Microsoft Word - LowLactose_ERP-Proposal-May2019

Graduate/Teaching Assistant, University of New Orleans, LA, USA.

2010-2015

Analytical Chemistry  Analyzed broad range of chemical compounds in diverse matrices using direct infusion-mass spectrometry and LC-MS/MS.  Analyzed peptides, proteins and cell surface proteins using LC-MS/MS with nano-electrospray interface and performed database search using SEQUEST database.  Developed and validated protocols for ICP-OES analysis of trace metals (As, Se, Cd, Ba, Cr, and Cu) in urine supporting prostate cancer research and in shrimp supporting research for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  Developed a HPLC-fluorescence method for quantitative analysis of fluorescent dyes conjugated to magnetic beads to accurately quantify the loading capacity of magnetic beads.  Characterized and quantified proteins conjugated to magnetic beads using fluorescence microscopy/spectroscopy, and UV-VIS spectroscopy. Biomaterials  Synthesized core shell magnetic nanoparticles using co-precipitation, solvo-thermal and thermal decomposition techniques.  Developed a novel strategy to functionalize nanoparticles with N -hydrosuccinimide (NHS) ester to label free amine groups of peptides/proteins.  Synthesized novel magnetic nanoparticles for labeling solvent exposed lysine residues of surface proteins in living yeast cells.  Characterized core-shell magnetic nanoparticles using transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, FT-IR and dynamic light scattering.  Performed in vitro studies of cell-nanoparticles conjugation and imaging with electron and fluorescence microscopy to study the effect of charge and size on the intracellular uptake of nanoparticles.  Developed and optimized a method for separation of therapeutically active components from natural products using size exclusion chromatography and reverse phase-HPLC.  Evaluated in vitro anti-cancer activity of an ethnomedicinal plant using cell viability assays such as MTT and WST-1 assay for pharmacological screening of drug candidates with mammalian cancer cell lines( L1210, Sk-BR3 and U87). TEACHING EXPERIENCE Lab Instructor for Quantitative Analysis at University of New Orleans (Aug 2010- present) Duties involve teaching key concepts of analytical chemistry including Spectroscopic techniques (UV- Vis, FT-IR, ICP-OES and Fluorescence), Separation techniques (HPLC, GC), and supervising 15-20 students each semester. Supervised, trained and mentored undergraduates and research laboratory colleagues on various analytical instruments. PATENTS AND PUBLICATIONS Patents 1. Yang Cai; Ujwal S Patil ; Matthew A Tarr; Haiou Qu; Daniela Caruntu and Charles J. O'Connor Cleavable Magnetic Nanoparticles Reagent for Primary Amine Group Labeling. (Patent No. US 14/229,911) April 4, 2013. Graduate/Teaching assistant, Idaho State University, ID, USA 2008-2010