University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant- Cell Biology and Molecular

Genetics Department

As a research assistant I worked in an immunology lab that studies B lymphocytes. My projects

focused on the actin dynamics of B cells during antigen stimulation with antigen presenting

membranes and the effects of membrane damage and repair on B cell activation. I was in charge

of developing my own protocols, designing experimental systems for my projects, and

conducting my own experiments. I used various techniques including fluorescence staining of

samples for running flow cytometry or imaging using confocal fluorescence microscopy or total

internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, preparation of samples for/and imaging using

transmission electron microscopy, Western blotting, and running PCR. I performed the analysis

and statistics for all of my experiments and routinely compiled data and results into presentations

for meetings and periodically for departmental functions. Beyond the work on my own projects, I

also advised and aided collaborators with experiments, maintained mouse colonies, ordered

supplies and reagents for the lab, and helped with the general maintenance of the lab and

equipment.

As a graduate teaching assistant for the Department of Biological Sciences I taught

undergraduate laboratories for General Microbiology, Pathogenic Microbiology, Immunology,

and Recombinant DNA. My duties as a teaching assistant included lecturing, explaining

protocols and procedures to students, demonstrating experimental techniques, supervising

students as they conducted experiments, grading student reports and exams, collaborating with

laboratory instructors and other TAs to adjust and improve execution of labs, and performing

general maintenance of teaching labs and equipment.