AMINA K GAUFF

In support of the Defense Health Agency-Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence (TBICoE).

• Conduct regular assessments of TBICoE products to verify adherence to Section 508 regulations.
• Conduct comprehensive literature reviews on TBI related topics (i.e., technology, biomarkers, etc.) to gather relevant research insights and to generate written and oral deliverables.
• Create and publish visually striking and informative infographics and factsheets to inform internal and external stakeholders of the research being conducted at TBICoE sites and to promote TBICoE initiatives.
• Develop comprehensive clinical impacts statements on current TBICoE published research literature. These statements highlight key findings, trends and recommendations for stakeholders.
• Coordinate and organize meetings/conferences; ensuring seamless logistics, scheduling and participant engagement.
• Critically evaluate content, summarize key points, and prepare comprehensive reports for analysis and decision-making purposes; ensuring accuracy, clarity and adherence to deadlines.
• Actively participate as a team player, fostering a collaborative environment to achieve shared goals and objectives.
• Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability by assisting team members with their tasks.

Related Skills and Training: Microsoft Office and EndNote.

In support of Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

• Conducted preclinical traumatic brain injury (TBI) research using complex experimental injury models that translate to military TBI patient experiences through the use of biochemical analysis, tissue analysis and animal behavioral assessments.
• Assisted in planning/design of experiments and procured needed reagents and supplies in order to conduct experiments.
• Performed data collection, analysis and documentation of results.
• Conducted literature reviews to support research projects in the field of TBI and behavior.
• Maintained compliance with established laboratory safety and protocols.
• Maintained laboratory space, inventory and equipment.
• Assisted with other projects and tasks as assigned.
• Collaborated with other departments as needed to reach project goals.

Related Skills and Training: Behavioral assessments (i.e., sucrose splash test, elevated zero maze & sociability tests), ELISA, intraperitoneal (IP) injections, EndNote, Microsoft Office and GraphPad Prism.

• Processed and handled primary patient tumors and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumors.
• Dosed processed patient derived xenograft tumors with test agents for client studies.
• Established and maintained organoids and spheroids from primary cell cultures, 2D cell lines and PDX specimens.
• Cultured tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL's) from patient tumors and maintain a biobank for internal studies.
• Conducted high-throughput screening of cancer cell lines to identify test agent toxicity and efficacy through the use of automated liquid handlers.
• Collaborated with other departments as needed to reach project goals.
• Assisted with other projects/tasks as needed.
• Maintained laboratory space, inventory and equipment.

Related Skills & Training: Tumor fragment assay, cell culture, RNA extraction, qPCR, immunofluorescence, confocal imaging, luminescent cell viability assay, Luminex Assay, ELISA, Microsoft Office, operate automated laboratory instruments (i.e. TECAN, Biomek, SpectraMAX, CX7 High Content Platform & Cellometer) and GCLP trained.

• Taught Biology 101 and 102 virtual lab courses.
• Developed and maintained a course syllabus according to the university's curriculum.
• Prepared, assigned and graded course assignments.
• Conducted weekly virtual recitation sessions and kept office hours to provide educational support to students.
• Participated in weekly meetings with faculty to discuss departmental goals.

• Conducted research focused on characterizing the protective role of heat shock protein 27kDa (HSP-27) and its effect on the trans-active response DNA-binding protein 43kDa (TDP-43) over-expression. The goal of this research was to identify a possible therapeutic target for TDP-43 associated proteinopathies (i.e. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration). This research served as my thesis project and was presented for a thesis defense in order to fulfill the university's graduation requirements.
• Supported undergraduate students with their projects through scientific training and troubleshooting.
  

Related Skills: Western blot, PCR, co-immunoprecipitation, immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, immortalized cell culture, primary neuronal cell culture, transfection, mouse model, perfusion, behavioral testing, fluorescence microscopy, genotyping, transformation, MTS assay, pH measurement and data analysis using Microsoft Office, PRISM and RStudio.

• Engaged in projects focusing on the protein-protein interaction between the CD44 intra-cytoplasmic domain (CD44-ICD) and transcription factors p53 and RunX2.
• Supported junior undergraduate students with their projects through scientific training and troubleshooting.

Related Skills: PCR, BRET, PLA, plasmid construction, cloning, cell culture and Microsoft Office.

• Internship, focused on the Three Soils experiment, testing the diversity of three soil types and their relationship to the release of carbon dioxide and methane.

Related Skills: Soil pH measurement, pore water collection, DNA extraction, "Picarro" carbon dioxide and methane measurements, and data analysis using R-studio and Microsoft Office.

• Internship, focused on testing and improving the lift off of thin and flexible Polyurethane (PU) membranes on a substrate through the use of water soluble sacrificial layers for micro-fluidic organ-on-a-chip applications. This project was presented at the LANL Student Symposium 2016.
  

Related Skills: Optimized spin coating methods, optimized water soluble sacrificial layer and PU concentrations for application, and demonstrated device integration.