Postdoctoral Scientist

Posted on: 2007-02-15

Germaine Tami 2701 West Manor Place, # 102 Home Phone: (206) 216 5881 Seattle Washington, 98199 E-mail: [email protected] OBJECTIVE To obtain a full time Research Scientist position with a Biotechnology firm; Pharmaceutical Company; Biochemistry, Molecular Biology or Immunology research Institute using the skills, experience and education I have gained as outlined below. EMPLOYMENT HISTORY Seattle Biomedical Research Postdoctoral scientist (Molecular Biology/ Biochemistry). Nov 2003 – 0ct. 2006 Institute (SBRI) Studied the molecular genetics of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum with an aim of identifying functions in the parasite that might be vulnerable to intervention with drugs or vaccines. Studied mitochondrial rRNAs, encoded by highly fragmented sequences scattered throughout the mitochondrial genome in order to identify and characterize the RNAs corresponding to GTPase center, through their ability to bind bacterial or cell free expressed and purified recombinant ribosomal proteins. Job description: Perform and design experiments; Protocol write up and development; Teaching of research techniques to others; Help further the goals of the Institute; Manuscript write up for publication. University of Washington Senior Fellow of Pathobiology. Service and support the Jan. 2004 – June 2005 Department of Pathobiology as senior fellow while working at SBRI. SBRI is affiliated to the University of Washington. US Army Medical Research Senior Research Officer (Biochemistry/Molecular Biology), Aug. 2003-Oct 2003 Unit-Kenya, The Walter Project implementation to study the function of proteins Reed, Kenya Medical involved in the thiamine biosynthetic metabolic pathway Research Institute University of Nairobi, Kenya PhD student (Molecular Biology/ Biochemistry). Gained Jan. 1999- Apr 2003 and International Livestock experience in the following: (i) Isolation of transcripts Research Institute (ILRI) differentially expressed or developmentally regulated during the sexual cell Cycle. (ii) Observation of their pattern of appearance and disappearance using Differential Display techniques, (iii) Cloning and sequencing of the cDNAs, (iv) Using bioinformatics tools, catalogue the information obtained. (v) Expression and characterization of the protein encoded by the 4-methyl-5-beta hydroxyethyl thiaole kinase gene or other genes of interest. “Organization of Coordination Research Officer: Intensive field work, clinical sample Jan. 1995-Dec. 1998 for Fight against Major collection and medical analysis (blood, plasma, serum urine, Endemic Diseases in Central sputum and fecal analysis), clinical data management; Africa” (OCEAC) clinical and basic research on: (1) cellular immunity (understand how cytokines regulate immunity to malaria); (2) pathogenesis of the disease (mechanisms of the parasite cytoadherence to infected placentas); (3) Monitoring P. falciparum resistance to major drugs used to cure malaria or its susceptibility to new promising molecules using in vivo and in vitro tests; (4) genetics (relationship between host diverse genetic backgrounds and the severity of the disease) University of Douala, Cameroon Instructor-Dept. of Biochemistry Nov. 1997-June 1998 EDUCATION Foreign graduate degrees certified by Academic and Professional International Evaluations (PO Box 5787 Los Alamitos, CA 90721-5787. • Ph.D. in Biochemistry (Molecular Biology) , University of Nairobi, Kenya 2004 • Doctorate of 3rd cycle degree in Parasitology and Physiology, Univ. of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon 1994 • Master of Sciences Degree in Life Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon 1988 • B.Sc. in Natural Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon 1987 OTHER TRAINING/CERTIFICATIONS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Clinical chemistry workshop: “Does Tandem Mass Spectrometry overcome lack of specificity problem?” University of Washington, Applied Biosystem 2004 • Certificate in Biochemical and Molecular Basis of diseases University of Cape Town, South Africa Medical School 2004 • Certificate in quantitative analysis of gene expression and mutation detection (Bioinformatics; primer and probe design; chemical synthesis of oligonucleotides; in vitro transcription and RT-PCR; DNA sequencing; Real-time PCR (TaqMan) on ABI Model 7700; Introduction to DNA array technology; Liquid array using a Luminex Model 100 Multi-analyte system. Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc. Coralville, Iowa, USA 2001 • Training course on the Principles of radiation protection, University of Washington, Department of Environmental Health and Safety. 2004 • Training in bioinformatics, Biochemical Society of Kenya (BSK) and Bionet Africa 2002 • Laboratory safety workshop at the International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya 2000 PUBLICATIONS, INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS AWARDS, MEMBERSHIPS IN SOCIETIES AND SKILLS - Papers in preparation • Harrell, M.I., Tami, G., Coe, K.J., Schnare, M.N., Lee, J., Cannone, J., Gutell, R.R., and Feagin, J.E. Further characterization of the fragmented mitochondrial rRNAs of Plasmodium falciparum. In preparation for Journal of Molecular Biology. • Tami G., Mulaa, F.J. and Pellé, R - Characterization of the Plasmodium falciparum 4-Methyl-5-ß-Hydroxyethylthiazole kinase homologue – In preparation. - Publications • Tami G. (2003) – Identification of Plasmodium falciparum transcripts differentially expressed or developmentally regulated during the sexual cell cycle Ph.D. thesis, University of Nairobi. • Tami G., Pellé, R. and Mulaa, F.J. (19-OCT-2002)-4-methyl-5-beta hydroxyethylthiazole kinase is differentially expressed in malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum: Plasmodium falciparum 4-methyl-5-beta-hydroxyethylthiazole kinase mRNA, complete cds. Direct Submission in the database, ACCESSION AY166865, VERSION AY166865.1 GI: 27362862. • Fievet N, Tami G, Maubert B, Moussa M, Shaw IK, Cot M, Holder AA, Chaouat G, Deloron P. (2002)- Cellular immune response to Plasmodium falciparum after pregnancy is related to previous placental infection and parity. Malaria J., 1(1): 16. • Fievet N, Moussa M, Tami G, Maubert B, Cot M, Deloron P, Chaouat G.(2001)- Plasmodium falciparum induces a Th1/Th2 disequilibrium, favoring the Th1-type pathway, in the human placenta. J Infect Dis., 183(10):1530-4. • Maubert B., N. Fievet, Tami G., C. Boudin, and P. Deloron (2000)-Cytoadherence of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes in the human placenta. Parasite Immunol., 22:191-199. • Maubert B, Fievet N, Tami G, Cot M, Boudin C, Deloron P. (1999)-Development of Antibodies against Chondroitin Sulfate A-Adherent Plasmodium falciparum in Pregnant Women Infect Immun., 67(10): 5367-5371. • Cabaret J., Bayssade Dufour Ch., Tami G., Albaret J.L. (1999)- Identification of African Paragonimidae by multivariate analysis of the eggs, Acta Tropica, (72), 79-80. • Maubert B, Fievet N., Tami G., Boudin C., Deloron P. (1998)- Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Cameroonian pregnant women do not rosette, Parasite, (5), 281-283. • Bickii J., Tchouankeu J. C., Tami G., Djokam R., Tsamo E. N., Ringwald P. (1996)- In Vitro efficacy of Limonoïdes Entandrophragma genus (Meliacae) on Plasmodium falciparum; Technical Document of OCEAC, N° 948/LPR/DBE/95. • Guemgne S. Germaine (1994) - Studies of the Paragonimus complex in the Southwest province of Cameron: epidemiology, epizootiology and histopathology; Thesis of Doctorate of third cycle degree. - Selected International Presentations • Tami G. and Feagin J. (2005) - Analysis of two P. falciparum mitochondrial rRNA fragments that are candidates for the LSU rRNA GTPase center. The 17th Annual Seattle Parasitology Conference, May 12th-13th, Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle Wa. • Tami G., Pellé R. and Mulaa F. (2003) - Identification of Plasmodium falciparum transcripts differentially expressed or developmentally regulated during the sexual cell cycle. The second Congress of the Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) and the XIX International congress of Biochemistry and molecular Biology of The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Molecular and Cellular Proteomic 2: 601-643 by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Inc. Montreal, Canada. • Tami G., Pellé R. and Mulaa F. (2001) - Plasmodium falciparum cell cycle regulatory mechanisms; International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology / Special Meeting on the Biochemical and Molecular basis of the diseases. Nov. 19-23, Cape- Town, South Africa. • Tami G., R. Pellé, and F. Mulaa (2000) - Analysis of putative pharmacological targets in Plasmodium falciparum: Characterization of gametocyte cell cycle regulatory mechanism- International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Third International congress of the Federation of African Societies of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Nov 14-16 Cairo, Egypt. • Tami G. Maubert B, Fievet N, Boudin C, Deloron P. (1997) - Malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum during pregnancy: clinical and parasitological results in two Yaoundé birth centers- Technical Conference of OCEAC: 159. - 2000, 2001 and 2003 - IUBMB travel grant award to attend a scientific meetings. - 1999- “German Academic Exchange Service” International scholarship award, to pursue a PhD degree. - Member of the Canadian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular biology. - Associate membership in the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular biology - Fluent in English and French languages -Scientific and technical skills Cell culture, cellular biology, histotechnique: Plasmodium falciparum asexual and sexual stage culture and purification; Human T-cell culture; Bacterial culture; Immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy; Cell transfection; Tissue fixation, processing, sectioning, staining and slide making. DNA and RNA: Genomic DNA, total RNA, mRNA and mitochondrial RNA preparation; In vitro transcription; Oligonucleotide design, synthesis and purification; PCR; RT-PCR; Ss , ds-cDNA synthesis; Differential display PCR: DNA and RNA fingerprinting; 3’ and 5’ RACE (Random amplification of cDNA ends); RNA mapping: primer extension assay; RNase protection assay; Site-directed mutagenesis; Recombinant DNA technology; Cell transformation; Construction of genomic or cDNA library; Minipreps, Midipreps and maxipreps; Sequencing; 'Radio isotopic or digoxigenin labeling' of oligoprobes and riboprobes; probe purification; Southern blot and Northern blot; Chemiluminescence’s detection; Radio isotopic detection; Real-time PCR and DNA array training. Protein: Bacterial and mammalian expression of recombinant protein; Cell free in vitro protein translation; Recombinant protein purification by affinity chromatography and characterization; SDS PAGE; Native PAGE; Western Blot; Protein dialysis; Kinase assay; 2-D gel; Gel shift Mobility Assay: protein-protein interaction, protein-RNA interaction. Immunology-assays: Immunoelectrophoresis; protein Immunoprecipitation; immunoenzymology; Immunodetection; Immunolocalization; Performed tests on immunoserums and antibodies produced from rabbits; Cytokine assay in human sera and in supernatant from culture of cells challenged with diverse antigens: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). DNA Library Screening: Colony hybridization using labeled probes or antibodies. In vitro assays: In vitro immunological interaction test, In vitro lymphocyte cell proliferation; Drug research: Integration of proteomics in drug discoveries and development process; In vitro chemo-sensitivity studies; Familiar with the use of radioisotopes. Animal experiment: Establishing animal models with diseases such as paragonimiasis (human lung fluke disease caused by Paragonimus). Instrumentation: Molecular spectroscopy (ultra violet, infra red), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), mass spectrometer, ultracentrifuge; Chromatography; Electrophoresis equipment; Liquid Scintillation counter, Immunofluorescence microscopy; Isoelectric focusing; PCR cyclers; densitometry equipment, spectrophotometer. Other skills: Computer skills, MS Word, Excel, Power Point, and Access; Ability to use vector NTI; Statistical analyses: Chi-square test; Chi-square test for trend; Mann-Whitney U-test; Wilcoxon’s test.