Assistant Quality Control
Resume:
CURRICULUM VITAE
Alejandra N. González
ADRESS: Department of Biology
Room 348, BSBW,
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX, 77843
**************@*****.***
EDUCATION:
Texas A&M University. GPA 4.0.
2000 B.S.in biochemistry
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile,
Santiago, Chile. Graduated with honors
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
2004-2012 Graduate research, Texas A&M University
Department of Biology, under Dr. James Erickson. Research Experience: Study of Drosophila melanogaster sex determination and gene expression. Uncovered and described sex differential expression of SxlPm. Demonstrated that the differential expression was evolutionarily conserved and found the regulatory region and regulators responsible for the differential expression. Discovered a novel connection between establishment and maintenance phases of Drosophila sex determination.
Studied genetic interaction between one of Sxl main activators, SisA, and three other Drosophila b-ZIP protein coding genes.
Skills and responsibilities: Formulated novel biological questions, and designed strategies to answer them.
Worked independently and also shared ideas and suggestions with the laboratory team.
Self-motivated
Multitasking by performing multiple experiments at the same time in addition to teaching
Independently solved problems utilizing written and human resource Troubleshoot experiments
Developed and coordinated meetings, presentation, posters and led scientific discussions.
Critical reading and discussion of scientific publications.
Writing of scientific manuscripts.
Mastered molecular and Mendelian genetics, DNA recombinant, RNA in situ detection, protein expression and purification, Drosophila gene knockout, male recombination, transfection and protein expression in Drosophila S2 cell line.
Mentored two graduate and two undergraduate students.
2003-2004 Research Associate, Texas A&M University
Department of Biology, Texas A&M, under Dr. James Erickson.
Research experience: Studied Sxl repressors. Analyzed and compared the levels of Sxl gene expression in absence of dpn repressor and dpn binding sites.
Analyzed genetic interactions between Sxl, Brother and Big brother.
Skills and responsibilities: Planned and executed experiments involving DNA recombinant techniques as well as RNA in situ detection.
Mastered Drosophila genetics and maintenance techniques.
Coordinated and participated in meetings and presentations.
Laboratory organization and purchases.
2001-2003 Research Associate, Texas A&M University
Department of Biology, under Dr. Susan Golden.
Research experience: Sequencing the Synechococcus elongates genome. Isolation and sequencing of DNA from a cosmid library.
Skills and responsibilities: Improved a large scale DNA extraction that permitted extraction of eight hundred samples instead of ninety six reducing cost and time.
Managed six undergraduate student workers.
Participated in scientific discussions and meetings.
1999-2001 Undergraduate thesis research, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, under Dr. Alejandro Venegas.
Research experience: Developed a new biological control of fungi utilizing the Chitinase B enzyme produced by Serratia marcescens. Made a recombinant enzyme that was exported to the extracellular media utilizing the ABC secretory system. Skills and responsibilities: Mastered recombinant DNA techniques, protein expression and enzymology.
Participated and led scientific meetings and discussions.
Critical reading and discussion of scientific publications.
1998 Undergraduate professional experience, Campbell S.A. Laboratory, Santiago, Chile
Skills and responsibilities: Learned and performed quality control of cosmetic products.
Gathered information to develop a novel detection method for hyaluronic acid in lotions.
1997 Undergraduate Research, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Department of Ecology, under Dr. Juan Correa.
Research experience: Investigated the chelate effect of algae on Copper ions. Collected, grew and induced in-vitro spore release of selected algae followed by exposure to different copper concentrations.
Skills and responsibilities: Planed experimental design and performed experiments.
Analyzed and compared data from different trials.
Made media and solutions.
Monthly written report of results.
1996 Undergraduate research, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Department of Physiology, under Dr. Patricio Morales and Dr. Pilar Vigil.
Research experience: Study of the acrosome reaction- pellucid zone interphase and signaling molecules released to prevent multiple spermatozoa fertilization. Pellucid zone extraction and purification of spermatozoa followed by an in-vitro reaction to measure calcium levels using FURA 2 calcium indicator.
Skills and responsibilities: Extraction of sperm cells.
Measured sperm count and motility.
Measure total calcium response.
Weekly report of results.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
1996 Teaching Assistant (laboratory), Plant biology, Department of Ecology, Universidad Católica De Chile. Santiago, Chile. Instructor: Dr. Juan Correa.
Responsibilities: Assisting students, lecturing, leading laboratory field trips, laboratory demonstrations, preparation of questions for test and quizzes, grading. One group of 20 undergraduate students. Met once a week.
2004-2010 Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology (BIOL 213), Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, USA. Instructors: Dr. Wayne Versaw, Fall 2004. Dr. James Erickson, Fall 2007. Dr. James Erickson and Dr. Hongmin Qin, Spring 2008. Dr. Keith Maggert , Fall 2008. Dr. James Erickson, Spring 2009. Dr. Karl Aufderheide, Fall 2009 and Spring 2010. Dr. Louis Morgan, Summer 2010. Dr. Karl Aufderheide, Fall 2010
Responsibilities: Assisting students, preparing and leading review sessions, making questions for test and quizzes and reviewing them, grading, assisting lectures. Groups from 50 to 90 students. Met for weekly review and class twice a week.
2006 Teaching Assistant (laboratory), Microbiology (BIOL 351), Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, USA. Instructor: Dr. Rita Moyes.
Responsibilities: Assisting students, lecturing, techniques demonstrations, preparation of questions for test and quizzes, grading. Two groups of 20 students. Met twice a week.
2011 Teaching Assistant (laboratory), Introductory Biology II (BIOL 112), Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, Teaching Coordinator: Chris Lee.
Responsibilities: Lecturing 3 hours twice a week, assisting students, techniques demonstration, preparation of questions for quizzes and test, review sessions before test, student help desk one hour twice a week, test proctoring, weekly meetings, grading home works, test and quizzes, laboratory practice weekly.
PUBLICATIONS
2008 Alejandra N. González, Hong Lu and James W. Erickson. A shared enhancer controls a temporal switch between promoters during Drosophila primary sex determination. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci 105:184**-*****
2005 Holtman CK, Chen Y, Sandoval P, Gonzales A, Nalty MS, Thomas TL, Youderian P, Golden SS. High-throughput functional analysis of the Synechococcus elongates PCC 7942 genome. DNA Res. 12:103-115.
POSTER PRESENTATION
2007 Alejandra Gonzalez, James Erickson. Coupling between SxlPe and SxlPm reinforces the female developmental switch. 48th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Philadelphia, PA
2010 Alejandra Gonzalez, Sharvani Mahadevaraju, Jayashre Rajendren. Drosophila melanogaster sex determination. Student Postdoc Research Conference. Biology department, Texas A&M University.
LABORATORY SKILS AND TECHNIQUES
• Advanced knowledge of Mendelian and molecular genetics.
• Molecular and cellular biology.
• Handling of genetics and molecular biology techniques:
Cloning of DNA and recombinant DNA technology
PCR
SDS PAGE
Sequencing
p-element transformation and injection
Protein in situ detection
Western blot
Expression and purification of proteins Southern blot
Measurement of enzymatic activity
Drosophila maintenance and genetics
S2 cell culture maintenance and recombinant protein expression Co-immune precipitation
DNA and RNA extraction Drosophila knockouts: gene replacement
In situ hybridization for RNA detection Drosophila male recombination
Immune detection
• Problem solving and troubleshooting
• Work independently, self-motivated
• Multitasking
• Scientific writing and reading in English and Spanish
REFERENCES
• Dr. James Erickson, Associate Professor, 3258 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-325
Office: Biological Sciences Building West room 348C
• Dr. Keith Maggert, Associate Professor, 3258 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-3258
Office: Biological Sciences Building West Room 354
• Dr. Susan S. Golden, Distinguished Professor
Division of Biological Sciences. University of California-San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive Dept 0116 La Jolla, CA 92093 0116
office: AP&M 4824; laboratory: AP&M 4721
• Dr. Sarah Bondos, Assistant professor
Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine , Texas A&M Health Science
Center Room 258 Reynolds Medical Building
College Station, Texas 77843
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