Experience Summary
Experience Staff Research Associate I, Community College of Southern Nevada, 2008
• Prepared multiple undergraduate teaching laboratories
• Incorporated Laboratory Safety guidelines in teaching labs.
• Maintained equipment used in labs
• Set up, tested laboratory exercises
• Ordered and purchased needed supplies and equipment
• Prepared chemical solutions for all labs and media for Microbiology labs
• Available as a general staff assistant
Undergraduate Paid Biology Researcher 2000-2003
UNLV Department of Chemistry and UNLV Department of Engineering
• Experience with SEM and other microscopies
• Experience with Histological techniques and equipment
• Experience with chemical bonding agents used to embed sliced sections (thickness of microns and nanometers) of polyurethane foam
• Exceptional problem solving skills ,
• Experience designing and building scientific tools including sample holders for different microtomes
• Experience preforming scientific tests, analyzing data, preparing presentations, recognizing anomalies, and formulating hypotheses.
• My research focused exclusively on the biological exploration, exploitation, and examination of the morphological aspects of polyurethane foam samples. Polyurethane foam is used in the national stockpile of nuclear weapons by the Department of Defense. The project investigated the rapid oxidation rates of the foam as a result of time. Another collaborator on the project, Sandia Laboratories, provided a new formulation of polyurethane foam to be prepared by UNLV Chemistry and Engineering. The Sandia Laboratory formulation utilized a chemical carcinogen Rubinate, an incorrect chemical component, which produced massive rigidity, fragmentation, and breakage of polyurethane foam. I confronted Dr. Linda Sapochak with my results and she initiated a thorough investigation into Rubinate and its intermediate, Uretonamine. As a result, the biological and morphological aspects of the polyurethane foam changed dramatically due to the elimination of Rubinate from the formulation, and I was directly responsible.
• Contributed to successful completion in two M.S. Theses in UNLV Chemistry and UNLV Engineering
Undergraduate Assistant Teacher, Vertebrate Histology (bio 468)
UNLV Department of Biological Science, Spring 2002
• Prepared and set up laboratory (twice per week)
• Attended all and assisted teaching the laboratory sessions
• Experience writing quizzes, tests, and final examinations
• Experience interacting with all types of students