Evangelia Vamvaka
Cambridge,MA
Summary
Experienced and results-driven Molecular Biologist/Biotechnologist with a proven track record in Synthetic Biology and Molecular Biology. Specialized in molecular pharming, biopharmaceuticals, and gene editing toolbox design with CRISPR-Cas systems. Proficient in both plant and mammalian cells with expertise in leading cross-functional teams to achieve project goals.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior scientist Molecular Biology
INARI
05.2022 - Current
- Led and coordinated synthetic biology projects from conceptualization to implementation, demonstrating successful gene edit toolbox.
Senior Scientist
Planet Biotechnology Inc.
06.2020 - 05.2022
- Led upstream pipeline for vector design and optimization of small molecules for COVID-19 treatments and diagnostics (ACE2-Fc) using tobacco leaves as a transient expression system.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI)
04.2019 - 01.2020
- Developed CRISPR-based programmable evolution platforms (such as EvolvR) for high-throughput engineering of next-generation food and therapies.
- Worked on rice callus, cell suspension, and protoplast isolation development systems.
- Utilized Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) for plant cells and gained experience in mammalian cell handling and growth.
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Uc Berkeley
06.2016 - 03.2019
- Led collaborative research with industry partners to enhance solar-to-biomass energy conversion efficiency and crop plant productivity using synthetic biology techniques (CRISPR/Cas9).
- Worked alongside lead on RNAi technology, resulting in publication on enhancing biomass and leaf-to-stem ratio in Nicotiana tabacum canopies.
- Established heterologous property of terpenol accumulation in plant leaves through chloroplast transformation and isolation.
- Developed a new and improved protocol for tobacco cell suspension culture, tissue culture, and transformation, reducing time and enhancing efficiency.
- Collaborated with researchers from various universities on a DOE-ARPA-E-funded project, involving the design and installation of an entirely synthetic genome into tobacco chloroplasts.
Education
Ph.D. - Molecular pharming
University of Lleida
Lleida, Spain11.2014
Master of Science - Horticulture Genetics and Biotechnology
Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICH
Crete, Greece06.2010
Diploma - Agronomy
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
11.2007
Skills
- Synthetic Biology
- Genetic engineering
- Biotechnology
- Plant/Mammalian transformation
- Molecular Biology
- Project management
- Plant-based pharmaceuticals
- Cell culture
Patents
MICROBICIDAL COMPOSITION US PCT/US2018/062857
Publications (representative)
- Vamvaka E, et al., (2018). Unexpected synergistic HIV neutralization by a triple microbicide produced in rice endosperm, PNAS, 07/30/18, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1806022115
- Henning Kirst, Yanxin Shen, Evangelia Vamvaka, Nico Betterle, Dongmei Xu, Ujwala Warek, James Strickland, Anastasios Melis (2018). Downregulation of the CpSRP43 gene expression confers a truncated light-harvesting antenna (TLA) and enhances biomass and leaf-to-stem ratio in Nicotiana tabacum canopies, Planta, 07/01/18, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-018-2889-7
- Vamvaka E, et al., (2016). Rice endosperm is cost-effective for the production of recombinant griffithsin with potent activity against HIV, Plant Biotechnology Journal, 01/23/16, https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.12507
Hobbies and Interests
- Artistic activities such as painting
- Playing video games
- Cooking and baking
- Reading books (sci-fi)
Additional Information
MICROBICIDAL COMPOSITION US PCT/US2018/062857
Languages
English
Full Professional
Greek
Native or Bilingual
German
Elementary
Spanish
Elementary
Timeline
Senior scientist Molecular Biology
INARI
05.2022 - Current
Senior Scientist
Planet Biotechnology Inc.
06.2020 - 05.2022
Postdoctoral Researcher
Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI)
04.2019 - 01.2020
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Uc Berkeley
06.2016 - 03.2019
Ph.D. - Molecular pharming
University of Lleida
Master of Science - Horticulture Genetics and Biotechnology
Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICH
Diploma - Agronomy
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
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