Scientist
Resume:
Fairuz Zein, M.S.
Cambridge MA 02142 Cell: 607-***-****
****.******@*****.***
Experienced biochemist with excellent analytical and problem solving skills; motivated, detail-oriented, a team player, excellent verbal and written communication skills. A strong background in protein expression, purification, x-ray crystallography, and assay development.
Work Experience:
April 2011– Current Biogen Idec- PPDi
Scientist-I – High Throughput Analytical Group
• Executed analysis and development of assays for antibody-expressing harvest samples. GLP lab.
Developed 96-well plate assays to obtain percent yield recovery of recombinant fusion proteins for hemophilia drug product. Developed biotinylated ligand on sensors using Octet, performed resin based purification, protein purity analysis GXII Lap Chip and size exclusion chromatography.
Supported cell culture development group in routine analysis of harvest samples-high-throughput screening to obtain high yield of ProA purified antibodies using robotics, obtain titer using Octet instruments, and using Alamar Blue assays for cell viability.
July 2010– April 201l Initiated starting a healthcare non-profit, deciding on next industry job
Jan 2009 – July 2010 Biogen Idec
Associate Scientist III – Discovery Neurobiology Group
• Developed and validated a two-step ELISA in a BL2+ setting to detect virus specific antibodies in patient sera and evaluate the assay’s potential clinical use. Performed purification of viral proteins using Optiprep density-gradient ultracentrifugation for use in ELISA assays.
• Developed and optimized in vitro production of pseudo-viruses using human cell lines. Resulting viral proteins were used for assay developments in the Neurobiology Group.
Performed human cell-line maintenance-primary fetal glial cells, primary human astrocytes, transformed SVGA cells, and human embryonic kidney cells.
Co-transfected viral plasmids into 293FT cells using Lipofectamine, confirming co-transfection with immunofluorescence microscopy; harvest and collection of cells using standard protocol and obtain pseudo-virus fraction, Western Blots.
• Data analysis and regular presentation of results in meetings.
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Jan 2008 – Jan 2009 Momenta Pharmaceuticals
Research Associate-Analytical Development Group
• Analyzed N-glycans for the production of monoclonal antibody generics. GLP Lab practice.
Profiled N-glycans of generic drugs on the market by using Agilent 1200 HPLC analysis. Performed enzymatic release and column purification of N-glycans.
Fluorescent-labeled N-glycans for preparation of profiling using Agilent-1200 HPLC. Results were transferred to MS-MALDI specialist for further analysis.
Trained new research associate.
Jan 2007 – Dec 2007 Volunteer-sending medical supplies to developing countries.
Aug 2003 – Dec 2006 Cornell University
Graduate Research Assistant
• Studied protein-protein interaction of enzymes and the mechanisms of de novo PLP biosynthetic pathway by solving the structure of PLP synthase using x-ray crystallography.
Utilized DE3 E. Coli and pET-28a vectors as a vehicle for protein expression in minimal media, purification using Ni-NTA chromatography, UV-vis, hanging drop screens , liquid nitrogen freezing, synchrotron beam-time.
Determined PLP synthase structure in Thermatoga Maritima by using HKL2000 for integration and scaling of data and molecular replacement using CNS.
Jan 2002-Aug 2003 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Undergraduate Research Assistant
• Performed expression and purification, hanging-drop method crystallization of the enzyme thioredoxin reductase from Thermoplasma acidophilum for use in x-ray crystallography.
Education:
2006 – Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Thesis Master of Science in Biochemistry, Molecular & Cell Biology
2002 – Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences
Laboratory Skills:
Molecular Biology: Real-Time PCR and RT-PCR, Cloning, Transformation, Primer Design.
Cell Biology: mammalian cell lines maintenance, chemical transfection, FACS-two color staining and analysis, viral infectivity assay, immuno-fluorescence microscopy, JC viral preps.
Biochemistry and Biophysics: Western blot analysis, SDS-PAGE, ELISA, HPLC-Agilent 1200, Size Exclusion Chromatography, Caliper Sciclone HTS robotics, Octet, GXII Lab Chip, x-ray crystallography.
Training: Radioactive isotope handling -32P, BL2+ and blood-borne pathogen safety.
Computer Programs: Linux, Graphpad Prism, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SpotFire, SoftMaxPro, O.
Activities & Awards:
SUNY scholarship, NIH fellowship, and Monroe Brown Life Sciences award.
Publications & Presentations:
Gorelik, L.; Lerner, M.; Bixler, S.; Crossman, M.; Simon, K., Pace, A..; Chen, L.L.; Chung, A.; Berman, M., Zein, F.; Wilson, E.; Yednock, T.; Sandrock, A.; Goelz, S.; Subramanyam, M.; “Anti-JC virus antibodies, Implications for PML risk stratification.”, Annals of Neurology, 68 (3), Sep (2010).
Zein, F.; Zhang, Y.; Kang, Y.N.; Burns, K; Begley, T.P.; Ealick, S.E.; “Structural insights into the mechanism of the PLP synthase holoenzyme from Thermotoga martima.”, Biochemistry, 45 (49), Dec 12 (2006).
“Structural Comparison and Analysis of the Substrate Specificities of Purine Neucleoside Phosphorylases” International Union of Crystallography Conference, Florence, Italy, Aug2005.
“Cloning and Expression of thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase from Thermoplasma acidophilum”, American Chemical Society Meeting, Boston, MA, Aug2002.
*PERMANENT U.S. RESIDENT.
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