Kathryn Hinkelman
Pittsburgh,PA
Summary
Hardworking and innovative research scientist with robust experience in experimental design and chemical biology techniques. Equipped with excellent problem-solving skills and a knack for learning. Passionate about helping others through the development and validation of novel therapeutics.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Teaching Assistant for General Chemistry 1 & 2
University of Pittsburgh
09.2018 - Current
- Educated undergraduate students on fundamental chemistry topics, including stoichiometry, nomenclature, Lewis dot structures, acid-base chemistry, chemical equilibria, thermochemistry, electrochemistry, and more.
- Facilitated a deeper understanding of lecture concepts by guiding students through carefully curated laboratory experiments.
- Trained students on essential lab techniques and ensured proper safety procedures were followed.
Graduate Student Researcher
University of Pittsburgh
06.2018 - Current
- Designed and synthesized small molecule and peptide-based Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) for the degradation of epigenetic and oncogenic proteins.
- Cultured a variety of human cancer cell lines, including HeLa, K562, U87, LN-229, PC-3, A498, A549, SK-MEL2, and A375, MCF-7 cells, and more.
- Designed mammalian vector with VectorBuilder, amplified them through bacterial cell transformation and culture, and purified the plasmid DNA by maxi-prep.
- Introduced vectors to human cells using transient transfection or electroporation.
- Validated protein degradation by Western blot and confocal fluorescence microscopy.
- Optimized PROTAC activity through structural changes to the target binding ligand and altering the length and position of the linker.
- Digested cell lysates with trypsin to prepare samples for proteomic analysis.
- Executed caspase activation assays (apoptosis) and MTT assays (cell proliferation/viability/cytotoxicity).
- Carried out qRT-PCR experiments to detect changes in MEIS1 and HOX gene transcription.
- Performed differentiation assays of progenitor cells using PMA induction and examined morphological changes by Wright-Giemsa staining.
- Detected expression of cell surface markers characteristic of differentiated cells using multi-color flow cytometry.
- Initiated a collaboration for xenograft studies for in vivo PROTAC validation.
- Explored non-histone substrates of KDM4A through peptide synthesis, in vitro enzymatic MALDI-TOF MS assays, siRNA knockdown, and immunoprecipitation experiments.
- Utilized the following data analysis software: GraphPad Prism, ImageJ, and Microsoft Excel.
- Wrote weekly technical reports and presented research updates at group meetings.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy - Chemistry
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA12-2024
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry, Minor in Biology
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV05.2018
Skills
- Solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS)
- HPLC
- LC-MS
- MALDI-TOF MS
- Protein expression and purification
- Size exclusion chromatography (SEC)
- FPLC
- Fluorescence polarization (FP)
- Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC)
- Amplification and purification of plasmid DNA
- Site-directed mutagenesis
- PCR and qRT-PCR
- Mammalian cell culture
- Transfection and electroporation
- siRNA knockdown experiments
- Immunoprecipitation
- Nuclear extraction
- DNA extraction
- Protein and DNA gel electrophoresis
- Western blot / Immunoblot
- Multi-color flow cytometry
- Fluorescence microscopy
- Photo-crosslinking
- Enzymatic activity assays
- MTT assay and flow cytometry apoptosis assay
- Caspase ELISA assay
- GraphPad Prism
- ImageJ
- Microsoft Excel
- Scientific Writing
Awards
- Pam Basu Memorial Research Fellowship
- Safford Award for Excellence as a Graduate Student Instructor
- Chair’s Scholar Summer Research Fellowship
- Member of West Virginia University’s Honors College
- NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium Award
- Morrissey-Ropp Chemistry Scholarship
- Herbert and Hannah Siegel Chemistry Scholarship
Timeline
Teaching Assistant for General Chemistry 1 & 2
University of Pittsburgh
09.2018 - Current
Graduate Student Researcher
University of Pittsburgh
06.2018 - Current
Doctor of Philosophy - Chemistry
University of Pittsburgh
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry, Minor in Biology
West Virginia University
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