Assistant University
Resume:
Elizabeth J. Petro, Ph.D.
Baltimore, MD 21201
*******@*****.***
**I currently live in Maryland, but my husband has just accepted a new job in Princeton, NJ, and we
will be moving to New Jersey shortly.**
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Biological Chemistry, 2013 - The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
B.S. with General Honors in Biological Chemistry, with Honors, 2006 - The University of Chicago,
Chicago, IL
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Graduate Research Assistant - Laboratory of Prof. Daniel M. Raben, Department of Biological
Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 2006-2013
* Planned, organized, developed, and conducted scientific experiments.
* Designed and carried out experiments with attention to detail.
* Learned new techniques, methods, and approaches as necessary.
* Analyzed, interpreted, and evaluated resulting data.
* Documented results in a laboratory notebook.
* Recognized and resolved problems encountered in experimental procedure.
* Communicated findings orally and in writing.
* Cloned, expressed, purified, and characterized constructs of eukaryotic diacylglycerol kinase (DGK)
from E. coli, Dictyostelium discoideum, insect cells, and mammalian cells.
* Optimized radiometric enzyme assays to measure those constructs' activity.
* Coordinated an interdisciplinary and interinstitutional team to take a photoaffinity labeling approach
in order to find the lipid substrate binding site on DGK.
* My work resulted in two peer-reviewed publications, poster presentations at two national meetings,
one of which won the WCC / Eli Lilly Travel award, an invited talk at Fairleigh Dickinson University,
and a doctoral dissertation.
Graduate Research Assistant - Laboratory of Prof. Pierre Coulombe, Department of Biological
Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 2006 (fall rotation)
* Planned and conducted experiments.
* Analyzed, interpreted, and evaluated resulting data.
* Communicated findings orally and in writing.
* Determined that interferon-gamma treatment does not induce an anagen-catagen transition in the hair
follicles of C57Bl/6 N12 keratin17-null mice.
Undergraduate Research Assistant - Laboratory of Prof. Anthony A. Kossiakoff, Department of
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, 2004-2006
* Planned, organized, developed, and conducted experiments.
* Analyzed, interpreted, and evaluated resulting data.
* Communicated findings orally and in writing.
* Cloned, expressed, purified, and characterized mutants of human growth hormone (hGH) and the
extracellular domain of hGH receptor in E. coli.
* Purified proteins using affinity, Ni-NTA, ion exchange, and size exclusion chromatography (SEC).
* Analytically characterized hGH mutants using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, isothermal
titration calorimetry (ITC), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC), high
performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and mass spectrometry (MS).
* My work resulted in a peer-reviewed publication, a seminar at a regional symposium, and an honors
thesis.
COMMUNICATION EXPERIENCE
Editor - American Journal Experts, LLC, 2014-present
* Edit manuscripts for grammar and clarity so that they will be judged by their scientific merit and not
the authors' familiarity with English.
Peer-Reviewed Publications
* E. Petro and D. Raben. "Bacterial expression strategies for several Sus scrofa diacylglycerol kinase
alpha constructs: solubility challenges." Scientific Reports 3:1609 (2013)
* B. Tu-Sekine, H. Goldschmidt, E. Petro, and D. Raben. "Diacylglycerol Kinase Theta: Regulation
and Stability." Advances in Biological Regulation 53:118-126 (2013)
* J. Horn, B. Kraybill, E. Petro, S. Coales, J. Morrow, Y. Hamuro, and A. Kossiakoff. "The Role of
Protein Dynamics in Increasing Binding Affinity for an Engineered Protein-Protein Interaction
Established by H/D Exchange Mass Spectrometry." Biochemistry 45:8488-8498 (2006)
Posters
E. Petro, B. Tu-Sekine, M. Rowland, S. Eni Eni, M. Best, L. DeVine, R. Cole, and D. Raben.
"Photoaffinity labeling the lipid binding site of mammalian diacylglycerol kinase."
* The 246th American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition, Indianapolis, IN (2013)
* The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Annual Meeting, Boston, MA (2013)
* Sigma Xi Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting, Fairfax, VA (2013)
Presentations
* E. Petro, B. Tu-Sekine, M. Rowland, S. Eni Eni, M. Best, L. DeVine, R. Cole, and D. Raben. "Taking
a photoaffinity labeling approach to find the lipid binding site on an interfacial enzyme, mammalian
diacylglycerol kinase (DGK)." Chemistry at Florham Seminar Series, Fairleigh Dickinson University,
Hackensack, NJ (2013)
* E. Petro, J. Horn, and A. Kossiakoff. "Stability studies of a phage-optimized human growth hormone
variant." 16th Annual Argonne Symposium for Undergraduates in Science, Engineering, and
Mathematics, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL (2005)
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Hopkins Toastmasters Club (Toastmasters International Club #4728)
President, 2010-2011
* Planned and conducted club and executive committee meetings.
* Coordinated joint events with other student groups.
* Communicated club activities to members, guests, and district leadership.
* Earned recognition as an official student organization.
* Sent club members to represent the club at all Area 62 speech contests.
* Assigned mentors to new members.
* Increased the number of club members from 7 to 15.
* Four club members earned their Competent Communicator awards.
* Earned Distinguished Club status.
Secretary, 2011-2012
* Documented membership, attendance, and meeting proceedings.
* Communicated club activities to members, guests, and district leadership.
* Earned Select Distinguished Club Status.
Webmaster, 2011-2012
* Launched and maintained the club web site.
* Transitioned to the Free Toast Host 2.0 platform.
* Helped club members navigate the web site.
Mentor, 2010-present
* Help my mentees prepare for their speeches and meeting roles.
* Encourage them to seek out educational and leadership opportunities.
* Help guide them in their roles as club officers.
Maryland Section of the American Chemical Society - 100th Anniversary Committee, 2013-present
* Draft sponsorship letters.
* Regularly write articles for the section newsletter.
* Archive back issues of the section newsletter.
Johns Hopkins Medicine Graduate Student Association (GSA) - Biological Chemistry (BC) Program
Representative, 2011-2012
* Communicated GSA proceedings to the students of the BC program, and advocated on behalf of BC
student interests to the GSA.
Higher Achievement Program Baltimore - Mentor, 2009-2010
* Led three fifth-grade boys through reading and writing exercises.
* Resolved conflict and solved problems.
JHMI Security, Safety and Parking/Transportation Task Force - Graduate Student Representative, 2009-
2010
* Communicated graduate student interests orally and in writing to the Assistant Dean for Student
Affairs, the Housing Office, and Corporate Security.
* Communicated current policies and resources orally and in writing to students.
* Developed, modified, and amended informational and educational documents describing Baltimore
neighborhoods and transportation options.
* Pioneered and established the Neighborhood Contacts program.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Adjunct Professor - Department of Chemistry, Stevenson University, 2014-present
* Provide walk-in tutoring to students in general and organic chemistry.
* Communicate chemical and mathematical concepts to students from diverse backgrounds.
* Guest-lectured four lectures for "Principles of Earth and Field Science", a course for non-science
majors.
Metabolism Conference Leader - Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine, 2009-2012
Oral Exam Tutor - Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of
Medicine, 2011
Metabolism Teaching Assistant - Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine, 2007-2008
Biochemical and Biophysical Principles Tutor - Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns
Hopkins University School of Medicine, 2008
Organic Chemistry Tutor - Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, 2004
HONORS / AWARDS
WCC/Eli Lilly Travel Award - The ACS Women Chemists Committee (WCC) and Eli Lilly and
Company, 2013
American Heart Association (AHA) Predoctoral Fellowship - AHA Mid-Atlantic Affiliate, 2008-2010
National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship, Honorable Mention - NSF, 2008
Phi Beta Kappa - The University of Chicago, 2006-present
Sigma Xi, Associate Member - The University of Chicago, 2005-present
University Scholar Award - The University of Chicago, 2002-2006
Dean's List - The University of Chicago, 2002-2006
National Merit Finalist Scholarship - The University of Chicago, 2002-2006
Competent Leader Award - Toastmasters International, 2012
Competent Communicator Award - Toastmasters International, 2011
Evaluation Contests - Toastmasters International District 18
* Evaluations are short, impromptu speeches that convey specifically what a speaker did well and what
they could do better next time, all in an encouraging tone that leaves the speaker motivated to continue.
* 3rd Place, Division F, 2013
* 3rd Place, Area 62, 2013
* 1st Place, Division F, 2010
* 1st Place, Area 62, 2010
3rd Place, Area 62 Humorous Speech Contest - Toastmasters International District 18, 2010
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Chemical Society
Association for Women in Science
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
American Association for the Advancement of Science
SELECTED COMPUTER SKILLS
Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Adobe (Reader, Acrobat, Illustrator, Photoshop)
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