Victoria Lewis
Boston,USA
Summary
Driven by a passion for scientific discovery and community impact, I honed my expertise in leadership. Excelling in roles from research assistant to youth mentor, I've adeptly blended technical proficiency with interpersonal skills to advance research and inspire the next generation. Proactive and versatile professional with a dedication to quickly adapting to new challenges. Strong problem-solving abilities and a proven track record of fostering strong relationships with clients and team members. Focused on supporting team success and achieving positive results.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Research Assistant I
University of Massachusetts Boston - Behavioral Neuroscience Lab
Boston, USA
12.2022 - Current
- Company Overview: NIH-Funded.
- I serve as a volunteer research assistant, helping graduate students and principal investigators (PIs) accomplish a common goal.
- Train undergraduate and graduate students on rodent handling, and support vivarium care.
- Train undergraduate and graduate students on brain extraction.
- Perform immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry.
- Prepare stock solutions.
- Complete image analysis and cell counting using NIH ImageJ, Aiforia, and Cell Target™.
- Generate digital images using the Scion camera and software.
- Use graphing software to create professional figures for posters and publications.
- Develop a facility with statistical software for data cleaning and analyses.
- Extract and upload data through the provided systems.
- Conduct comprehensive literature reviews to support ongoing research projects.
Ophthalmic Technician
Nielsen Eye Center
Quincy, USA
10.2023 - 12.2023
- Served as an ophthalmic technician to provide optimal and efficient eye healthcare services to the public.
- Verified patient information, records, medical history, and confirmation of visit.
- Trained and performed various eye medical tests for patients.
- Checked the condition of the patient's eye health.
- Prepared and serviced patients for ophthalmology examinations.
- Reviewed patients' prescription refill requests and concerns.
- Performed several patient work-ups while maintaining quality customer and patient service.
- Assisted in maintaining equipment care, exam room restocking, and inventory.
- Filled in as a medical scribe/technician scribe.
- Assisted in minor operational room procedures, and patient preparation.
- Performed visual acuity tests, tonometry, refraction and other vision tests.
- Responded to patient inquiries, offering empathetic support and accurate information.
- Assisted ophthalmologists with patient examinations and surgeries.
Teen Youth Leader/Advisor
Heal Boston
Boston, USA
06.2021 - 07.2023
- Served as a leader and aid to the youth of today and the future
- Mentored for future college and life applications.
- Organized a 'What You Need to Know' curriculum guide for high school juniors and seniors.
- Tutored and taught Science, Math, and English to upper middle school students (seventh and eighth grade).
- Led workout sessions for teen youth to encourage healthy self-care habits.
- I participated in and led group meetings with the teen youths to practice team-building skills, deep thinking, and self-reflection.
- Fostered relationships with students, and provided counseling on personal and spiritual issues.
- Engaged older youth by following, implementing and assisting in creating lesson plans.
Research Assistant I
University of Massachusetts Boston - Behavioral Neuroscience Lab
Boston, USA
03.2021 - 12.2022
- Company Overview: NIH-Funded
- Served as a Research Assistant to help aid graduate students and principal investigators (PI) in accomplishing a common goal
- Handled rodents and supported vivarium care
- Brain extraction
- Performed Immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry
- Prepared stock solutions
- Completed image analysis and cell counting using NIH ImageJ, Aiforia, and Cell TargetTM
- Generated digital images using Scion camera and software
- Used graphing software to create professional figures for posters and publication
- Developed facility with statistical software for data cleaning and analyses
- Extracted and uploaded data through the provided systems
- Assisted in literature reviews and writing systematic reviews
- Trained incoming undergraduate and graduate students on Standard Lab Procedures (SOPs), brain extraction and animal handling
- Trained and was trained in ANY - maze novel object data collection (behavioral testing)
- Kept lab space and equipment clean to prevent contamination with hazardous substances.
- Conducted comprehensive literature reviews to support ongoing research projects.
- Assisted in the design and implementation of experimental protocols.
- Utilized knowledge of scientific principles and techniques to troubleshoot problems encountered during the course of research.
Research Assistant I
University of Massachusetts Boston/Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center U54 Partnership
Boston, USA
11.2021 - 08.2022
- Company Overview: NCI-Funded
- Served on the Leadership Team to launch the inaugural year of grant activities for student engagement in cancer reduction activities
- Advertised, recruited, and solicited interest in summer internships for college- and high-school students
- Developed orientations, programming, and professional development activities for interns
- Worked with researchers
- Supported community- and faith-based organizations in training and capacity-building activities for cancer prevention and reduction
- Aided Principal Investigators in tracking data related to student trainee outcomes and accomplishments
- Collected data for admissions processing.
Research Assistant
University of Massachusetts Boston - Behavioral Neuroscience Lab
Boston, USA
09.2019 - 12.2021
- Company Overview: NIH-Funded
- Served as a Research Assistant to help graduate students and principal investigators (PI) accomplish a common goal
- Trained in Immunofluorescence protein staining
- Prepared brain tissue for light microscopy by performing Immunohistochemistry
- Skilled in light microscopy
- Written method sections for publications
- Trained in cell counting via GUI, Cell Target and Image J
- Trained in neuronal imaging analysis via Aiforia
- Animal handling and vivarium care
- Animal injections (intraperitoneal)
- Behavioral testing (i.e., locomotor activity, elevated plus maze, behavioral sensitization)
- Brain extraction.
- Written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Performed statistical software and data cleaning and analysis
- Performed graphical software and created professional figures
- Scientific communication (i.e., talks, professional posters, and manuscript writing)
- Digital images using Scion camera and software
- Trained in data collection, extraction and uploading
Teaching Assistant
Seymour Institute The EMK-EBH Accelerated Summer Program
Boston, USA
06.2021 - 08.2021
- Served as an aid to the summer education for middle school-aged students
- Encouraged creative problem-solving while developing skills in Math and Language Arts
- Participated in weekly staff meetings
- Helped organize class experiments and group activities
- Served as mentor and facilitator for peer mediation circles
- Chaperoned Friday field trips
Research Wet Lab Intern
University of Massachusetts Boston - Behavioral Neuroscience Lab
Boston, USA
06.2019 - 08.2019
- Company Overview: NIH-Funded
- Served as a student intern to assist graduate students in research
- CatCH Scholar Summer Research Program at University of Massachusetts Boston (NIH Funded) | Boston, MA
- Prepared brain tissue for light microscopy by performing Immunohistochemistry
- Observed and operated a light microscope
- Observed micro-sectioning of brain tissue
- Drafted and published one publication
- Group collaboration and team-building exercises
- Participated in various group discussions relating to cellular effects regarding drug addiction.
Dermatologist Physician Assistant Shadow
Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA)
Somerville, USA
07.2018 - 08.2018
- Observed medical provider and patient relations
- Exposure to professional etiquette
- Engaged in conversation with the physician assistant regarding the patient disease state and treatment modalities
- Assisted physician assistant in wart and acne vulgaris relief procedures
- Doctor-student mentoring
Neurologist Shadow
Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA)
Cambridge, USA
07.2018 - 08.2018
- Observed and interacted in doctor-patient engagement during appointments
- Engaged in conversation with the doctor and interns concerning patient disease state and treatment modalities
- Exposure to professional etiquette
- Doctor-student mentoring
Education
Bachelors of Science - Biology
University of Massachusetts Boston
Boston, MA12.2020
Some College (No Degree) -
University of Maine
Orono, MESkills
- PPE Training
- AI training
- Immunohistochemistry
- Immunofluorescence staining
- PCR
- Experimental Design
- Data Management
- Wet Labs
- Research Skills
- Data Analysis
- Data Collection
- Lab Maintenance
- Interpersonal Skills
- Leadership
- Teamwork
- Writing
- Public Speaking
- Problem Solving
- Microsoft Excel
- Mentoring
- Literature Reviews
- Decision-Making
- Communication
- Professional Development
- Computer Literacy
- Office Admin
- Community Outreach
- Youth Mentoring
- Critical Thinking
- Time Management
- Scribe
- Patient Care
Awards
- Kyran Kennedy Scholarship, University of Massachusetts Boston, 09/01/20
- Arredondo Brothers Scholarship, University of Massachusetts Boston, 09/01/19
- Flagship Match Scholarship, University of Maine, 08/01/16
Projects
Chronic mild stress induces depression-like symptoms in female rats showing high anxiety-like behavior: Links to 5HT1A receptor and Fos expression., CALHOUN, C., MASON, B., LATOUF, C., MEJIA, R., BARRIENTOS, H., LEWIS, V., DONALDSON, S.T., Invited Submission, Special Issue, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36343695/
Peer Reviewed Published Abstracts
- Chronic mild stress induces depression-like symptoms and differential neural markers in high anxiety female Long Evans rats., CALHOUN, C.A., MASON, B., LATTOUF, C., LEWIS, V., BARRIENTOS, H., MEJIA, R., DONALDOSON, S.T., BlackinNeuroscience, Inaugural Meeting, NNN27, 11/01/20, Virtual
- Chronic mild stress induces differential depression-like symptoms and neural markers in high anxiety female Long Evans rats., CALHOUN, C.A., MASON, B., LATOUF, C., LEWIS, V., BARRIENTOS, H., MEJIA, R., Society for Neuroscience Global Connectome, 01/01/21, Virtual
Affiliations
- Creative mind from writing to collaging and painting
- Linguist
- Liturgical Dancer
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
Spanish
Limited
Korean
Elementary
Accomplishments
- Chronic mild stress induces depression-like symptoms and differential neural markers in high anxiety female Long Evans rats., CALHOUN, C.A., MASON, B., LATTOUF, C., LEWIS, V., BARRIENTOS, H., MEJIA, R., DONALDOSON, S.T.
Timeline
Ophthalmic Technician
Nielsen Eye Center
10.2023 - 12.2023
Research Assistant I
University of Massachusetts Boston - Behavioral Neuroscience Lab
12.2022 - Current
Research Assistant I
University of Massachusetts Boston/Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center U54 Partnership
11.2021 - 08.2022
Teen Youth Leader/Advisor
Heal Boston
06.2021 - 07.2023
Teaching Assistant
Seymour Institute The EMK-EBH Accelerated Summer Program
06.2021 - 08.2021
Research Assistant I
University of Massachusetts Boston - Behavioral Neuroscience Lab
03.2021 - 12.2022
Research Assistant
University of Massachusetts Boston - Behavioral Neuroscience Lab
09.2019 - 12.2021
Research Wet Lab Intern
University of Massachusetts Boston - Behavioral Neuroscience Lab
06.2019 - 08.2019
Dermatologist Physician Assistant Shadow
Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA)
07.2018 - 08.2018
Neurologist Shadow
Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA)
07.2018 - 08.2018
Bachelors of Science - Biology
University of Massachusetts Boston
Some College (No Degree) -
University of Maine
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