Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Undergraduate Research Experience
Timeline
Generic

Lauren Cammer

Abingdon,MD

Summary

Motivated Towson University alumna looking to pursue a doctoral degree in cell and molecular biology. Passionate about understanding underlying mechanisms of molecular biology and utilizing problem solving skills to find practical solutions. Eager to enter a doctoral program to deepen and expand knowledge of cell and molecular biology for further application in a future career. Aiming to utilize a doctoral degree to become a Principal Investigator in government or academia. Additionally, committed to fostering a scientific community that prioritizes collaboration, support, and openness.

Currently, at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense gaining highly specialized skills in toxicant-induced ocular injury both in vitro and in vivo. Working closely with mentor Dr. Albert Ruff to research acrolein-induced ocular injury on SV-40 immortalized human corneal epithelial cells and write a first author paper.

Overview

5
5
years of professional experience

Work History

ORISE Intern

USAMRICD
Gunpowder, MD
09.2023 - Current
  • Regularly operates robotic liquid handling systems, specifically the Agilent Bravo Liquid Handling Platform with both 384-channel and 96-channel head units.
  • Utilizes Agilent VWorks software to write and run protocols on the Bravo for cell seeding, assays, cell plate maintenance, and toxicant exposures.
  • Responsible for maintaining, splitting, and seeding multiple cell cultures, including hTCEpi cells and SV-40 immortalized human corneal epithelial cells.
  • Experienced in building, maintaining, and completing inventory on cryogenic stocks of cells.
  • Skilled in seeding cells in 96-well and 384-well plates, by hand using a 12-channel or 24-channel pipette.
  • Highly experienced in running weekly MTT assays and AlphaLISA Immunoassays to measure cell viability and IL-8 induction 24hr after toxicant exposure.
  • Skilled in hazardous waste tracking, management, and turn-in. Additionally, skilled in handling and disposing of biohazardous waste.
  • Performs daily temperature checks for temperature sensitive medical products (TSMP).
  • Trained in small animal handling for rats and mice.
  • Trained in surgical aseptic technique and small animal surgeries in mice and rats.
  • Experienced in subconjunctival, intraperitoneal, and subcutaneous injections on mice.
  • Skilled in euthanasia procedures for small animals, including cardiac puncture, barbiturate injection, and CO2 euthanasia.
  • Assists in toxicant vapor exposures on BALB/c mice.
  • Skilled in tattooing BALB/c mice with a LabStamp automated tattoo machine for identification. Additionally, taught in ear tagging and ear clipping.
  • Regularly anesthetizes mice for toxicant exposures and slit lamp imaging, utilizing a VetEquip Rodent Circuit Controller Anesthesia Unit and Isoflurane.
  • Proficient in slit lamp imaging for assessing toxicant-induced ocular injury in BALB/c mice.
  • Trained in using a High Content Analyzer to look at cellular endpoints, including propidium iodide (PI), dihydroethidium (DHE), tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester perchlorate (TMRE), and CellEvent Caspase-3/7 Green Detection Reagent.
  • Assisted in running Multiplex Cytokine Analysis on toxicant-exposed cell samples to evaluate cytokine induction.
  • Experienced in data analysis for MTT assay and AlphaLISA immunoassays.
  • Highly skilled in Microsoft Excel, including creating formulas for data analysis and data organization.
  • Maintains lab supplies and reagents, regularly restocking and replenishing materials.
  • Experienced in obtaining quotes from vendors for ordering and purchasing. Also, regularly picks up orders from our receiving office.

Research Program Coordinator

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD
09.2022 - 08.2023
  • Developed and maintained spreadsheets, questionnaires, and research tools.
  • Reviewed and adhered strictly to SOPs for my given research studies.
  • Contacted potential subjects to introduce and explain study objectives and protocols.
  • Linked untreated HIV and HCV positive patients to care by scheduling appointments, checking insurance information, and speaking with physicians to ensure proper treatment.
  • Conducted rapid point-of-care testing for HIV and HCV for eligible patients.
  • Completed weekly quality control checks on utilized testing kits to ensure test quality.
  • Ran daily reports to screen for eligible patients for linkage to care or new positive blood tests.

Undergraduate Learning Assistant

Towson University
Towson, MD
05.2021 - 05.2022
  • Tutored students one-on-one to help them progress through the course content.
  • Completed laboratory preparation for BIOL 410 molecular biology lab, including tasks such as pipetting reagents, preparing media, pouring plates, and locating necessary lab equipment.
  • Completed additional or repeat experiments for students in order to keep the course research on schedule.
  • Advanced knowledge and skill in many molecular biology techniques, including PCR, DNA and protein gel electrophoresis, DNA purification and quantification, bacterial electroporation, next generation sequencing, and western blotting.
  • Started liquid cultures, struck plates, and maintained bacterial colonies of Escherichia coli.
  • Taught students how to use bioinformatics analysis tools, including TMHMM, NCBI Microbial Blast, Ecocyc, and GWIPS, in order to select a small open reading frame to analyze for coursework.
  • Aided students and professor in troubleshooting experiments.
  • Helped students learn lab math for preparing the correct concentrations of reagents.
  • Autoclaved biohazardous trash and properly disposed of the material.
  • Autoclaved media and pipette tips in order to maintain sterility of reagents and equipment.
  • Utilized sterile technique in order to streak and pour plates. Additionally, used sterile technique during experiments in which a sterile field must be maintained.
  • Imaged DNA and protein gel electrophoresis, and helped students interpret these results.

Research Assistant

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD
09.2019 - 03.2020
  • Managed critical paperwork such as informed consent forms and personal waivers.
  • Categorized and cataloged each piece of data into business database.
  • Screened and tested an average of 8 participants a day in the HIV/HCV research study, administering relevant tests and surveys.
  • Screened potential subjects to determine suitability for studies.
  • Kept organized records, maintained inventory equipment and materials.
  • Utilized EPIC to screen for participants, store data, and input test results for participants.
  • Provided linkage of care to positive HIV/HCV participants that were tested in the Emergency Department.

Education

High School Diploma -

C. Milton Wright High School
Bel Air, MD
4 2018

Bachelor of Science - Molecular Biology

Towson University
Baltimore, MD
08.2022

Skills

  • Conducting surveys
  • Preparing samples and specimens
  • Field research
  • Expert sterile and aseptic technique
  • Quantitative and qualitative analysis
  • Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
  • Good clinical practice
  • Organization and Planning Skills
  • Dependable and Responsible
  • Written and Verbal Communication
  • Adapting to Student's Learning Style
  • Problem-Solving Support

Undergraduate Research Experience

Independent Research

Towson, MD

05/2022 - 08/2022

  • Joined the Diet and Cancer Lab at Towson University, working under Dr. Petra Tsuji.
  • Completed Summer research involving the gut microbiome and changes in bacterial DNA present in samples of four elephants during fall, winter, spring and summer seasons.
  • Simultaneously worked in the Analytical Chemistry lab under Dr. Beth Kautzman and Dr. Shannon Stitzel, extracting polar bear fecal samples for HPLC analysis of bacterial metabolites.
  • Trained on DNA extraction, quantification, purification and sequencing.
  • Gained shadowing experience during MTT assay and immortalized cell culture maintenance.
  • Additionally shadowed during the preparation of a qPCR for measurement of mRNA expression in cancer cells treated with sorghum bicolor.

Timeline

ORISE Intern

USAMRICD
09.2023 - Current

Research Program Coordinator

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
09.2022 - 08.2023

Undergraduate Learning Assistant

Towson University
05.2021 - 05.2022

Research Assistant

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
09.2019 - 03.2020

High School Diploma -

C. Milton Wright High School

Bachelor of Science - Molecular Biology

Towson University

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Lauren Cammer