I am currently working in Vector Engineering Team, part of Ultragenyx Gene Therapy Research in Somerville MA. Together with my Scientist and Research Associates teammates we bring our virology subteam to advance Ultragenyx Pinnacle rAAV production system for delivering high quality gene therapy treatment to rare disease patients.
- Provided scientific leadership and defined experimental strategy for advancing the Pinnacle rAAV production platform
- Provided virology expertise within a crossfunctional collaboration for evaluating novel rAAV production approaches
- Investigated viral and cellular processes affecting AAV production and quality
- Performed in-depth characterization of rAAV genome replication and packaging using ddPCR, CsCl fractionation, Southern blotting and Nanopore sequencing
- Supervised and supported a Senior Research Associate I
I joined Vector Engineering team of Ultragenyx Gene Therapy Research to implement cutting-edge AAV technology to improve efficacy, potency, safety and production of rAAV vectors. My role placed special emphasis on the design, production and evaluation of novel AAV genetic elements and mutant adenoviruses.
- Executed rAAV and rAd5 studies that drive company research and development goals
- Collaborated internaly across Gene Therapy teams (Producer Cell Line, Nonclinical, Research Analytica Development), Pharmaceutical Development team and externally with CROs
- Developed an alternative potency assay for one of Ultragenyx gene therapy programs
- Applied CRISPR mediated gene up/down regulation for advancing existing cell-based assays
Research Specialist
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MIT
Sept 2020
I stayed at the Shoulders Lab at MIT for a month after graduation to finish my investigation of virus-cell interactome
- Investigated influenza nucleoprotein host cell interactome to elucidate individual factors required for stabilization of biophysically defective but innate immune escape Pro283 variant
Graduate Research Assistant
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MIT
June 2016 - Aug 2020
Ph.D. research conducted in Prof. Matthew D. Shoulders lab at MIT Chemistry Department
- Discovered the critical role of host chaperones in potentiating influenza immune escape
- Developed cell-based assays in BSL-2+ environment to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of mutant viral proteins dependence on the host protein folding network
- Established external collaborations for biophysical investigation of influenza nucleoprotein
- Communicated research at international conferences (EMBO 2019, FASEB 2018, ACS 2018)
Summer Intern
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Vertex
July 2019 - Aug 2019
- Developed human cell-based disease models and characterized using fluorescent microscopy
- Maintained primary human cells
- Synthesized, modified and purified RNA in vitro
