Toxicologist

TOXICOLOGY CONSULTANT

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Diligent, dynamic, and extremely skilled professional with broad and high level of technical and scientific knowledge honed over 10+ years of comprehensive experience in mutagenesis, toxicology, molecular biology and DNA repair fields. Possesses broad-based background and in-depth understanding of microbial and mammalian tissue culture. Knowledgeable of GLP animal studies in compliance with established standards. Works accurately, paying keen attention to details while carrying out extensive and focused laboratory studies to identify, monitor, and evaluate the impact of toxic materials on human and animal health, and the environment. Accurately analyzed findings of research and other related topics; formulated decisions about future research directions based on these findings. Exposed and stays updated on emerging issues and new technologies in the field. Efficiently performs tasks while working collaboratively in multidisciplinary project teams with other scientists, technicians, and colleagues ensuring compliance with local, national, and international regulations.

CORE COMPETENCIES

- Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity Studies

- In Vivo Animal Studies

- Mouse Breeding Databases / Population Control

- Extensive Molecular Biology Techniques

- Cloning, PCR, RT-PCR

- Site-Directed Mutagenesis

- In Vitro Tissue Culture Assays

- DNA and RNA Isolation / Gene Expression

- Genetic Manipulations of Cells / Tranfections

- Presentation and Interpersonal Skills

COMPUTER SKILLS

Word Processing, PowerPoint, Statistical Analysis, Database Searches, DNA Sequence Analysis, Provantis

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Toxicology and Environmental Research and Consulting

The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI

TOXICOLOGY SPECIALIST II 2008-Present

Key Contributions:

- Diligently performed epigenetic and molecular biology work in observance of good laboratory practices (GLP ) to properly evaluate results

- Authored protocols for in-life dietary and nutritional animal studies and thoroughly examined results

- Participated and coordinated efforts to establish in house agouti mouse colony for testing of developmental effects on epigenome

- Conducted literature research and prepared comprehensive reports and informative presentations on epigenetic literature

- Actively interacted and maintained an open line of communications with company personnel at all levels and outside experts in the field to assess the role of epigenetics in safety risk assessment

Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE 2007-2008

Key Contributions:

- Facilitated extensive research utilizing chicken B-cells to study AID-dependent gene conversion through surface IgM staining

- Effectively functioned as guest lecturer and discussed findings of research activities

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

Community Outreach Program for Center for Environmental Health Sciences

TEACHING ASSISTANT AND PROGRAM DEVELOPER 2006-2007

Center for Environmental Health Sciences and Biological Engineering Division

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW 2003-2007

Key Contributions:

Mismatch Repair in Apoptotic Signaling from O6MeG DNA Lesion

- Skillfully developed and conducted in vivo studies with SN1 methylating agents in knockout mice

- Executed in vitro high-throughput proliferation assays and colony formation cytotoxicity assays as well as ex-vivo survival of tissue cells

- Investigated cancer predisposition of double knockout mouse strains; participated in histopathological tissue analysis

Alternative Mechanisms of Genomic Instability in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Ulcerative Colitis

- Studied and carefully analyzed genomic instability in S. cerevisiae and human lymphoblastoid cell lines

- Established transgenic mouse strains expressing altered DNA repair AAG enzymes

- Created genotyping protocols for transgenic mouse strains; evaluated expression of AAG transgene in tissues

Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT 1999-2003

Key Contributions:

Mechanism of Action of Human Activation Induced Cytidine Deaminase (AID)

- Accurately applied scientific knowledge to perform cloning and expression of AID

- Participated in fast paced team efforts to timely execute in vitro studies on AID-induced deamination

- Made use of genotoxicity assays to closely examine AID-induced cytosine deamination

Susceptibility of DNA to Oxidative Stress during Transcription

- Created and competently applied new genotoxicity assay to study base-pair substitution mutations

- Completed extensive molecular biology, genetic manipulations of cells, and viral phage work

Chemistry and Biochemistry—Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT 1998-1999

Biochemistry—University of Windsor, Windsor, ON

LABORATORY TECHNICIAN

TEACHING ASSISTANT Summer 1997 and 1998

1997

EDUCATION

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN BIOCHEMISTRY, MINOR IN BIOLOGY: 2003

Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOCHEMISTRY, HONORS IN BIOCHEMISTRY: 1998

University of Windsor, Windsor, ON

HONORS AND AWARDS

Dissertation Fellowship, Wayne State University 2002

Phi Lambda Upsilon—Honorary Chemical Society 2002, Alpha Psi Chapter Secretary

Entrance Assistance Awards for academic merit to both undergraduate and graduate programs

PUBLICATIONS

Klapacz J, Meira LB, Luchetti DG, Calvo JA, Bronson RT, Edelmann W and Samson LD

O6-Methylguanine-Induced Cell Death Involves Exonuclease 1 as well as DNA Mismatch Recognition in vivo. (2009)

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 106(2):576-81

Rusyn I, Fry RC, Begley TJ, Klapacz J, Svensson JP, Ambrose M and Samson LD

Transcriptional Networks in S. cerevisiae Linked to an Accumulation of Base Excision Repair Intermediates. (2007)

PLoS ONE. 2(11):e1252

Klapacz J and Bhagwat AS

Transcription Promotes Guanine to Thymine Mutations in the Non-transcribed Strand of an Escherichia coli Gene. (2005)

DNA Repair. 4: 806-813

Sohail J*, Klapacz J*, Samarnayake M, Ullah A and Bhagwat AS

Human Activation-Induced Cytidine Deaminase Causes Transcription-Dependent, Strand-Biased C to U Deaminations. (2003)

Nucleic Acids Research. 31(12): 2990-94

* Both authors contributed equally to this work

Klapacz J and Bhagwat AS

Transcription-Dependent Increase in Multiple Classes of Base Substitution Mutations in Escherichia coli. (2002)

Journal of Bacteriology. 184(24): 6866-72

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