Education

September 2005 - Present
Honours Bachelor of Science (HB.Sc)
Specialist in Integrative Biology
University of Toronto Scarborough

Undergraduate Research Experience

April 2009 - August 2009
Faculty of Biochemistry || University of Toronto
Summer Research Student
Supervisor: Dr. Morris Manolson


September 2008 - April 2009
Cell and Systems Biology || University of Toronto
Undergraduate Research Thesis Student
Supervisor: Dr. Mauricio Terebiznik

• Research with Salmonella Typhimurium invading cells in RAW 264.7
• Investigated the role of TLR4 during Salmonella Typhimurium invasion
• Investigated the role of Brutons' Tyrosine Kinase during Salmonella invasion
• Assisted in the start-up of this newly built laboratory
• Earned a final mark of 89%

September 2008 - January 2009
Medical Genetics and Microbiology || University of Toronto
Undergraduate Research Thesis Student
Supervisor: Dr. Jane Aubin

• Research Conducted on Osteogenesis Imperfecta
• Wrote a Literature Review on Osteogenesis Imperfecta
• Obtained Final mark of 81%

April 2007 - June 2008
Cell and Systems Biology || University of Toronto
Undergraduate Research Thesis Student
Supervisor: Dr. Rene Harrison

• Research with Osteoclasts
• Thesis: Role of PI3K in the recruitment of microtubules to the bone resorbing organelle in Osteoclasts.
• Submitted a Research Abstract
• Participated in research relating to CSA microgravity experiments.
• Piloted research studies involving multinucleation / fusion event in Osteoclasts.
• Obtained Final mark of 86%

Research Skills

Hands on Skills:

• Confocal Microscopy
• Zeiss Epi-Fluorescence Microscope
• Leica Microscope
• Microinjection
• Cell Culture
• Transfection
• Western Blotting
• Protein Purification

Software Skills:

• Volocity
• LSM
• Axiovision LE
• Adobe Photoshop CS3
• Adobe Illustrator CS3
• Adobe Flash CS3
• ImageJ 64 w/ BioFormats Plugin

Scholarly Presentations

April 2007
Research Thesis Presentation
Supervisor: Dr. Rene Harrison
Topic: Role of PI3K in recruitment of microtubules to bone resorbing organelle in Osteoclasts

• Presentation Nature: Audience of approximately 30 PI's in various fields of research converged to listen to Undergraduate Research Initiatives on campus.

Employment

Current Employment:

September 2008 - Present
Teaching Assistant
Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences || CUPE 3902
University of Toronto Scarborough

1. Section TA

• Responsible for Marking Midterms and Final Exams
• Provided personal support to students having excessive difficulty in course concepts
• Responsible for student oversight for 412 enrolled students.

2. Tutorial TA

• Ran an Hourly tutorial once a week for an undergraduate introductory chemistry course, assisting students on grasping the concepts for topics ranging from stoichometry to VSEPR theory and Quantum Theory.

Previous Employment:

September 2006 - April 2007
Work Study Student
Department of Biological Sciences || NSERC / UofT Funded
University of Toronto Scarborough

• Lab Assistance in autoclave, materials preparation, solution preparation, ordering
• Gained meaningful experience surrounding Research and its values

Volunteer Work

April 2006 - Present
Founder/Director
Chemistry Aid Center
Council of Student Services
University of Toronto Scarborough

Founder/Director

• Created Chemistry Aid Center in 2006 with direction of Dr. Anne Verner of University of Toronto Scarborough
• Lead in the hiring of 22 volunteers who have later become TAs with the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences
• Shaped the program regimen for the drop in Aid Center that provides students with the necessary skill set to succeed in CHMA10/11 courses specifically
• Sought and received DPES support as well as funding support from Council of Student Services
• Worked as an impromptu in between other duties of organizing and running center

April 2006 - Present
1. President
2. VP Finances Operations
3. Academic Events Director
Biology Students' Association (BioSA)
Department of Student Affairs
University of Toronto Scarborough

1. As President:

• Provided oversight to a team of 16 executives that allowed the organization to serve its role in multiple faucets of the school, including seminars, socials and charity work
• Oversaw the role of the Association with its involvement in Frosh week Activities
• Served on the selection committee for the BioSA Scholarship
• Served on the hiring committee for the Chemistry Aid Center
• Assisted in writing Policy document for the Chemistry Aid Center
• Involved in the creation of Financial Policy documentation for the Association
• Served as point of communication between Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Student Affairs
• Served on the Search committee for Full Time Sessional Instructor
• Spearheaded the initiative for the greater transparency of BioSA through a newly launched Radio Show
• Voting member of the UTSC Academic Committee
• Member of UTSC planning and Budgeting Committee

2. VP Finances/Operations

• Oversaw the finances of the Biology Students Association
• Organized the annual labcoats and goggles sales event for laboratories across campus, with cash flow of $26,000
• Sought and awarded over $1,800 in funding from the Council of Student Services
• Provided the sponsorship acquisition strategies with Princeton Review and Kaplan

3. Academic Events Director

• Created over 15 events on campus ranging from a variety of issues related to Academics including:
  • Research Seminars
  • Professional School Seminars ranging from Dental School to Teachers College
  • Seminars related to Academics

Sept 2005 - April 2006
Titles Held
Voting Member
Standing Committee on Students and Equity
Scarborough Campus Students' Union
University of Toronto Scarborough

Voting Member

• Advocated to a special envoy on Ageism related issues to the President of UofT
• Advocated for the installation of Public use microwaves on campus
• Advocated for better rules regarding the Prayer Rooms

Lecturing Experience

• "Getting into Research, Seminar" : A seminar on the strategy to land the best research placements, and how the average student can get them
• "Workstudy Seminar": A seminar on the strategies needed to be able to land effective and meaningful workstudy placements

(Ir)relavent Information

• Hand-built Website.
• Has ambitions in obtaining full Professor position at University Institution
• Upbeat and Cheerful Personality
• Owns a Macbook, Pro Mac User
• Can talk at length about Spiderman, ST:TNG, ST:Voyager, Overall Movie Fan