Elham ettehadieh

• Established and led the Molecular Biology and Expression group at OPT, encompassing all logistical planning, resource allocation, and operational implementation.
• Engineered and optimized internal mammalian transient expression vector with enhanced copy number, significantly improving DNA replication and boosting the efficiency and reliability of transient protein production. This resulted in substantial cost savings through reduced licensing requirements and simplified DNA preparation procedures.
• Designed and executed molecular cloning experiments, including gene synthesis, vector construction, and site-directed mutagenesis.
• Developed and implemented optimized protein expression systems in E. coli, mammalian, and insect cells, significantly improving both intracellular and soluble protein yield and quality.
• Developed a novel Continuous Supernatant Harvesting strategy of stable mammalian cell lines that maintained high cell viability and increased yields.
• Characterized recombinant proteins using various analytical methods, including SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, ELISA, analytical HPLC-SEC, HABA assay, endotoxin measurements, and gel shift assays.
• Developed comprehensive client quotes by outlining project scope, including molecular biology (gene synthesis, vector construction, expression system selection), protein production (cell line development, culture optimization, purification), and analytical characterization (SDS-PAGE, HPLC, ELISA, etc.), ensuring accurate cost estimation and project timelines.
• Collaborated effectively with clients and the protein chemistry group to ensure seamless product and knowledge transfer.
• Generated and delivered comprehensive technical documentation for clients, encompassing detailed project progress, in-depth data analyses, and experimental conclusions.
• Managed ordering, inventory control, and lab stocking, ensuring continuous supply of materials and equipment for ongoing research.
• Oversaw shipping and receiving logistics, ensuring timely and accurate delivery of materials and products to meet project deadlines.

• Evaluated the efficacy and ease-of-use of various commercial stable vectors to determine optimal vector for efficient MabPair antibody stable cell line generation.
• Designed and constructed transient antigen and antibody expression vectors to advance protein engineering projects.
• Performed transient trasfections of 293Expi and ExpiCHO cells in support of target validation efforts.

• Led development of diverse expression constructs (bacterial, viral, mammalian) for discovery and pipeline programs.
• Developed platform based vector libraries for expression of variable antibody domains with various antibody constant domains.
• Developed a mutational analysis approach for production cell banks to pinpoint the mutation stage in MCBs and WCBs to identify low percentage mutated residues during cell line development.
• Developed gas inducible promoter platform for a tight control of protein expression of difficult to express proteins; modulation of non secreted protein expression for cell based assays.
• Authored and reviewed relevant CMC sections of regulatory filings for health authorities worldwide.

Research Associate III

• Enhanced mammalian vector functionality by genetically optimizing promoter and origin of replication sequences.
• Developed an all-in-one transient and stable vector platforms for mammalian expression.
• Optimized mammalian host lines by stable over-expression of anti-apoptotic proteins.
• Performed transient and stable transfections of mammalian cell lines in support of discovery research projects.

Sr Research Assistant

• Generated diverse phage and bacterial cDNA libraries for multiple research initiatives.
• Isolated and cloned cDNA sequences from a wide range of library sources.

• Isolated and cultured primary human blood cells from HIV vaccine trial participants to support immunological studies.
• Conducted CTL assays to evaluate the efficacy of diverse HIV vaccination protocols.
• Maintained laboratory operations within BL2 and BL3 safety guidelines.

• Extracted RNA from murine tissues to facilitate differential gene expression analysis between aging and young samples.
• Conducted DD-PCR and SAGE analysis to identify differentially expressed genes, followed by sequencing and qRT-PCR validation of target hits.