Safety Assistant

Caitlyn J. Sofa

[** Hill Road], [Bernville, PA **506] • [610-***-****] • [****.****@*****.***]

Objective______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

To obtain a career in your company which utilizes my skills, abilities, achievements, work ethic and energy to provide quality research for your company while challenging myself as a professional.

Skills Summary_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Experimental design, Basic Molecular Biology skills (Including restriction digestion and ligation reactions), Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCR), recombinant protein oxerexpression and purification, cloning, DNA isolation, RNA isolation and generation of cDNA through reverse transcriptase, semi-quantitative PCR, SDS-PAGE, western blot, gel electrophoresis, protein concentration determination, Trypanosome tissue culture, RNA interference, primer design and training of undergraduate researchers.

Education_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Villanova University- Villanova, PA [May 2012]

Master of Science in Chemistry, Graduate research and thesis focus in Biochemistry GPA: 3.6/4.0

Relevant Course Work: Advanced Biochemistry, Advanced Organic Chemistry, Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Membranes and Receptors and The Biochemical Basis of Disease.

Monmouth University- West Long Branch, NJ [May 2010]

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry- Concentration Biochemistry GPA: 3.1/4.0

Relevant Course Work: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Advanced Organic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Biochemistry, Physical Chemistry, Quantitative Analysis, Instrumental Analysis, Physics and Calculus.

Chemistry Research and Work Experience ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Chemistry, Villanova University, Villanova, PA [August 2010- Present]

• Published in Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology.

• Completing thesis work on purification and characterization of a trypanosomal protein as well as its paralogs and a second grant sponsored project involving an essential trypanosomal nuclear factor and its interacting proteins.

• Designed three Tandem Affinity Purification tags and experimental procedures for each purification to use them to determine interacting proteins with my protein of interest.

• Successfully cloned three his-tagged proteins into E.coli, overexpressed and purified them to be used at antigen in rabbits for polyclonal antibody generation. Performed RNA interference (RNAi) on four protein paralogs to measure cell vitality

• Currently, measuring transcript levels in RNAi cells to aid in determining the function of my protein of interest and preforming promoter pull down assays with biotinylated probes I have designed.

• Trained two undergraduate researchers within the lab.

Sub-Contractor at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Philotechnics LTD, Collegeville, PA [Summer 2009]

• Organized a site-wide chemical inventory, decommissioned laboratories, became familiar with liquid nitrogen protocols, radiation safety protocols, blood-borne pathogen safety, as well as OSHA standards and proper protective equipment standards.

Intern, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Collegeville, PA [Summer 2007 and 2008]

• Organized a site-wide chemical inventory.

• Worked on a productive team and acquired time management skills.

• Day to day experience included general laboratory skills and practices, liquid nitrogen protocols, changing and removing dewars and Airgas tanks, autoclaving materials, working a chemical receiving dock, working a chemical store room, working with the REES monitoring system as well as many other ‘Global Research Facilities’ aspects of the laboratory.

• Trained in standard OSHA practices, chemical spill safety, proper protective equipment safety and radiation safety protocols.

Undergraduate Researcher, Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ [September 2009- April 2010]

• Successfully produced starting materials for downstream chalcone chemistry under the supervision of Dr. Massimiliano Lamberto.

Publications and Achievements_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Whitecavage Solnoki, K; Sing, AS; Sofa, CJ; Miller, R; Ogorzalek, P; Penek, HV; Palenchar, JB. “TbENF49 is an Essential TbTFIIB-Interacting Trypanosome-Specific Factor.” Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology. Accepted, in press.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed, PMID: 22024471

Sofa, C.S. and Palenchar, J.B. “The Characterization of an Essential Novel Trypanosome-specific DNA Binding Protein.” Poster presentation at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) 60th Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, December, 2011. (International Meeting)

Leadership and Professional Development______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Treasurer, Senior Class at Monmouth University [September 2009- May 2010]

Member, Chemistry Club at Monmouth University [September 2006- May 2010]

Executive Board Member (2 years), Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority [September 2009- May 2010]

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