Gabrielle Hirkaway
Sheridan,MI
Summary
Dynamic and detail-oriented professional with a proven track record at Albion College, enhancing student understanding in Organic Chemistry through innovative lab exercises and rigorous safety protocols. Excelled in chromatography and collaborative research, demonstrating exceptional organizational skills and a comprehensive understanding of lab safety. Achieved significant improvements in experimental precision and student learning outcomes.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Teacher Assistant – Organic Chemistry
Albion College
Albion, MI
09.2024 - Current
- Act as a teaching assistant in the Organic Chemistry lab, helping students with experimental procedures and ensuring their understanding of key organic chemistry concepts
- Supervise and support students in performing reactions, purifications, and separations, guiding them through protocols and troubleshooting experimental issues
- Lead small group discussions and review sessions, assisting with problem-solving and clarifying complex topics related to organic reactions, mechanisms, and stereochemistry
- Grade laboratory reports and assignments, providing in-depth feedback to improve students' experimental and analytical skills
- Ensure compliance with lab safety standards, conducting safety briefings before experiments and ensuring proper handling and disposal of chemicals
- Collaborate with Professor Metz to refine course content, design laboratory exercises, and enhance student learning outcomes
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Sheridan Community Hospital
Sheridan, MI
12.2023 - Current
- Responsible for accurate and timely medical record documentation, ensuring thorough records of patient information and vital signs
- Perform patient observations and assist in documenting critical changes in patient conditions, which are reported directly to the medical team
- Demonstrate strong interpersonal communication skills, regularly interacting with patients, families, and healthcare professionals to maintain effective lines of communication
- Uphold patient confidentiality while working in a fast-paced and high-pressure healthcare environment
- Maintain attention to detail while observing patients, ensuring that potential issues are promptly identified and addressed
Laboratory Assistant – Chemistry
Albion College
Albion, MI
08.2021 - Current
- Conducted titration experiments to determine the concentration of unknown solutions, calculating and reporting percent error and precision in the experimental results
- Used agarose gel electrophoresis for DNA analysis, identifying genetic markers and analyzing DNA sample integrity, contributing to ongoing research on genetic profiling
- Successfully cultured and worked with E
- Coli in petri dishes, performing microbiological studies to understand bacterial growth and interaction with different chemical agents
- Performed protein denaturation experiments using ethanol and heat on proteins extracted from flies, analyzing the structural changes and stability of proteins under different conditions
- Collaborated with team members to solve complex problems in real-time, ensuring experiments ran smoothly and analyzing data to improve future studies
Undergraduate Researcher – Chemistry
Albion College
Albion, MI
02.2023 - 04.2023
- Conducted independent research using chromatography columns to separate and analyze chemical compounds, determining purity and chemical properties
- Ran Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) experiments to assess the reactivity of different samples with various solvents, compiling data to evaluate the optimal solvent systems for purification
- Isolated organic compounds using a separatory funnel, optimizing extraction techniques and analyzing yield and purity of isolated products
- Utilized the rotary evaporator (rotovap) to remove solvents and confirm the purity of the sample, analyzing results to ensure accurate measurements
- Collaborated with faculty and peers to refine experimental methods, troubleshoot technical challenges, and analyze data to draw valid scientific conclusions
Education
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
Albion College
Albion, MI02.2025
High School Diploma -
Central Montcalm High School
Stanton, MI05.2021
Skills
- Chromatography
- Titration
- Separatory funnel extraction
- Agarose gel electrophoresis
- Protein denaturation
- Rotary Evaporator
- UV-Vis Spectrophotometer
- Centrifuges
- PH meters
- Pipettes
- Preparation and analysis of chemical solutions
- Spectroscopic analysis
- Isolation and purification of compounds
- Microsoft Office Suite
- ChemDraw
- Statistical analysis tools
- Proper handling of hazardous materials
- Maintaining a clean lab environment
- Ensuring compliance with safety regulations
- Ability to synthesize complex scientific information
- Strong attention to detail
- Excellent time management
- Organizational skills
- Proven ability to work independently
- Collaborative research team skills
- Comprehensive understanding of lab safety protocols
Additional Skills And Qualifications
- Ability to synthesize complex scientific information and present it in a clear and organized manner to peers and instructors.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy, ensuring precise measurements and high-quality data in experimental procedures.
- Excellent time management and organizational skills, balancing academic coursework, research, and TA responsibilities.
- Proven ability to work independently as well as part of a collaborative research team, providing constructive feedback and support to others.
- Comprehensive understanding of lab safety protocols, ensuring a safe and effective laboratory environment at all times.
Timeline
Teacher Assistant – Organic Chemistry
Albion College
09.2024 - Current
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Sheridan Community Hospital
12.2023 - Current
Undergraduate Researcher – Chemistry
Albion College
02.2023 - 04.2023
Laboratory Assistant – Chemistry
Albion College
08.2021 - Current
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
Albion College
High School Diploma -
Central Montcalm High School
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