Mario Cesar Nickenig, Jr.

ad0tk1@r.postjobfree.com

909-***-****

Education:

CSU Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Ca. 2005-2008

MSc. Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry

U. C. Berkeley, Berkeley, Ca. 1997-2001

B.A. Chemistry and B.A. Molecular Cell Biology with an emphasis in Genetics.

Skills:

Experienced Molecular Biologist, Protein Chemist, QC Chemist and Skilled Organic Chemist. I have extensive experience conducting research in chemical and biochemical laboratories and am expert in the use of a wide variety of techniques, scientific instruments and in the development of in vitro diagnostic devices (IVD). Prepared Clinical Study Reports (CSR) which included informed consent forms for research project involving multiple patients suffering from a rare genetic disease.

Scientific Instruments: Mass Spectroscopy, Flow Cytometry, SPR, Bio-Layer Interferometry (BLT), NMR, Solid-State NMR, FPLC, TFF, Analytic Ultracentrifugation (AUC), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Column Packing, DLS, HPLC, RP HPLC, Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC), Ion-Exchange Chromatography (IEX), HPAE-PAD, GC-MS, LC-MS, MALDI-ToF using PSD, FTIR, UV-VIS, GC; Other skills: PCR, RT-qPCR, Microarray, RNA/DNA Extraction, Protein Extraction, ELISA (mAbs), Western Blot, EMSA, Cloning, Mini-Preps and Maxi-Preps, Nuclear Protein Extraction, Extraction/Isolation using DynaBeads, Northern and Southern Blotting, Restriction Enzyme Digest, Sequencing, DNA Ligation, Electrophoresis, Peptide Synthesis, Statistical Analyses, Proteomic Bioinformatics, Genomic Bioinformatics, Electron Microscopy sectioning, staining and microscope operation; Light microscope sectioning and staining, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples; Immunohisto-chemistry staining; Organic Synthesis (including devising synthetic schemes), API and Solid-Phase Synthesis.

Work Experience:

Online Science Educator, Frog Tutoring LLC - Remote

From April 2023 to October 2023

Worked as a science instructor and tutor for students ranging in educational level from elementary to college including graduate students.

Subject matter taught included Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Differential Equations, Calculus, Linear Algebra, Pre-Calculus, General Mathematics, Statistics, SQL Programming, Introductory Science, English Composition and Grammar.

Instructed students that were difficult to teach in that many suffer from attention deficits that interfere with optimal schoolwork.

Assisted students with scientific reports and English essays by editing written work, participating in the research of available literature and mentoring projects.

Chemist/Scientific Consultant, Proactive Diagnostics LLC - Thousand Oaks, Ca.

From January 2023 to March 2023

Utilized my expertise in the fields of immunoassay development, ELISA, in vitro diagnostic device (IVD) development and surface chemistry to advance progress in technologies being developed at Proactive Diagnostics. Consulted available scientific literature to devise a new surface chemistry approach, developed a new experimental method tailored to the client's needs and carried out chemical and biochemical experiments which improved performance of the IVD under development.

Developed surface chemistries to control surface layer thickness, silica-surface derivatization, antibody immobilization/orientation, minimize non-specific interactions and developed assay buffer/blocking agent to optimize target molecule capture.

Constructed immunoassay chips, aligned chips, and operated IVD.

Carried out statistical analysis and reported scientific findings.

Scientific Writer, Study Smarter LLC - Remote

From May 2022 to December 2022

Prepared scientific articles, reports, and study material on various topics in chemistry and physics.

Used LaTex code to write article equations.

Utilized Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and SQL to optimize internet searches.

Reviewed and edited articles written by other science writers for accuracy and readability.

Laboratory Technician/Consultant, Royal Medical Aesthetic Center - San Gabriel, Ca.

From January 2022 to April 2022

Worked as a Covid-19 PCR technician and analyst running RT-qPCR using the QuantStudio Real-Time System.

Analyzed patient samples in a high-throughput manner using SARS-COV-2 Biomiga Isolation Kit and Allsheng Auto-pure96 extractor.

Consulted on research project in regenerative medicine and pluripotency reprogramming.

Consulting work involved the design of experimental approaches, bioinformatic analysis and the analysis of currently available scientific literature on the topic of pluripotency reprogramming in mice and human beings.

In vitro diagnostic device (IVD) development.

Online Science Educator, Frog Tutoring LLC - Remote

From January 2020 to January 2022

Worked as a science instructor and tutor for students ranging in educational level from elementary to college including graduate students.

Subject matter taught included Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Differential Equations, Calculus, Linear Algebra, Pre-Calculus, General Mathematics, Statistics, SQL Programming, Introductory Science, English Composition and Grammar.

Instructed students that were difficult to teach in that many suffer from attention deficits that interfere with optimal schoolwork.

Assisted students with scientific reports and English essays by editing written work, participating in the research of available literature and mentoring projects.

Researcher, Center for Biomarker Research, Keck Graduate Institute - Claremont, Ca.

From June 2018 to December 2019

Used proprietary method, developed in-lab, to isolate and extract Human Leukocyte Antigen (sHLA)/peptide complexes from human plasma utilizing DynaBeads.

Produced bioconjugates via EDC/NHS chemistry whilst isolated complexes were characterized by SDS-PAGE, ELISA, mAbs, Western blot and SCIEX Mass Spectrometer using Orbitrap system with Analyst.

Developed biochemical methods, devised method schemes, reviewed current immunological research, received hands-on Flow Cytometry training and repaired/refurbished laboratory devices including reverse phase (RP) HPLCs and High Throughput Ion-Exchange Chromatography devices including High-Performance Anion-Exchange Chromatography with Pulsed Amperometric Detection (HPAE-PAD).

Prepared Clinical Study Reports (CSR) which included informed consent forms for research project involving multiple patients suffering from a rare genetic disease.

In vitro diagnostic device (IVD) development.

Research Assistant, Biochemistry Dept., CSU Los Angeles - Los Angeles, Ca.

From October 2015 to May 2018

Supported research project involving the synthesis and purification of novel lipid-based compounds theorized to have anti-cancer and/or hormonal activity.

Carried out multi-step synthesis and purification (TLC, RP HPLC, GC) of intermediates and final products.

Synthesized analogs were cellular assayed for activity against cancer cell lines and for apoptotic activity using Microscopy, Western Blot and DynaBeads extraction/Isolation. Structures of compounds were characterized by NMR, Mass Spectroscopy and FTIR.

In vitro diagnostic device (IVD) development.

Bioengineer, ChromoLogic LLC - Monrovia, Ca.

From April 2014 to August 2015

Supported research project that resulted in the production of a novel, facile and non-toxic kit designed to extract microRNA from human plasma.

Invented point-of-care methodologies that chemically separated plasma from whole blood without a centrifuge and extracted circulating exosomal microRNA from plasma in a way that is compatible with downstream applications, such as RT-qPCR. Work involved human blood, which was potentially infectious and, as such, required special handling techniques and aseptic conditions.

Assisted with the maintenance of cancer cell lines and other cell cultures that were infected with lentivirus viral vector.

Duties involved RT-qPCR, RNA/DNA extraction, ELISA/Immunoassay, Nanodrop, Bioanalyzer, Raman spectroscopy, laser optics and Statistical data analysis.

Participated in the development of an in vitro diagnostic device (IVD) that consisted of a novel optical Bio-Layer Interferometry (BLI) assay designed to quantify microRNA down to the femtomolar range.

Developed an IVD incorporating a Raman spectroscopy-based bioassay that utilizes a novel surface-enhanced substrate (SERS) along with principal component analysis (PCA) statistics to quantify levels of volatile organic compound contaminants in human plasma.

Regularly designed experiments, ordered chemicals, wrote standard operating procedures (SOP) and reported experimental results to management.

Routinely used CFX Connect Real-Time PCR Detection System and Ocean Optic QE65000 Spectrometer for RT- qPCR, Perkin Elmer Flow Cytometers and Raman experiments, respectively.

In vitro diagnostic device (IVD)

Researcher, Biochemistry Dept., CSU Los Angeles - Los Angeles, Ca.

From January 2009 to May 2014

Continued work, in Vellanoweth Lab, after graduation to develop research project designed to study the biochemical basis of life-extension observed with mutant plants generated by the lab.

We focused our attention on attempts to discover a plant hormone capable of inducing programmed cell death in target tissues.

Specifically, scientific analyses included the use of bioinformatic methodologies coupled with molecular biological and biochemical techniques.

In addition, our research work focused on the use of Microarray, SPR and the analysis of the plant total lipid fraction.

Lab work routinely involved total RNA extraction, RNA amplification, aRNA labeling with GeneChip 3’ IVT, Microarray, Western Blot, cDNA synthesis and RT-qPCR of target genes.

Biochemical analysis of plant total lipid fractions was carried out by GC-MS, LC-MS using Mascot Software. Bio-Layer Interferometry (BLI) analysis of nuclear proteins/DNA binding proteins were carried out on Biacore SPR and proprietary SPR Imaging Systems.

Nuclear protein assay involved DynaBeads immobilization followed by protein sequencing/identification using LC-MS coupled to the Mascot Database.

In vitro diagnostic device (IVD)

Research Experience:

Research Assistant, Gutierrez Lab, Chemistry Dept., CSU Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Ca.

From January 2007 to July 2009

Research in the Gutierrez Lab focused on the solid-state synthesis of peptides, protein analysis and synthesis of protein derivatives. I carried out synthesis of polymers of alanine, using solid-state synthesis, and synthesis of derivatized adamantane cores. These molecules were synthesized to study the dynamics of the hydrogen-bonded networks within these molecular systems via NMR, solid-state NMR, SCIEX Mass Spectrometer using Orbitrap system with Analyst, Mass Spec protein sequencing using Voyager DE MALDI-ToF PSD and FTIR. The goal was to analyze hydrogen-bonded network dynamics within these compounds via Neutron Scattering at a National Lab Facility, and the production of crystals suitable for such.

Graduate Assistant, Vellanoweth Lab, Biochemistry Dept., CSULA, Los Angeles, Ca.

From January 2005 to December 2008

Participated in research designed to discover the biochemical mechanism by which mutant plants, generated by the Vellanoweth Lab, experienced a significant extension of life span. Scientific analyses included the use of bioinformatic methodologies coupled to molecular biological and biochemical techniques, such as:

EMSA using 32P-labeled nucleic acid, native-PAGE and SDS-PAGE.

SPR and MALDI-ToF using PSD, Analytic Ultracentrifugation (AUC) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC).

PCR, RT-qPCR, Microarray, RNA/DNA Extraction, Protein Extraction, Cloning, Mini-Preps and Maxi-Preps, Nuclear Protein Extraction, SEC, HPLC.

ELISA, Northern and Southern Blotting, Western Blot, DynaBeads Assay, Restriction Enzyme Digest, DNA Ligation, Electrophoresis and Sequencing.

Student Worker, MBRS Program, Monterey Park, Ca.

From January 1991 to July 1996

Research focused on the production of analogs of the cancer drug Methotrexate with the goal of improving therapeutic profile. Our group concentrated upon blocking the production of toxic metabolites of Methotrexate, in the body, via derivatization of functional groups within this compound that suffer enzymatic hydroxylation in the animal liver. Assisted professor/technician with devising synthetic routes to desired compounds. Duties included:

Multi-step synthesis and purification (TLC, HPLC, GC) of intermediates and final products (API).

Confirmation of structure of compounds synthesized via IR, NMR, Mass Spectra.

Pharmacological evaluation of final products including enzyme assay and in vivo animal

studies.

Light and Electron microscopy, preparation of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples, sectioning, staining. Immunohisto-chemistry staining.

Student Worker, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Ca.

Summer 1993 to 1995

Researched mechanisms underlying oxygen-binding cooperativity in hemoglobin. Our group synthesized hetero-metal analogs of horse heart hemoglobin, in which alpha- subunits had Ruthenium in place of Iron at the heme, to study effects upon oxygen binding. Hemoglobin hetero-metal analogs were purified and analyzed by:

Ion exchange and size exclusion chromatography.

SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis.

Metalloprotein structural assay was conducted using UV/VIS spectrophotometer.

Student Worker, City of Hope Cancer Research Center, Duarte, Ca.

From June 1990 to August 1992

Assisted professor/technician with devising synthetic routes to desired bioconjugates.

Specifically, we attempted the conjugation of rabbit derived immune globulin G and the enzyme DT Diaphorase via an organic linker molecule. Synthesized bioconjugates were purified and structures confirmed by:

Size exclusion and Ion exchange chromatography.

Bioconjugates analyzed by SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis, native-PAGE and AUC.

Bioassay quantified by UV/VIS spectrophotometer.

In vivo mice studies.

Earlier Work Experience:

Contract Chemist II to Abbott Laboratories, Manpower Inc., Clinical Chemistry Division, South Pasadena, Ca.

From October 2002 to December 2003

The Abbott Labs Clinical Chemistry Division produces and manufactures formulations of bioassay reagents for hospital and clinical use. Duties, as a part of the Technical Product Development, included:

QC, CMC and troubleshooting runs to determine available active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) in both test and sample lots. High-throughput spectrophotometric analysis using Aeroset, Spectrum and Alcyon instruments.

Statistical analysis of formulations including ANOVA, SQL Programming and stability studies.

Measurements of specific gravity, viscosity, pH and refractive index. Use of Karl

Fischer apparatus to determine water content.

Generation of Excel spreadsheets and reports using Word, record keeping, and

filing.

Authored documents for FDA review (MCP, TMV, MF)

All laboratory procedures and documentation carried out according to GMP, GLP

and SOPs.

Contract Research Associate II to Amgen Inc., K-Force Inc., Newbury Park, Ca. December From December 2001 to October 2002

Prepared formulations (oral and IV) of experimental compounds for animal studies and solubility/stability studies to support the anti-angiogenesis project. Other duties included:

HPLC analysis of prepared formulations, troubleshooting of instrumentation and assay protocol. Used Agilent HPLC and ChemStation for determination of the concentration of active ingredient.

Computer record keeping of API's and updating of internal database, LIMS system.

Spreadsheet generation and computer tracking of all compounds entering the pre-

formulation laboratory.

Mass Spectroscopy (LC-MS) using Orbitrap systems training.

In vivo mice studies.

References:

Prof. Carlos G. Gutierrez, Professor of Chemistry, Cal State L.A., Phone (Office): 323-***-****, email: ad0tk1@r.postjobfree.com.

Prof. Robert Vellanoweth; Professor of Biochemistry, Cal State L.A., Phone: 323-***-****; email: ad0tk1@r.postjobfree.com.

Prof. Jose Rodriguez, Professor of Physics, Cal State L.A., Phone 323-***-****, email: ad0tk1@r.postjobfree.com.

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