Supervisor Project

Alessandra M. Cathel

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Education

RWJMS Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Piscataway, NJ

Masters in Biomedical Sciences. August 2011.

Related Coursework: Gross Anatomy, Medical Biochemistry, Physiological Basis of Disease, Humanism in Medicine, Environmental Health, Pharmotherapeutics, Microbiology and Immunology, Embryology.

Completing Masters project under supervision of Dr. Tyagi in the department of Neurological Surgery. Performing chart review on pediatric patients with cervical spine injuries.

Temple University Philadelphia, Pa

Continuing Education

Emergency Management, Physics 1004.

Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA

B.A. degree. May, 2008. Major: Neuroscience. Academic Achievement Award presented by the Office of Multicultural Programs and Services

Related coursework: The Biology of Brain and Behavior w /lab, Principles of Neural Development w/ lab, Introduction to Political Science, Spanish Oral and Written Communication, The City in Latin America, Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Cellular and Organismal Biology w/ labs (Advanced), Genetics w/ lab, Intensive Introduction to Chemistry w/ lab, Psychology Statistics, Seminar in Chemistry on Imaging (MRI, fMRI, and NMR), Organic Chemistry I & II w/ labs, Fundamentals of Mechanics and Optics w/ labs, Bio and the Brain: Psychopharmacology, and Vision and Art (developing the construct of the course’s future).

Member of Student Council, Habitat for Humanity, Neuroscience Club, Psychology Club, Mezcla, Students for Reproductive Rights, Science Outreach, and Hippocratic Society.

The Pennington School, Pennington, NJ

Graduated with honors, June 2004. Awards: The Wellesley College Award for Excellence in Scholastic, Leadership, and Community Service Achievement; Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (October 20, 2003); Spirit Award, Cheerleading; Coach’s Award, Field Hockey; NJFHCA All-State Honorable Mention, Field Hockey; Scholar Athlete Award, Softball; First Team All-Prep, Softball; First Team All-State, Softball.

Member of: Youth Service Fellowship, Homefront Dinner, Prom Committee, Student Government.

Research

Department of Neurosurgery Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 2010-11

Supervisor: Dr. Rachana Tyagi

Masters Capstone/Student Researcher

Performed extensive literature research on related topics to project, pediatric cervical spine clearance. Worked with the head of the ER at RWJMS and of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit to formulate a paradigm for implementation during the diagnoses of pediatric patients, especially in relation to their need for MRIs.

Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology and Center for Substance Abuse Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa 2008-10

Supervisor: Dr. Lynn Kirby, Ph. D

Senior Lab Technician

Recently published in the journals of Psychoneuroendocrinology and Experimental Neurology. Perform behavioral studies with mice and rats including elevated plus maze and the forced swim test. Dissect and isolate areas of interest in the brain, such as the dorsal raphae nucleus, ventral tegmental area, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus, in order to record from neurons in aforementioned areas. Whole-cell patch clamp recordings. Standard immunohistochemical methods were used to visualize the neurons; an example being tryptophan hydroxylase as a marker of 5-HT neurons. Handle purchasing, orders, chemical inventory, and the daily maintenance and upkeep of the lab. Presented at the Society for Neuroscience in Chicago October 2010; work presented for me at Society for Neuroscience in San Diego 2011.

W.M. Keck Center for Neuroscience at Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 2006-07

Supervisor: Rick Cohen, Ph D.

Performed stem cell feedings (mouse), located various stem cell growth, watched and learned about spinal cord surgery and stem cell recovery both human and non-human. Studied embryonic stem cells over expressing neural function improving cell adhesion molecules in mouse models of human diseases. Studied human embryonic stem cell biology and oligodendrocyte lineage differentiation. Assisted in data analysis and organization. Gathered materials for stem cell training courses.

Wellesley College Wellesley, Ma 2007

Barbara Beltz

Proposed research for semester project. Used crayfish models to test the effect of Δ9-THC on neurogenesis. Performed brain dissections and analyzed the brains thereafter.

Teresa Sokol, Jackson, NJ 2007

Helped research Phase I-III study protocols, and constructed such for each.

VA Hospital, West Roxbury, MA 2005

Supervisor: Dr. Alfred Geller

Lab assistant. Performed neurological tests on various lab rats using specified computer programming and rewards. Tested and recorded rat intelligence pre- and post- gene injection (depending on rat assignment).

Volunteering

Tutor, Hamilton, Princeton, Pennington NJ; Wellesley MA 2000-present

Aid those asking for assistance in various subjects including sciences, particularly biology and chemistry, and English.

Mezcla, Wellesley MA 2004

Helped contact Latin/Hispanic student who received positive early evaluations to answer questions about Wellesley College.

Student Government, Pennington, NJ 2000-2004

Helped raise money for class events and needs such as prom and yearbook.

Homefront, Pennington, Trenton, NJ 2000-2004

Helped organize and headed participated in Christmas Homefront Dinner.

Youth Service Fellowship, Pennington, NJ 2000-2004

Participated and helped organize various volunteer works, such as the Lock-In at Lawrenceville Prep.

St. Francis Hospital, Trenton, NJ 2007

Volunteer work.

Science Outreach, Wellesley MA 2006-present

Volunteering with younger children to help them with science related subjects, such as Plant FBI which involves combining science sleuthing skills and botany for grade school children.

2008 Class Council, Wellesley, Ma 2007-2008

Assisting in fundraising efforts for the senior class, which include selling Wellesley College t- shirts, making and delivering pre-order care packages, and various other fundraising efforts.

Students for Reproductive Rights 2007-2008

Helped organize events to raise reproductive rights awareness on campus.

Senior Decorating Committee 2008

Vice President. Region Captain

Philadelphia Area Chapter Society for Neuroscience 2008-2011

Member. Volunteer for various events.

Brain Awareness Week, The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, Pa 2008-2010

Teach those who come to the institute about aspects of the brain.

Robert Wood Johnson Hospital/Squibb Children’s Hospital 2011-present

Volunteer

Women’s Health and Counseling Center 2011-present

Volunteer

Skills

Proficient in: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, SPSS, JMP, MiniAnalysis, Axon Instruments, Multiclamp, HEKA.

Electrophysiology, Immunohistochemistry, PCR, Electrophoresis, DNA Extraction, Immunocytochemistry, GC/MS, Confocal Microscopy, FT-IR, NMR, blotting, cell cultures, and other lab techniques.

Excellent communication skills, various lab experiences, speak conversational Spanish and elementary Italian, dedicated, motivated, friendly, hardworking, quick study, and outgoing.

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