Profile

Biochemical Engineer with over 4 years of experience in working with multi-disciplinary teams in the pursuit of world-class research pertaining to Oncology. Team-oriented leader with proven success in developing, managing, and executing innovative projects which identify, characterize, and target non-coding RNAs in various types of cancer.

Expertise includes:

• Multi-dimensional RNA-based Project Management & Leadership

• Non-coding RNA Therapeutics Research

• Protocol & Milestone Development & Execution

• Data Aggregation & Analysis

• Negotiation & Collaboration Skills

• Scientific & Business Communication & Presentation

• Quality Improvement and Assurance

Work Experience

• Dates: Dec 2013 – present
• Name and address of employer:M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
• Occupation or position held: Postdoctoral Fellow

• Main activities and responsibilities:

• Lead SME and researcher for cellular metabolism and RNA:protein interactions – Launched, developed and managed a multiple discipline and highly collaborative (internal and international) project investigating the molecular mechanism of reprogramed colon cancer metabolism by a long non-coding RNA.

• Developed in vivo miRNA therapeutic strategy – Identified a miRNA as potential novel therapeutic target for myelofibrosis; established and tested a strategy to target the miRNA in vivo.

• Characterized and investigated the Type II diabetes phenotype and the molecular mechanism responsible for the phenotype in a long non-coding RNA transgenic mouse

• Trained and mentored graduate students (total of 6).

• Grant writing (on average 5 grants per year).

• Laboratory management duties – handling supply orders and operations. Negotiated with vendor and implemented an optimized ordering system that reduces waiting time for the product by more than a week and increased workflow efficiency

• Dates: Mar 2011 – Nov 2013
• Name and address of employer:M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
• Occupation or position held: Visiting Graduate Research Assistant

• Main activities and responsibilities:
• Tested and validated a long non-coding RNA as potential biomarker for identifying a specific subgroup of breast cancer patients that would benefit from CMF therapy.

• Tested and characterized the expression profile of T-UCRs (Transcribed Ultraconserved Regions) in pancreatic cancer.

• Trained and mentored undergraduate students (total of 5).

• Optimized cell migration and invasion protocols that reduced supply usage cost by 25%, increased result accuracy by 40% and has become standard protocol in the laboratory.

• Dates: Nov 2009 – Mar 2011
• Name and address of employer: Oncological Institute Cluj-Napoca, Romania
• Type of business or sector: Research
• Occupation or position held: Graduate Research Assistant

• Main activities and responsibilities:
• Investigated the protein coding gene profile of breast cancer patients before and after chemotherapy.

• Described to patients the research study and mediated approval for sample collection.

• Dates: Oct 2008 – Feb 2009
• Name and address of employer: InnoChemTech, Braunschweig, Germany
• Occupation or position held: Research Intern

• Main activities and responsibilities:
• Designed and performed the organic synthesis of sulfur-nitrogen heterocycle derivatives.

• Outlined strategies for scale-up to pilot study

• Dates: Jun 2006 – Sep 2008
• Name and address of employer: Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
• Occupation or position held: Research Student

• Main activities and responsibilities:
• Designed and performed the enantioselective synthesis of benzofuran and benzotiophen cyanohydrins.

• Optimized the synthesis by screening various enzymes which increase the yield of enantiomer production by 15%.

Education

• Dates 2009 – 2013
• Institution University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Romania
• Title of qualification awarded Ph.D. in Medical Sciences

• Dates 2004 – 2009
• Institution Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
• Title of qualification awarded Chemical Engineer, specialized in Biochemical Engineering (cum laude)

• Dates 2000 – 2004
• Institution Moise Nicoara National College, Arad, Romania
• Title of qualification awarded High School Diploma, specialized in Mathematics and Informatics

Personal Skills & Competencies

LANGUAGES

ROMANIAN – NATIVE PROFICIENCY

ENGLISH

• Reading skills excellent

• Writing skills excellent

• Verbal skills excellent

GERMAN

• Reading skills excellent

• Writing skills good

• Verbal skills good

FRENCH

• Reading skills good

• Writing skills basic

• Verbal skills basic

Social Skills & Competencies

Good communication and intercultural skills, interpersonal effectiveness, flexible, positive attitude, team player – competences acquired working in different areas of research, environments as mentioned above, but also from working and collaborating with people with very diverse cultural background.

Organizational Skills & Competencies

Time management, multitasking skills, ability to motivate others, ability to prioritize, strategic thinking – competences acquired by working simultaneously on multiple projects and collaborations, mentoring students and perform laboratory duties.

Technical Skills & Competencies

• Chemistry – organic and enzymatic assisted synthesis, NMR, thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography.

• Molecular biology – gene cloning, gene expression analysis (protein coding gens and non-coding RNA genes)(, PCR, RNA:protein interaction assays, Western, Northern and Southern Blot, microarray, RNAi.

• Cell culture – mammalian cell culture experience, including cell viability assays, transfections and metabolic assays.

• Animal models – xenografts and transgenic mouse models.

DRIVING LICENCE(S) B