Gibco Cell Culture Heroes

Natalia Herreira

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

My name is Natalia Guadalupe Herrera and I obtained a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a minor in Bioinformatics from the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) in 2015. It was during my undergraduate studies that I discovered my interest for scientific research. Through the STEM diversity programs at UCSC I obtained the support I needed to pursue undergraduate research. I performed research in the laboratory of Dr. Victoria Auerbuch Stone, where I investigated mechanisms of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis virulence. After graduating, I spent a year in the lab of Dr. Auerbuch Stone to finalize my project and submit my first co-first author publication. In Fall of 2016, I began graduate school at Albert Einstein College of Medicine where I joined the lab of Dr. Steven C. Almo in the department of Biochemistry. The Almo lab focuses on a variety of biologically relevant questions including projects focused on characterizing the interactions and networks of extracellular proteins (i.e. secreted and cell surface proteins) through the use of high throughput platforms. My project stems from this work and focuses on characterizing a novel interaction discovered in our lab. In addition, the Almo lab focuses on developing biologics to modulate CD8+ T cell activity in an antigen specific manner. Another one of my projects focuses on developing these biologics and characterizing the effects of these biologics on T cell activation.

Rukia Henry

Rutgers University

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Rukia Henry is a Pharmacology and Cancer Biology PhD Candidate at Rutgers University, where she works and conducts research at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey. She currently investigates the dynamics of DNA repair in cancer, with a focus on the DNA damage response. Specifically, her work in the laboratory of Dr. Shridar Ganesan is modeled after the established framework that attempts to delineate key factors involved in the PARP-dependent DNA repair pathway. Her work is currently aimed at identifying actionable and targetable key players that help to regulate the DNA damage response. Of importance to her study are those proteins that interact with PARP and chromatin remodeling enzymes, such as TRIM33, and others that help to facilitate efficient DNA repair. Although Rukia's current PhD focus is related to cancer biology and DNA repair, she earned her Bachelor's of Science degree in Biology from Howard University in 2018, where she graduated with honors. During her undergraduate tenure, she conducted research related to mapping the anatomic locations of HIV infection in the pediatric brain, working in a lab that utilized infant rhesus macaques' primate brains as the model organism. Further, she has conducted undergraduate research focused on understanding the pathogenesis of herpes viral infection in the central nervous system. Rukia is passionate about diversity in STEM, and is an advocate for increasing the representation of minorities in the field. She has, and continues to share personal and professional aspects of her journey in the pursuit of her doctoral degree, through varying mediums such as podcasts, professional panels and her personal website.

Rachana Vaidya

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

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Rachana Vaidya is currently a PhD Candidate in Bioengineering and Biotechnology program at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, MA, USA and has completed her Master’s in Biotechnology from St Xavier’s College, Mumbai. Her investigation focuses on how hyperglycemia and advance glycation end products(AGEs), such as pentosidine and CML alter bone cell behavior, to understand deterioration of bone quality and increased bone fragility in Type 2 diabetic patients. She will be graduating in summer 2021 and wants to continue working in diabetes/aging research. She is curious to know more and study about life not seen by the unaided human eye. Her research interest lies in, but not limited to, evolutionary biology, molecular biology, and gene expression studies in humans and other hosts. She loves exploring new areas of research and development to gather knowledge. Her research is driven by the goal to make a positive difference in the world. In her free time she enjoys doodling, painting, reading sci-fi novels, and writing short stories and poems.

Cláudia Miranda

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center
University of Sao Paulo – Brazil

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Cláudia Miranda is currently a Post Doctoral Research Fellow at iBB – Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences/ Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy/ Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal. The main focus of her research is the development of a scalable and cost-effective culture platforms for expansion of human pluripotent stem cells and their controlled differentiation into different lineages for drug discovery and toxicity assessment. After finishing a degree in biochemistry, she received an MSc in Biotechnology and a PhD in biotechnology and biosciences at Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, focusing on the 3D culture and neural induction of human pluripotent stem cells.

Ernesto Goulart

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center
University of Sao Paulo – Brazil

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Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center at the University of Sao Paulo - Brazil. Stem cell and Bioengineering scientist with 13 years’ experience in biomedical research. Working to generate new technology to mitigate the scarcity of viable organs for transplantation. Author of several patents and high impact papers (e.g. Nat. Comm, Biofabrication, Cancer Research, etc). Expert in iPS cell technology and tissue engineering (3D bioprinting, organoids, etc). Passionate and dedicated scientist. Currently working with business development, gene-editing technology, xenotransplantation, liver organoid, and bioprinting.

Amal Hassan Ali

Postdoctoral researcher
The Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

My name is Amal, I am currently a Postdoc at the Protein X-ray Crystallography and Signal Transduction, in Charite' Berlin, Germany. I am investigating the signaling activity of Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs), one of the 5 main families in the GPCR superfamily with atypical characteristics. These receptors are important in cell-cell adhesion and interaction with extracellular matrix proteins. My main aim is to understand their molecular mechanism of signaling by structural and functional studies. I have a bachelor & master’s degree in industrial biotechnology, where I was studying the application of stem cells in regenerative medicinal applications (mainly cardiovascular diseases). This sparked my interest in science research and I continued my studies for a doctoral degree in cellular and molecular biology in Milan, Italy. I did my PhD in part at the Membrane protein Lab in Oxford, UK and in part at the University of Milan. My main interests are protein structural biology and drug discovery, using X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, bio-chemical and physical methods for studying protein complexes in human physiological and pathological conditions. In particular, during my Ph.D I focused on the characterization of membrane proteins and nanobodies complexes to understand their pathological mechanism in diseases such as neurodisorders including multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, ictus and genetic rare diseases. Therefore, by deciphering the impact of the pathological protein's function and structure, it would be possible to propose and rationally develop therapeutic approaches. I am inspired by scientists or people who made an impact in our history. for example, Steve Jobs and his iconic quote “the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” Is motivating me a lot. I hope my current study will further advance our understanding of the mechanistic of rare, complicated diseases in which aGPCRs are involved.