Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Publications
Awards and Honors
Publications
Awards and Honors
Generic
Zoya Kai

Zoya Kai

Molecular Biologist
Oceanside,CA

Summary

Skilled Researcher enthusiastic about supporting advancements in the RNA, DNA and protein fields. Passionate about increasing knowledge to drive growth and needed improvements. Ready to apply knowledge and 10 years of experience in research.

Overview

20
20
years of professional experience
10
10
years of post-secondary education

Work History

STEM Faculty

California State University San Marcos
San Marcos, CA
08.2014 - Current
  • Devised strategies to reduce expenses, modernize operations and revamp procedures to improve institution operations.
  • Conferred with educators to identify current classroom concerns and diversify instructional strategies.
  • Conferred with educators to rebalance classes, increase resource utilization and integrate new technology.
  • Optimized student educational strategies with clear advice on course choices, progression and career options.
  • Conducted assessments, reviews and interviews of teachers and assistants to monitor progress and development.
  • Wrote Explore Evolution, textbook used at CSUSM, with Great River Learning of McMillan Publishing.
  • Training of other professors who are new to teaching lab.
  • Redesign of molecular biology lab book.
  • Mentoring of undergraduate students.
  • Taught class sizes range from 25-250 students.
  • Reviews from students average 4.5/5.0.
  • Partial list of classes include Cell and Molecular Biology lecture and lab, Advanced Genetics Lecture and Lab, Evolution lecture, Cancer Biology lecture.

Post-Doctoral Researcher

University Of California San Diego School Of Med.
San Diego, CA
05.2012 - 08.2014
  • Conducted independent miRNA research and development to attain short and long-term objectives.
  • Drafted manuscripts and presented findings at major miRNA conferences.
  • Wrote and published peer-reviewed articles concerning findings and highlighted possible applications for findings.
  • Conducted research guided by faculty supervisor in accordance with institutional and federal guidelines.
  • Collaborated with multidisciplinary team members to accomplish research goals.
  • Assisted teaching and instructing students alongside other professors.
  • Worked independently.
  • Upheld all university and regulatory requirements for documentation of findings.
  • Authored professional scientific papers for publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Troubleshot and developed experimental tools to deal with ever-evolving technology.
  • Attended research seminars and collegiate meetings to discover and discuss new technologies and research.
  • Collaborated with DNA and RNA sequencing professionals to advance research and gain deeper understanding of topics.
  • Worked to improve collective knowledge of miRNA regulation.
  • Participated in discussions, seminars and lectures at university events.
  • Mammalian cell culture hardware development.
  • Mammalian cell culture serum development, focusing on differential miRNA expression.
  • Isolated and purified miRNAs, and their targets, bound to Argonaute 2 proteins to detect novel regulatory pathways in mammalian cells.
  • Isolated DNA, with and without bound regulatory proteins, in mammalian cells.
  • Implemented ELISA assays, FACs analysis, fluorescent tag screening, and western blot analysis in detection of miRNA interacting proteins
  • Second author in collaboration with Natural Selection Inc. in using deep sequencing technology to map miRNAs expression profiles at discrete stages of pancreatic endoderm genesis. With this information, clearer picture has emerged of miRNA targets, and signaling pathways, required for pancreatic development.
  • Supervising team of three researchers.

Molecular Biology Ph.D. Candidate

University Of California San Diego
San Diego, CA
09.2005 - 10.2011
  • Worked with several teams on miRNA research.
  • Conducted basic and applied research on miRNA biogenesis.
  • Interpreted research findings and summarized data into reports.
  • Kept accurate databases of specimens collected and stored in repository.
  • Carried out quality control assessments for RNA and DNA analysis software.
  • Facilitated research into genetic causes of disease.
  • C. elegans, live animal, culture and maintenance
  • Northern blot experimentation and analysis and P32 probe design
  • Microinjection into oocytes for transgenic strains and analysis
  • PCR and qPCR analysis with primer design
  • Con-focal analysis
  • Ribosomal isolation and analysis
  • Western blot analysis
  • Co-first author on Nature article describing novel mechanism for microRNA (miRNA) auto-regulation.
  • First author on Devlopmetal Biology paper identifying novel DNA element regulating let-7 miRNA transcription.
  • Second author on Nature Structural Molecular Biology article that defined novel role for stem cell protein LIN-28 in let-7 miRNA biogenesis.
  • Two review articles regarding miRNAs with Dr. Amy Pasquinelli: one in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology and another in Developmental Biology.

Organic Chemistry Research Assistant

Kreido Biofuels
Camarillo, CA
09.2003 - 09.2005
  • Analyzed organic materials to evaluate nature, reactivity and other factors affecting use in Spinning Tube in Tube (STT) applications.
  • Compared STT products against design and production specifications through quality and integrity checks.
  • Efficiently organized and maintained equipment to keep laboratory productive and safe.
  • Applied chemistry knowledge and expertise to enhance STT applications.
  • Restocked laboratory work stations and sterilized surfaces to maintain readiness for any project requirement.
  • Maintained study documentation and laboratory records.
  • Informed study leaders of problems or deviations affecting data integrity and participated in corrective action.
  • Participated in project meetings and supported planning and guidance initiatives.
  • Performed complex analyses using new methods with scientific guidance from supervisor.
  • Assisted with method development and validation in various matrices.
  • Organized, conducted and evaluated analytical results and testing.
  • Operated and performed routine and non-routine maintenance on equipment through problem identification and resolution.
  • Handled chemicals such as nitric acid, sulfuric acid and hydrofluoric acid using strict safety protocols.
  • Operated industrial mixers to compound and blend chemicals.
  • Ran Gas Chromatography Mass spectrometry for purity tests
  • Flash chromatography to isolate specific molecules
  • Thin layer chromatography analysis
  • Organic chemistry bench top reactions

Biochemistry Research Assistant

Amgen Pharmaceuticals
Thousand Oaks, CA
09.2003 - 09.2005
  • Planned, modified and executed research techniques, procedures and tests.
  • Validated incoming data to check information accuracy and integrity while independently locating and correcting concerns.
  • Gathered, arranged and corrected research data to create representative graphs and charts highlighting results for presentations.
  • Cataloged data and research into shared online databases.
  • Performed biochemistry experiments and research and documented findings.
  • Worked both independently and collaboratively in fast-paced laboratory environment.
  • Worked with principal investigators to coordinate qualitative research into X-Ray crystallography
  • Helped team meet regulatory requirements by coordinating documentation and filings.
  • Collaborated with leadership team to identify relevant questions and determine best methods of collection.
  • Performed statistical, qualitative and quantitative analysis.
  • Developed fact sheets, graphs and tables to analyze and summarize survey data.
  • Protein purification
  • Protein crystallization
  • X-ray analysis
  • Western blot analysis

Education

Ph.D. - Molecular Biology

University of California San Diego
San Diego
09.2005 - 10.2011

Bachelor of Science - Biology, Minor in Chemistry

California State University - Channel Islands
Camarillo, CA
09.2003 - 05.2005

Bachelor of Arts - Communications

Governors State University
Park Forest, IL
09.2000 - 05.2003

Skills

RT-PCR

undefined

Timeline

STEM Faculty

California State University San Marcos
08.2014 - Current

Post-Doctoral Researcher

University Of California San Diego School Of Med.
05.2012 - 08.2014

Molecular Biology Ph.D. Candidate

University Of California San Diego
09.2005 - 10.2011

Ph.D. - Molecular Biology

University of California San Diego
09.2005 - 10.2011

Organic Chemistry Research Assistant

Kreido Biofuels
09.2003 - 09.2005

Biochemistry Research Assistant

Amgen Pharmaceuticals
09.2003 - 09.2005

Bachelor of Science - Biology, Minor in Chemistry

California State University - Channel Islands
09.2003 - 05.2005

Bachelor of Arts - Communications

Governors State University
09.2000 - 05.2003

Publications

2022: Kai ZS, “Explore Evolution” textbook. Great River Learning Publication.

2015: Fogel GB, Kai ZS, Zargar S, Hinton A, Jones GA, Wong AS, Ficici SG, Lopez AD, King CC (2015) “MicroRNA Dynamics During Human Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation to Pancreatic Endoderm.” Gene, vol. 574, no. 2, pp. 359-370.

2013: Kai ZS, Finnegan EF, Huang S, Pasquinelli AE “Multiple cis-elements and trans-acting factors regulate dynamic spatio-temporal transcription of let-7 in Caenorhabditis elegans” Dev. Bio.

2012: Zisoulis DG* & Kai ZS*, Gorin A, Pasquinelli AE, “Auto-regulation of miRNA biogenesis by let-7

and Argonaute” Nature (*these authors contributed equally)

2011: Van Wynsberghe P, Kai ZS, Massirer K B, Burton VH, Yeo GW, Pasquinelli AE “LIN-28 co- transcriptionally binds primary let-7 to regulate miRNA maturation in Caenorhabditis elegans” Nature Structural and Molecular Biology

2010: Kai ZS & Pasquinelli AE “MicroRNA assassins: factors that regulate the disappearance of miRNAs”

Nature Structural and Molecular Biology

2010: Kai Z, Pasquinelli “A Genome wide View of Hunchback-like Targets” Cell Cycle

Awards and Honors

2012-2014: CIRM Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Training Grant II

2010: National Institute of Health (NIH) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) Training Grant

2009: Summer Graduate Teaching Fellowship in Biological Sciences at UCSD

2009: National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship

2006-2009: Center for Molecular Genetics (CMG) Training Grant

2005: NSF Diversity Graduate Research Fellowship Program at UCSD

Publications

2022: Kai ZS, “Explore Evolution” textbook. Great River Learning Publication.

2015: Fogel GB, Kai ZS, Zargar S, Hinton A, Jones GA, Wong AS, Ficici SG, Lopez AD, King CC (2015) “MicroRNA Dynamics During Human Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation to Pancreatic Endoderm.” Gene, vol. 574, no. 2, pp. 359-370.

2013: Kai ZS, Finnegan EF, Huang S, Pasquinelli AE “Multiple cis-elements and trans-acting factors regulate dynamic spatio-temporal transcription of let-7 in Caenorhabditis elegans” Dev. Bio.

2012: Zisoulis DG* & Kai ZS*, Gorin A, Pasquinelli AE, “Auto-regulation of miRNA biogenesis by let-7

and Argonaute” Nature (*these authors contributed equally)

2011: Van Wynsberghe P, Kai ZS, Massirer K B, Burton VH, Yeo GW, Pasquinelli AE “LIN-28 co- transcriptionally binds primary let-7 to regulate miRNA maturation in Caenorhabditis elegans” Nature Structural and Molecular Biology

2010: Kai ZS & Pasquinelli AE “MicroRNA assassins: factors that regulate the disappearance of miRNAs”

Nature Structural and Molecular Biology

2010: Kai Z, Pasquinelli “A Genome wide View of Hunchback-like Targets” Cell Cycle

Awards and Honors

2012-2014: CIRM Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Training Grant II

2010: National Institute of Health (NIH) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) Training Grant

2009: Summer Graduate Teaching Fellowship in Biological Sciences at UCSD

2009: National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship

2006-2009: Center for Molecular Genetics (CMG) Training Grant

2005: NSF Diversity Graduate Research Fellowship Program at UCSD

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
Zoya KaiMolecular Biologist