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Research Experience
Jul. 2020–
Khvorova Lab | Graduate Student Researcher
RNA Therapeutics Institute · UMass Chan
Synthesize siRNA guide strands and derivatize them with novel 5′-end modifications; design novel nucleoside derivatives for incorporation into siRNA; screen modified siRNAs and anti-miRs ex vivo for efficacy, potency, and metabolic stability; prepare modified siRNA guide strands for RISC crystallography and pulldowns; conduct murine studies of siRNA activity in extrahepatic organs and central nervous system
Jun. 2020
Thompson Lab | Rotation Student
Dept. of Biochem. & Molec. Biotech. · UMass Chan
Derivatized ʟ-citrulline with photocleavable protecting group; expressed recombinant proteins with site-specific protected ʟ-citrulline residues in transfected eukaryotic cells via amber stop codon reassignment
Jul. 2019
Schiffer Lab | Rotation Student
Dept. of Biochem. & Molec. Biotech. · UMass Chan
Designed and synthesized quinoxaline-based viral protease inhibitors; expressed and purified recombinant target protease; quantitated enzyme activity and inhibitor potency; performed protein-ligand docking; conducted protein-ligand crystallography experiments
Mar.–Dec. 2018
Hamann Lab | Laboratory Technician
Dept. of Drug Disc. & Biomed. Sci. · College of Pharm. · MUSC
Derivatized natural product (manzamine A) scaffold for bioactivity screens
Jan. 2016–Aug. 2018
Guirgis Lab | Research Assistant
Dept. of Chem. & Biochem. · College of Charleston
Synthesized novel organometalloid compounds; characterized compounds via NMR, gas-phase FT-IR; computationally predicted physicochemical properties of molecules ab initio
May–Dec. 2015
Heldrich Lab | Research Assistant
Dept. of Chem. & Biochem. · College of Charleston
Synthesized α,ω-bis(p-anisyl)alkanes and synthetic intermediates
Work Experience
Aug. 2018–Jun. 2019
MEDUCARE | Emergency Medical Technician
Lifeguard Ambulance Service / MUSC
Assessed and transported patients; initiated BLS interventions; documented transports; inventoried ambulance equipment; assisted aeromedical and pediatric critical-care personnel
Dec. 2017–Jun. 2018
Charleston Co. School Dist. | Substitute Teacher
Kelly Educational Staffing
Instructed public and charter school students in grades K–12 towards learning outcomes; adapted lesson content to students’ abilities; nurtured proper student conduct
Activities & Distinctions
Positions & Appointments
Aug. 2024–
Member, Trainee-Invited Seminar Cmte., RNA Therapeutics Inst., UMass Chan
Jul. 2024–
Co-Chair, Community Develop. Cmte., MSTP Student Council, UMass Chan
Jul. 2024–
Co-Chair, Comm. Cmte., MSTP Student Council, UMass Chan
Mar. 2024
Volunteer, Build A Bed Project, Anchor Mission, UMass Memorial Health
Mar. 2024
Poster Judge, American Physician Scientists Assoc. Northeast Conference
Aug. 2023–Mar. 2024
Chair, Keynote Speaker Sub-Cmte., Planning Cmte., American Physician Scientists Assoc. Northeast Conference
Oct. 2022–
Volunteer, ScienceLIVE (science literacy outreach), RNA Therapeutics Inst., UMass Chan
Mar. 2022–
Medical Records Volunteer, Boston Marathon, Boston Athletic Assoc.
Nov. 2021–
Clinical Volunteer, Vaccine Corps, Commonwealth Health
Oct. 2021–Oct. 2022
Small-Group Facilitator, Principles of Pharmacol. course, T.H. Chan School of Med., UMass Chan
Feb. 2020–
Clinical Volunteer, Worcester Free Clinic Collaborative
Jul. 2020–Jun. 2021
Trainee, NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein Institutional National Research Service Award, UMass Chan MSTP
Apr. 2020
Volunteer, Project Read-Aloud, Worcester Public Schools
Mar.–May. 2020
Volunteer, COVID-19 Emergency Medical Shelter Program, City of Worcester/UMass Chan
Jun.–Jul. 2018
Career Explorer, Pediatric ICU, MUSC Children’s Hospital
Jan.–May 2017
Staff Writer, The Rival at College of Charleston
Nov. 2015–Apr. 2017
Student Representative, Faculty Cmte. on Academic Standards, College of Charleston
May 2016–Dec. 2017
Treasurer, Student Government Association, College of Charleston
Oct. 2015–May. 2016
Finance Committeeperson, Honors Student Assoc., College of Charleston
Sep. 2015–Apr. 2016
Parliamentarian, Student Government Assoc., College of Charleston
Sep. 2014–Apr. 2016
Senator, Student Government Assoc., College of Charleston
Honors
Oct. 2023
Poster Award, Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society Annual Meeting
Sep. 2023
Travel Award, Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society
May 2017
Outstanding Student in Chemistry Award, Dept. of Chem. & Biochem., College of Charleston
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Departmental Honors, Dept. of Chem. & Biochem., College of Charleston
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Hypercube Scholar Award, Hypercube, Inc. & College of Charleston
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Major Field Test Award, Dept. of Chem. & Biochem., College of Charleston
Dec. 2014–May 2017
President’s List Scholar, College of Charleston
Apr. 2015
New Student Leadership Award, Higdon Student Leadership Center, College of Charleston
Apr. 2012
Eagle Scout with Gold Palm, Boy Scouts of America
Scholarships & Grants
Aug. 2015–May 2017
LIFE Scholarship with STEM Enhancement, South Carolina Commission on Higher Ed.
Mar. 2016
Summer Undergraduate Research with Faculty Grant, Undergrad. Research and Creative Activities Prog., College of Charleston
Affiliations
Jul. 2023–
Student Member, Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Soc. (OTS)
Mar. 2023–
Junior Scientist, RNA Soc.
Mar. 2023–
Full Member, American Physician Scientists Assoc. (APSA)
Nov. 2021–
Medical Student Member, American College of Emergency Physicians/Emergency Med. Residents’ Assoc. (ACEP/EMRA)
Mar. 2016–Aug. 2017
Brother, Gamma Delta chap., Alpha Chi Sigma (ΑΧΣ) chem. frat.
Feb. 2016–
Student Member, American Chem. Soc. (ACS)
Qualifications & Skills
Certification & Licensure
Aug. 2024–Aug. 2026
HeartCode BLS Provider, American Heart Assoc.
Aug. 2018–Mar. 2021
EMT-B, National Registry
E3410347
Test Scores
Apr. 2021
USMLE Step 1: 233
Jun. 2017
MCAT: 518
Mar. 2017
ETS Major Field Test (Chem.): 190
Oct. 2016
GRE Chemistry Test: 760
Oct. 2016
GRE General Test: 331 (comb.)
Verbal Reasoning: 168
Quantitative Reasoning: 163
Analytical Writing: 4.5
Computer Skills
Basic
HTML/XHTML, PyMOL, Maestro, GnuPG, Windows command prompt
Proficient
Microsoft Excel, Mendeley, ChemOffice, MestReNova, GraphPad Prism, Epic EMR, GIMP