College Engineering

Lorela Çiraku

*** ***** ********** ******, ********** – PA, 17325

******.******@*****.*** 717- 253- 4873

Education

Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology May 2014

Gettysburg College

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania- USA

International Baccalaureate May 2010

Red Cross Nordic United World College

Flekke, Norway

Academic experience

Biochemistry (two semesters)

Structure and function of macromolecules, structure and chemistry of proteins, mechanisms of

enzyme catalyzed reactions, primary and secondary metabolic processes, organization of

metabolic pathways, disorders and disease.

Laboratory: biochemical research using spectroscopy, Western Blots, EMSA, column

electrophoresis.

Studied the effect of Cone- Rod Homeobox(CRX) on the expression of rhodopsin (RHO ) in

Escherichia coli

Bioinformatics

Interpreting and using information produced by genome sequencing and proteomics

Applied software tools to the analysis of gene sequences and protein structures.

Python programing

Molecular Genetics

Study of basic mechanisms of information storage and retrieval from DNA and RNA, genome

organization and the regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, DNA

replication and repair, molecular genetics of cancer and human- inherited disorders and

recombinant DNA technology.

Laboratory: used genetic engineering tools to perform the deletion of cclABre2 gene in

Aspergillus nidulans involved in histone methylation, and used genetic and cellular

approaches to show that this gene is required for meiosis

Research experience

September 2011 – May 2014

Research Assistant

Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Gettysburg College

Learned how to use genetic and biochemical techniques such as 3- way fusion PCR, DNA

extraction and purifications, gene tagging and deletion, western blot, microbiological

manipulation and genetic engineering and analysis in Aspergillus nidulans

Studied epigenetic regulation of snxA mutants in Aspergillus nidulans

Taught new students a variety of laboratory techniques

Internships

James Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Gettysburg College

Summer 2012

Studied rmi1 gene and protein involved in resolving double Holliday Junctions to yield non-

crossover products and its interaction with snoArif1, a gene that appears to function by

reducing crossover frequency in Aspergillus nidulans, in order to determine if rmi1 and

snoArif1 operate in the same or different pathways during meiosis and DNA repair

Generated a double mutant rmi1snoA31 strain in which a synthetic enhancement was

observed

Summer 2013

Performed Western Blot to demonstrate reduced levels of gene expression in Aspergillus

nidulans snxA mutants

Studied epigenetic histone modifiers

Presented the research and results and followed weekly presentations on other students’

summer research.

Poster Presentations

“Discovery of a stable epigenetic mutation affecting G2 - M cell cycle control in Aspergillus

nidulans” at Cross- disciplinary Sciences at Gettysburg College First Annual Poster

presentation on October 25, 2013

“Epigenetic down- regulation of snxAHrb1 rescues G2- M cell cycle defects” at Pennsylvania

Academy of Science, Poster presentation on March 22, 2014

Independent studies

May 2013

Hrb1

Tagging the Aspergillus nidulans snxA with HA and myc epitope tags

Homology between the Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the Homo sapiens rmi1 gene.

Senior Thesis Project May 2014

“Epigenetic down- regulation of snxAHrb1 rescues G2- M cell cycle defects”

Teaching experience

Peer Learning Associate in General Chemistry August - December 2012

Gettysburg College

Conducted office hours to help students with understandings of the daily material and

homework

Organized weekly review sessions

Collaborated with the course instructor on improving the understanding of course material

Awards and Scholarships

Davis Scholar

Dean’s List

Language s

Fluent in Albanian, Italian, French

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