, Mutagenesis and Yeast and Bacterial-two-hybrid Assay

Recombineering

• qRT PCR

• Protein Fusions

• DNA Microarray

• Protein Expression and Purification

• Protein Immunoblot (Western)

1

• •

Confocal and IF Microscopy Mass Spectrometry

Professional Experience

Post Doctoral Research Assistant, 9/2009-Current

Princeton University-Princeton, NJ

• Research in mechanisms that gram negative bacteria employ to survive starvation.

• This involves understanding regulation of RpoS, master stress regulator of E. coli that is

involved in virulence.

• The works requires inter-department collaboration by employing protein biochemistry, and

molecular/genetic approaches. Funding provided by National Institute of Health.

Instructor

Princeton University-Princeton, NJ

September 2013 – January 2014

Mol 505, Prokaryotic Genetics.

• Advanced level prokaryotic genetics and molecular biology with focus on original research

papers. Topics include genetic code, mutagenesis, gene regulation and protein synthesis.

Instructor

Princeton University-Princeton, NJ

January 2013 – May 2013

Mol 205, Genes, Health and Society

• Course for non-science majors that deals with human genetics/diseases and impact on

society, using lectures, research and newspaper articles.

Instructor

Princeton University-Princeton, NJ

September 2011 – January 2012

2

Junior Independent work, Molecular Biology Dept.

• Course focuses on teaching students how to read research articles in molecular biology, and

to write scientific review papers.

Poster/Talks

Zafar, MA, and Silhavy, TJ, Transcriptional repression without a trans-acting regulatory

molecule. Princeton University 29th Molecular Biology Departmental Retreat, Princeton, NJ.

2013.

Zafar, MA, and Silhavy, TJ, Transcriptional repression without a trans-acting regulatory

molecule. University of Wisconsin Madison Conference on Molecular Genetics of Bacteria and

Phages, Madison, WI. 2013.

Zafar, MA, and Silhavy, TJ, Regulation of Crl under Nitrogen limiting conditions; A case where

more is less. Princeton University 28th Molecular Biology Departmental Retreat, Princeton, NJ.

2012.

Zafar, MA, Sanchez-Alberola, N, and Wolf, RE, Jr, Genetic Evidence of Novel Interaction

between SoxS and σ70 of RNA Polymerase at SoxS-Dependent Promoters. FASEB Meeting.

2010.

Zafar, MA, and Wolf, RE, Jr. Characterization of the protein-protein interactions between SoxS

and RNA Polymerase subunit σ70. University of Wisconsin Madison Conference on Molecular

Genetics of Bacteria and Phages, Madison, WI. 2007.

Zafar, MA, and Wolf, RE, Jr. Characterization of the protein-protein interactions between SoxS

and RNA Polymerase subunit σ70. Graduate Association of Biological Sciences Annual

Symposium, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, MD. 2006.

Publications

Zafar, MA, Carabetta, VJ, Mandel, MJ, and Silhavy, TJ, Transcriptional occlusion caused by

overlapping promoters. P.N.A.S. 2014 (In press).

3

Zafar, MA, Sanchez-Alberola, N, and Wolf, RE, Jr. Genetic Evidence for a Novel Interaction

between Transcriptional Activator SoxS and Region 4 of the σ (70) Subunit of RNA Polymerase

at Class II SoxS-Dependent Promoters in Escherichia coli. J Mol Biol. 2011 Apr 1;407(3):333-

53. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2010.12.037.

Zafar, MA, Shah, IM, and Wolf, RE, Jr. Protein-protein interactions between sigma(70) region 4

of RNA polymerase and Escherichia coli SoxS, a transcription activator that functions by the

pre-recruitment mechanism: evidence for "off-DNA" and "on-DNA" interactions. J Mol Biol.

2010 Aug 6;401(1):13-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2010.05.052.

References

Available on request.

4

Contact this candidate