Resume

• 2008

  Master of Science

  Chemistry

  University of Washington

  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

  Chemistry

  University of Washington

  Introduction to the Principles and Practice of Clinical Research

• 2004

  English

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

  Chemistry

  University of Hawaii at Manoa

• Administrator for PanCAN Baltimore's social media accounts. Responsible for posting program information and promoting local events; responds to inquiries from the general public in a timely manner

  and engages fans and followers

  Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

  Data Science

  R

  Characterization

  Science

  Data Analysis

  Chemistry

  Mass Spectrometry

  Health Sciences

  Protein Purification

  NMR

  Research

  Multivariate Statistics

  solid-state NMR

  HPLC

  Biostatistics

  Statistics

  MRI

  Peptide Synthesis

  Spectroscopy

  Data Visualization

  Silica Morphogenesis by Lysine-Leucine Peptides with Hydrophobic Periodicity

  The use of biomimetic approaches in the production of inorganic nanostructures is of great interest to the scientific and industrial community due to the relatively moderate physical conditions needed. In this vein

  taking cues from silaffin proteins used by unicellular diatoms

  several studies have identified peptide candidates for the production of silica nanostructures. In the current article

  we study intensively one such silica-precipitating peptide

  LKα14 (Ac-LKKLLKLLKKLLKL-c)

  an amphiphilic lysine/leucine repeat peptide that self-organizes into an α-helical secondary structure under appropriate concentration and buffer conditions. The suggested mechanism of precipitation is that the sequestration of hydrophilic lysines on one side of this helix allows interaction with the negatively charged surface of silica nanoparticles

  which in turn can aggregate further into larger structures. To investigate the process

  we carry out 1D and 2D solid-state NMR (ssNMR) studies on samples with one or two uniformly 13C- and 15N-labeled residues to determine the backbone and side-chain chemical shifts. We also further study the dynamics of two leucine residues in the sequence through 13C spin–lattice relaxation times (T1) to determine the impact of silica coprecipitation on their mobility. Our results confirm the α-helical secondary structure in both the neat and silica-complexed states of the peptide

  and the patterns of chemical shift and relaxation time changes between the two states suggest possible mechanisms of self-aggregation and silica precipitation.

  Silica Morphogenesis by Lysine-Leucine Peptides with Hydrophobic Periodicity

  Tobias Weidner

  Gary P. Drobny

  Jim Pfaendtner

  Helmut Lutz

  Vance Jaeger

  Joe E. Baio

  Journal of the American Chemical Society

  Silaffins

  long chain polyamines and other biomolecules found in diatoms are involved in the assembly of a large number of silica nanostructures under mild

  ambient conditions. Nanofabrication researchers have sought to mim-ic the diatom’s biosilica production capabilities by engineer-ing proteins to resemble aspects of naturally-occurring bio-molecules. Such mimics can produce monodisperse biosilica nanospheres – but in vitro production of the variety of intri-cate biosilica nanostructures that compose the diatom frus-tule is not yet possible. In this study we demonstrate how LK peptides

  composed solely of lysine (K) and leucine (L) ami-no acids arranged with varying hydrophobic periodicities

  initiate the formation of different biosilica nanostructures in vitro. When L and K residues are arranged with a periodicity of 3.5 the α-helical form of the LK peptide produces mono-disperse biosilica nanospheres. However

  when the LK peri-odicity is changed to 3.0

  corresponding to a 310 helix

  the morphology of the nanoparticles changes to elongated rod like structures. ß-strand LK peptides with a periodicity of 2.0 induce wire-like silica morphologies. This study illustrates how the morphology of biosilica can be changed – simply by varying the periodicity of polar and non-polar amino acids.

  Diatom mimics: directing the formation of biosilica nano-particles by controlled folding of lysine-leucine peptides

  Luigi Ferrucci

  Richard Spencer

  Stephanie Studenski

  Kenneth Fishbein

  Eleanor Simonsick

  Michelle Shardell

  David Reiter

  Muscle strength mediates the relationship between mitochondrial energetically and walking performance

  Luigi Ferrucci

  Stephanie A. Studenski

  Marta Gonzalez-Freire

  A. Z. Moore

  David A. Reiter

  Chee W. Chia

  Elisa Fabbri

  Diabetes

  Whether individuals with insulin resistance but without criteria for diabetes exhibit reduced mitochondrial oxidative capacity is unclear; addressing this question could guide research for new therapeutics. We investigated 248 non-diabetic participants from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) to determine whether impaired mitochondrial capacity is associated with prediabetes

  insulin resistance

  duration and severity of hyperglycemia exposure. Mitochondrial capacity was assessed as post-exercise phosphocreatine recovery time constant (τPCr) by 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy

  with higher τPCr reflecting reduced capacity. Prediabetes was defined using the American Diabetes Association criteria from fasting and 2-hr glucose. Insulin resistance and sensitivity were calculated using HOMA-IR and Matsuda Indices. Duration and severity of hyperglycemia exposure were estimated as number of years from prediabetes onset and average oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) 2h-glucose over previous BLSA visits. Covariates included age

  sex

  body composition

  physical activity and other confounders. Higher likelihood of prediabetes

  higher HOMA-IR and lower Matsuda Index were associated with longer τPCr. Among 205 participants with previous OGTT data

  greater severity and longer duration of hyperglycemia were independently associated with longer τPC. In conclusion

  in non-diabetic individuals a more impaired mitochondrial capacity is associated with greater insulin resistance and higher likelihood of prediabetes.

  Insulin Resistance is Associated with Reduced Mitochondrial Oxidative Capacity Measured by 31P Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Non-Diabetic Participants from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

  Lower muscle mitochondrial energy production may contribute to impaired walking endurance in patients with peripheral arterial disease. A borderline ankle‐brachial index (ABI) of 0.91 to 1.10 is associated with poorer walking endurance compared with higher ABI. We hypothesized that in the absence of peripheral arterial disease

  lower ABI is associated with lower mitochondrial energy production.\nWe examined 363 men and women participating in the BLSA with an ABI between 0.90 and 1.40. Muscle mitochondrial energy production was assessed by post‐exercise phosphocreatine recovery rate constant (kPCr) measured by phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the left thigh. A lower post‐exercise phosphocreatine recovery rate constant reflects decreased mitochondria energy production.The mean age of the participants was 71±12 years. A total of 18.4% had diabetes mellitus and 4% were current and 40% were former smokers. Compared with participants with an ABI of 1.11 to 1.40

  those with an ABI of 0.90 to 1.10 had significantly lower post‐exercise phosphocreatine recovery rate constant (19.3 versus 20.8 ms−1

  P=0.015). This difference remained significant after adjusting for age

  sex

  race

  smoking status

  diabetes mellitus

  body mass index

  and cholesterol levels (P=0.028). Similarly

  post‐exercise phosphocreatine recovery rate constant was linearly associated with ABI as a continuous variable

  both in the ABI ranges of 0.90 to 1.40 (standardized coefficient=0.15

  P=0.003) and 1.1 to 1.4 (standardized coefficient=0.12

  P=0.0405).\nAn ABI of 0.90 to 1.10 is associated with lower mitochondrial energy production compared with an ABI of 1.11 to 1.40. These data demonstrate adverse associations of lower ABI values with impaired mitochondrial activity even within the range of a clinically accepted definition of a normal ABI. Further study is needed to determine whether interventions in persons with ABIs of 0.90 to 1.10 can prevent subsequent functional decline.

  Lower Mitochondrial Energy Production of the Thigh Muscles in Patients with Low-Normal Ankle-Brachial Index

  Ariel

  Zane

  University of Washington

  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

  The National Institutes of Health

  Medical Science & Computing (MSC)

  Rockville

  Maryland

  Health Science Policy Analyst

  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

  Seattle

  WA and Bothell

  WA

  • Delivered 100 lecture and laboratory hours

  adapting in-depth chemistry material for an introductory-level audience\n• Managed seven teaching assistants and worked with support staff to maintain course organization and effective communication with students\n• Designed discussion section worksheets and exams to assess student understanding of the material; assigned final grades\n• Introduced students to analytical instrumentation and cultivated data processing skills; emphasized safety procedures and set foundations for good laboratory techniques

  Lecturer and Laboratory Instructor

  University of Washington

  Bethesda

  Maryland

  • Uses scientific expertise in aging relevant fields to review and code institute grants and awards

  according to NIH-wide framework criteria\n• Develops metrics

  analyzes data and prepares slide decks to respond to ad hoc data requests and evaluate research program effectiveness and track grant award success\n• Participates in staff meetings and contributes to multiple concurrent team projects\n• Stays abreast of current aging literature

  Scientific Program Analyst Intern

  Office of Planning

  Analysis and Evaluation

  The National Institutes of Health

  Baltimore

  Maryland Area

  •\tTests models and executes statistical analyses on large datasets (compiled from a shared database)

  to quantitatively assess the process of aging; prepares well-documented R scripts for analyses\n•\tContributes to multiple projects and deadlines

  delivers regular progress reports and data assessments to the Scientific Director of the NIA \n•\tSupports a large clinical study as part of a cross-functional team

  communicating with clinicians

  scientists

  administrative staff

  participants\n•\tInnovated data processing and storage procedures to reduce processing time and extract additional information from existing data

  improving performance cost ratios\n•\tManages a junior group member

  supervises progress and training\n• Guides study participants through the clinical MRI process

  presenting technical information and instructions in succinct

  accessible formats

  Postdoctoral Fellow

  The National Institutes of Health

  Rockville

  Maryland

  • Part of the Office of Strategic Planning

  Initiative Development and Analysis at NIAID \n• Uses bibliometric tools and statistical software to curate

  clean

  and analyze large scientific research portfolios

  employing methods like network and topic analysis

  text mining

  and machine learning

  to track grant success

  publication rates

  and map how fields change over time\n• Writes scripts in R to streamline data cleaning and analysis pipelines

  establishing new workflows and developing other metrics of success\n• Contributes to multiple concurrent team projects

  supports research program directors and other senior leaders\n• Stays abreast of current literature in scientometrics

  as well as immunology

  infectious disease

  and vaccine literature\n• Uses data to evaluate and inform science management policy\n• Part of the first cohort of the HHS Data Science CoLab

  Health Science Analyst

  Medical Science & Computing (MSC)