Assistant Technician

Ahmad Hassan

Experience/Skills

Data analysis, SOP writing, BSL2 experience, next-generation sequencing (Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technologies), NGS library prep, DNA/RNA QC, Agilent TapeStation, Nanodrop, Qubit, DNA extraction, Plasmid extraction/purification, Primer design, PCR, colony PCR, gene cloning, Gibson assembly, site-directed mutagenesis, transformation, bacterial cell culturing/plating, and gel electrophoresis. Lab automation utilizing Eppendorf epMotion5075 liquid handler, Hamilton, Janus, Bravo, Qiagen QIAcube and QIAxcel.

Career Summary

A results’ oriented Molecular Biologist with a positive attitude and strong work ethic, and the ability to cooperate with others to achieve greater goals, seeking full-time/contract employment in the biotech/pharma industry in MA, CT, and NY. Willing to relocate.

Education

University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. Awarded a Master of Science (Applied Genomics Major). August 2016-December 2018.

Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT. Awarded a Bachelor of Science (Biology Major). Summa Cum Laude. August 2013-December 2015.

Work Experience

Clinical Genomic Technologist, Jun-Dec 2020 (6-month contract), The Jackson Laboratory

Processing of COVID19 samples for RNA extraction and RT-PCR detection of SARS-CoV-2 in a CLIA regulated laboratory.

Research Technician, Sep 2017-Aug 2019, University of Connecticut

Research technician in Dr. Joerg Graf’s lab. I Performed microbiome research using the following techniques: high-throughput DNA extraction, PCR of 16S rRNA gene and library prep for Illumina sequencing. I analyzed the data in Qiime1 using command-line. Additional responsibilities included ordering supplies for the laboratory.

Ph.D. Candidate in Molecular & Cell Bio, Aug 2019-Jan 2020, University of Connecticut

Ph.D. student in Dr. Joerg Graf’s lab. Primarily worked to characterize Puerto Rican bats microbiome. The main techniques I used include NGS, data analysis using R for statistical testing and data visualization. Secondarily, I explored the evolution of Aeromonas veronii bacteria vs invasive bacteria inside the medicinal leech gut. Techniques I utilized for the evolution project are gene cloning, PCR, plasmid purification/transformation, site-directed mutagenesis, cell culturing/plating, and gel electrophoresis. * Taking a leave of absence from the program for a few years.

Teaching Experience

Course Co-instructor, Jan 2020, University of Connecticut

Taught ONT MinION and Illumina sequencing module. Responsibilities included teaching library prep, sample quality control analysis, assisted in bioinformatic analysis of sequenced genomes, guided students through the analysis and explained concepts of sequencing workflow, and performed bioinformatic troubleshooting.

Course Assistant, Jan 2019, University of Connecticut

Assisted in teaching a training module using ONT MinION and Illumina sequencing. Responsibilities included NexteraXT library prep, sample quality control analysis, assisted in bioinformatic analysis of sequenced genomes, guided students through the analysis and explained concepts of sequencing workflow, and performed bioinformatic troubleshooting.

First-author Presentations

Poster presentation: “Evaluating the Role of Diet, Taxonomy and Sex on the Oral and Rectal Microbiome of Puerto Rican Bats”. Presented on July 15th, 2018 at the 7th Beneficial Microbe Conference in Maddison Wisconsin.

Presentation: “Evaluating the Role of Diet, Taxonomy and Sex on the Oral and Rectal Microbiome of Puerto Rican Bats”. Presented on October 4th, 2018 at the 7th Connecticut Symbiosis Conference in New Haven Connecticut.

Presentation: “Evaluating the Role of Diet, Taxonomy, Sex, and Geography of the Oral and Rectal Microbiome of Puerto Rican Bats”. Presented on November 8th, 2019 at the 54th NEBranch ASM Annual Meeting in Randolph Massachusetts.

Presentation: “Evaluating the Role of Diet, Taxonomy, Sex, and Geography of the Oral and Rectal Microbiome of Puerto Rican Bats”. Presented on September 6th, 2019 at the Graduate Seminar, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology in Storrs Connecticut.

Publications

Accepted manuscript: Juneyoung Lee, John d’Aigle, Louise Atadja, Victoria Quaicoe,

Pedram Honarpisheh, Bhanu P. Ganesh, Ahmad Hassan, Joerg Graf, Joseph Petrosino, Nagireddy Putluri, Liang Zhu, Lauren H. Sansing, David J. Durgan, Robert M. Bryan Jr, Louise D. McCullough, and Venugopal R. Venna. “Gut Microbiota-Derived Short-Chain Fatty Acids Promote Post-Stroke Recovery in Aged Mice”. Accepted to Circulation Research on April 30th, 2020.

Submitted manuscript: Steven J. Presley, Joerg Graf, Ahmad F. Hassan, Anna R. Sjodin, and Michael R. Willig. “Effects of host species identity and diet on biodiversity of oral and rectal microbiomes of Puerto Rican bats”. Submitted to Oecologia on February 3, 2021.

Manuscript in preparation: Ahmad F. Hassan, Steven J. Presley, Anna R. Sjodin, Michael R. Willig, and Joerg Graf. “Characterization of Puerto Rican Bats oral and rectal microbiome”.

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