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MY EXPERIENCE

Roles & Responsibilities

Dec 2021- Current

Postdoctoral Scientist,
University of Pennsylvania

  • Developed innovative research project to ask what Parkinson’s Disease neurons do with their cellular trash

  • Organized research project into successful grant application through the National Institutes of Health

  • Completed Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity (DEI) training and incorporated DEI initiatives into syllabi

  • Presented findings at local and national conferences

Sep 2015- Dec 2021

Graduate Research Fellow,
Vanderbilt University

  • Developed genetic tools to ask how specific synapses form between neurons

  • Contributed to six manuscripts and presented findings at national and international conferences

  • Didactic training in high-throughput big data analysis, drug targets and disease states in neuroscience, clinical trial design, research and development of drugs, and scientific writing

  • Critically evaluated 4 manuscripts for potential publication

Jan 2016- June 2021

Founder and Organizer
Grant Writing Workshop

  • Organized grant writing series for Vanderbilt University and Tennessee State University

  • Secured departmental funds to sponsor annual workshop series

  • Compiled and presented PowerPoint for series of interactive workshops and information sessions

  • Increased number of funded grants for Vanderbilt students by over 300% (over $750,000k in first year)

2020

Academy Project Assistant,
Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Alliance

  • Created online courses for patients and their families

  • First course communicating the process of pharmaceutical research and development and focused on scientific literacy

  • Second course highlighted local advocacy avenues

  • Designed infographics that effectively communicated domain-specific knowledge of new drug to patients

2019

Teaching Faculty
Bard College

  • Led intensive three-week course with two daily lectures to 20 students

  • Course focused on scientific literacy

  • Organized final science fair of 200 students and coordinated feedback of all projects

  • Developed lesson plans, slide decks, and immersive learning activities for non-science majors

2017-2019

Academic Officer,
Vanderbilt Brain Institute

  • Conducted department-wide survey and presented findings to departmental leadership

  • Served as student representative for improving didactic curriculum

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