Byron J. Silva
Redwood City,CA
Summary
Highly motivated Research Associate II with 8+ years of progressive experience in molecular diagnostics and assay development within transplantation and oncology. Proven ability to contribute to innovative R&D projects, as evidenced by two Innovation Awards at CareDx. Seeking a challenging research position in the Research Triangle to leverage my expertise in assay design, validation, and advanced molecular techniques.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Research Associate II
CareDx
02.2022 - Current
- Monitored progress against project timelines, ensuring timely completion of deliverables while maintaining high-quality standards.
- Performed analytical characterizations on the probes used for the 1st Pig to human xeno transplant assay.
- Designed novel assays targeting methylated regions of cfDNA.
- Innovation Award in 2025 for work on fragmentomics library prep.
- Validation of Alloheme - blood test that assesses chimerism from whole blood, bone marrow, and cell subtypes.
Research Associate I
CareDx
11.2019 - 02.2022
- R&D AlloSure Improvement team focused on developing commercial tests.
- Innovation award in 2023 for work in validation of Universal Dual Index (UDI) barcodes which were transitioned into the clinical laboratory and used on commercial tests.
- Biobank manager that repaired an antiquated inventory system. Gathering and analyzing of clinical samples led to publications.
- PCR, RNA extraction, NextSeq, TapeStation, cfDNA Isolation, Library Prep
Manufacturing Scientist I
Thermo Fisher Scientific- Linkage Biosciences
08.2017 - 10.2019
- Molecular diagnostics company focused on providing PCR genotyping products.
- Performed complex troubleshooting and assisted in leading initiatives to solve challenging scientific problems with assays or instrumentation.
- Pediatric attention to detail to ensure quality of products through applied usage of cGMP, Troubleshooting Experiments, CyBio Labeler, Hamilton Liquid Handling Systems, PCR, RT-PCR, and LinkSeq SureTyper.
Research Associate II
UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
08.2016 - 08.2017
- Department of Medicine – Hematology/Oncology Division: Principal Investigator: Jack Youngren Ph.D
- Prostate Cancer Genomics Laboratory, performing a clinical study on the mechanisms of therapeutic resistance for patients with Metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer.
- Library Prep, DNA Isolation (from blood/tissue), Tissue collection, Database Management, Agilent Bioanalyzer, Nucleic Acid Quantitation (Qubit)
Undergraduate Research
North Carolina Central University
10.2015 - 05.2016
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Research adviser: Vijay Sivaraman Ph.D
- An experimental study of the up-regulation of the HMGB-1 gene in the lung tissue of alcoholic mice.
- Used StemCell Technologies instrumentation to isolate alveolar macrophages from mouse lung homogenate.
- RNA isolation, RT-PCR, Bone Marrow Extraction, Cell Culture, Mice Dissection, cDNA, cell viability analyzer
Undergraduate Lab Assistant
North Carolina Central University
09.2014 - 12.2014
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Research adviser: Vijay Sivaraman Ph.D
- Learned different laboratory techniques through guided procedures
- Transfection, selective staining
Undergraduate Research
North Carolina Central University
01.2014 - 07.2014
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Research Adviser: Antonio Baines Ph.D
- Identifying and validating the role of novel molecular targets in the progression of transformation into cancer cells from normal cells in the pancreas.
- Western Immunoblotting, Gel Electrophoresis, Nucleic Acid quantitation (Nanodrop)
Isolated, purified, and characterized a novel bacteriophage
09.2012 - 05.2013
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Research Adviser: Gail Hollowell Ph.D
- Discovered bacteriophage “Obama12” and submitted Obama12 into GenBank.
- Called all 87 genes of bacteriophage Obama12 using DNA master
Education
Bachelor of Science - Biomedical Sciences
North Carolina Central University
Durham, NC05-2016
Skills
- Molecular Techniques: ddPCR, PCR, RT-PCR, cfDNA Isolation, RNA Extraction, Library Prep (Fragmentomics, Methyl-Seq, Illumina), Gel Electrophoresis, Flow Cytometry (Attune Nxt), Cell Culture, Nucleic Acid Quantitation (Quibit, Nanodrop)
- Assay Development: Assay Design, Assay Troubleshooting, Validation
- Instrumentation: NextSeq, TapeStation, Hamilton Liquid Handling Systems, CyBio Labeler, Agilent Bioanalyzer, StemCell Technologies Instrumentation
- Software: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Spreadsheets, JMP, Slack, Box, Evernote, Microsoft Teams, DNA Master
- Other: Analytical Characterization, Project Management, cGMP, Troubleshooting, Database Management, Technical Documentation, Fluent in Spanish
Timeline
Research Associate II
CareDx
02.2022 - Current
Research Associate I
CareDx
11.2019 - 02.2022
Manufacturing Scientist I
Thermo Fisher Scientific- Linkage Biosciences
08.2017 - 10.2019
Research Associate II
UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
08.2016 - 08.2017
Undergraduate Research
North Carolina Central University
10.2015 - 05.2016
Undergraduate Lab Assistant
North Carolina Central University
09.2014 - 12.2014
Undergraduate Research
North Carolina Central University
01.2014 - 07.2014
Isolated, purified, and characterized a novel bacteriophage
09.2012 - 05.2013
Bachelor of Science - Biomedical Sciences
North Carolina Central University
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