Experience

• Junior Researcher – Cancer Researcher Center of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii (September 2009 – Present). Conducting research on the mechanisms of mesothelioma carcinogenesis induced by asbestos exposure, with the purpose of developing new therapeutic and diagnostic tools against mesothelioma and other lung cancers.

• Adjunct Professor – Concepts of Genetics (BIOL 3050) Hawaii Pacific University (September 2009-December 2009). Upper-level genetics course focused on detailed view of the molecular processes that result in heredity, with emphasis on the effects of these processes on organism and evolution.

• Research Assistant - Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, supervised by Dr. Dulal Borthakur (August 2002-August 2009).
- Genetic transformation of tobacco with Rhizobium genes for degradation of the toxic aromatic compound 3-hydroxy-4-pyridone.
- Development of an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocol for Leucaena leucocephala.
- Genetic engineering of Leucaena leucocephala for reduced mimosine content.
- Early stage development of a vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- Development of a new in vitro diagnostic test for Mycobacterium tuberculosis using peptide heteroconjugates as the stimulating molecules for T cells.

• Teaching Assistant - Biotechnology: Science and Ethical Issues (BIOL 304) University of Hawaii at Manoa (August 2005 – December 2005) - Introduction to the concepts, goals, ethical issues and consequences of biotechnology using real-life case studies of cloning, DNA fingerprinting, gene therapy and genetic engineering.

• Teaching Assistant - Introduction to General Biology Laboratory (BIOL 172L) University of Hawaii at Manoa (January 2003 – May 2003) - Anatomy, physiology, and systematics of plants and animals; behavior; ecosystems, populations, and communities.

• Manuscript Reviewing -
• Acted as the principal Reviewer for the journal Naturwissenschaften (Natural Sciences) (2008).