DANIELA ALEXANDRU

DANIELA ALEXANDRU

Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa

1216 MERF McCowen
Iowa City, IA, 52242

2706 Triple Crown Ln #8

Iowa City, IA 52240

Tel: 319 338 0796 cell: 319 270 9570

Education

2004 - present	MD/PhD, University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine
1996-2000	Grinnell College, BA Honors Chemistry, BA Honors French
1992-1996	Baccalaureate - Mathematics and Physics, Honors, Liceul Vasile Alecsandri, Romania
2001	5 credits of continuing education in Anaerobic Bacteriology

Professional Experience

MD/PhD, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine 2004 – present

Vast knowledge of human organ systems.
Detailed understanding of disease processes including viral and bacterial infections, immunologic responses and cancer progression.
Highly developed ability to create research plans which investigate themes with immediate application in patient care.

Tutor – Biochemistry, Genetics and Neuroscience 2005 – present

Research Assistant, Genentech, Protein Engineering Department, Genentech 2002 – 2004

Worked as part of a research team in all aspects of drug development from lead discovery to clinical candidate selection; conducted multi-step syntheses using solution and solid-phase chemistry, responsible for purification and structural characterization of synthetic targets, and communication of results to department colleagues. Improved experience using modern synthetic and chromatographic techniques.
Identified and characterized novel peptides regulating apoptosis in pathologic conditions such as cancer. Well experienced in molecular biology techniques including DNA/RNA isolation, PCR, cDNA and PCR-cloning and vector construction; Northern blotting, cell structure, ELISA, size-exclusion and ion-exchange chromatography and tissue culture.
Responsible for purchasing supplies for the entire lab, lab organization and scheduling. Supervised the proper functioning of the instrumentations and lab rotations.

Research Assistant, Genentech, Cell Culture and Fermentation R&D, Genentech 2001 – 2002

Responsible for ensuring successful and efficient cell culture and fermentation processes for the production of marketed recombinant proteins. Responsible for conducting laboratory experiments to continually improve and optimize process performance. Analyzed protein content of E. Coli to identify the proper condition for the production of the protein of interest. Improved experience in protein analysis, including SDS page, immunoblots (Western), extraction and purification of proteins, recombinant DNA techniques, transformations.

Chemist, Sequoia Analytical, 2001

Responsible for performing chemical analysis on water and soil samples according to the EPA methods. Improved knowledge of IC, spectrophotometry, HPLC, surfactants analysis, and turbidity. Extensive knowledge of GLP and EPA guidelines and regulations. Responsible for the health and safety training of the employees following the OSHA and EPA guidelines. Responsible for ensuring that the equipment functioned within normal parameters.

Biochemist, Anaerobe Systems, 2001

Developed kits for the rapid identification of anaerobic bacteria. Designed the research plan; contributed to the planning of a new production line. Improved experience in using the anaerobic chambers and producing PRAS media for the culture of the anaerobic bacteria. Performed quality control, and learned GMP. Responsible for the handling and disposal of chemicals according to the EPA regulations.

Research Assistant, Grinnell College, 2000

Designed the research plan and implemented laboratory techniques to investigate the effects of the drug Levamisole on the human nicotinic receptors. Improved experience in the recombinant DNA techniques.

Research Assistant, Grinnell College, 1999

Investigated the relationship between the conductivity and the structure in the amorphous polymer electrolytes oPEO-CuBr2 and MEEP-CuBr2. Extensive understanding of the mechanism of conductivity in polymer electrolytes by studying the bonding between the salts and the polymers using EXAFS analysis.

Research Assistant, Grinnell College, 1998

Investigated P-S cleavage step during the perhydrolysis of the nerve gas VX using ab initio molecular orbital calculations. Improved understanding of the molecular structure and chemical bonding as well as of the kinetics of reaction by studying the energies of the starting materials, intermediates, transition states and products of chemical reactions.

Publications/Conferences

“Absence of P2X3 receptor leads to increased hyperalgesia in chronic inflammation” 2005 MSTP Annual Retreat, Iowa City, IA
“Structure and Function Analysis of Peptide Antagonists of Melanoma Inhibitor of Apoptosis (ML-IAP)” Biochemistry; 2003; 42(27); 8223-8231
“The Anthelmintic Levamisole is an Allosteric Modulator of Human Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors” in review.
“A Structural Investigation of the Relationship Between Ionic Conductivity and Ion Pairing in Amorphous Polymer Electrolytes” presented at PEW Symposium Chicago. IL 1999
Asilomar conference 2004, Monterey, CA

Awards and Distinctions

Affiliations

Technical skills

Protein

Expression ( bacterial pET, pGEX, pMAL systems)
Purification ( sonication, microfluidization, liquid chromatography, FPLC, dialysis)
Characterization ( SDS page, Western blot); Quantization ( Spectrometer)

Molecular Biology & Microbiology

Phage display (library design, library screening, plaque picking, colony PCR, phage titering)
Cloning (primer design, PCR, enzyme digestion, ligation, transformation)
Bacterial culture (aseptic techniques)
DNA Quantization (UV spectrophotometer); RNA Expression (in vitro transcription)
RNA Purification (cellular RNA isolation, gel isolation)

Cell Biology

Electrophysiology

Personal and Administrative Skills:

Able to work with people from different backgrounds; Supervised the proper functioning of the lab as a whole; Good organizational skills; Purchasing experience

Language skills

Fluent in English, Romanian and French