Dr. Lara J. Varden, PhD, BCHHP, CFNC, CFGP, LEHP

• Dissertation title: Moving toward treatment of degenerative disc disease: From single-cell level characterization to post-injection leakage assessment • Establishing a through-puncture defect model that measures intradiscal injectate pressure during both injection and post-injection movement to rapidly screen protocols for leakage risk. • Measuring pressurization of bovine caudal intervertebral disc (IVD) during injection, injectate leakage resulting from insufficient recovery time following needle retraction and determining injectate uptake with time; experimental and analytical poroelastic modeling techniques used with inverted microscope, epifluorescence with fluorescein filter and crossed polarizing filters for visualization. • Creating detailed, flexible, and economic tool set employing a PCR-tailored RNA in situ hybridization in combination with immunohistochemistry protocol that addresses existing challenges and can be tailored to any gene of interest. • Detecting, quantifying, and relationship comparing of Ki67 protein and its mRNA throughout the cell cycle as an indicator of cell proliferation using IHC, IF, RISH chromogenic and fluorescent detection using fluorescent, confocal, and light microscopy visualization. • mRNA probe designing and testing for gene expression of human and bovine Lamin-A and Collagens 1 and 2 using PCR, gel electrophoresis, RNA Plate ISH-Fluorescence (PISH-FL) with confocal microscopy. • Characterizing nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosus (AF) cells in bovine IVDs utilizing cell cycle synchronization techniques and flow cytometer analyses, determining cell cycle time with live imager for single cell caption, and evaluating tissue morphology using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). • Ceria oxide slurry toxicity testing on human epithelial cells using IHC, EdU staining, Live/Dead and MTT testing with visualization on fluorescent microscope and SpectraMax.

• Created teaching materials, lecture presentations, quizzes, and exams, as well as taught BY473/BY474 Anatomy & Physiology (A&P) I and II Labs utilizing the university’s cadaver lab and physiology lab. • Graded all quizzes and exams for A&P I and II lecture and lab courses, in charge of uploading grades into Moodle, university’s on-line learning management system. • Covered lectures for BY471/BY472 A&P I and II in professor’s absence. • Held office hours, discussion/recitation sessions and exam reviews for A&P I and II lectures and labs.

• Research and analysis of potable, natural, and waste water samples for organic and inorganic ions, pharmaceuticals and personal care products using capillary electrophoresis and solid phase extraction. • Research of binding of NSAIDs to serum albumin using fluorescence quenching, ITC and DSC. • Managed Physical Chemistry/Research Laboratory including cleaning, care and maintenance of all instruments, corresponding with equipment companies, investigating and ordering instrumentation, chemicals, supplies and consumables. • Supervised students and other research assistants. • Created, maintained, organized and handled all paperwork regarding purchase orders, providing documentation required by other departments for payment and filing. • Prepared and tested solutions and materials needed for various laboratory course experiments. • Proficient in chemical management, testing and proper handling of chemicals, Flinn Scientific System of labeling, storage & cleanup. • Created procedural and safety training modules/tutorials for faculty and students. • Maintained laboratory equipment for proper and safe usage.

• Taught, substituted for, and tutored virtually all grade levels and subjects, K-12. • Privately tutored several high school and middle school students covering extensive curriculum. • Organized and ran the Testing Center at Potsdam High School for 3 months and offered full-time position.

Completed as internship in Chemistry Dept. Stockroom. • Prepared and tested solutions and materials needed for various laboratory course experiments. • Performed chemical management, testing and proper handling of chemicals, Flinn Scientific System of labeling, storage & cleanup. • Created procedural and safety training modules/tutorials, SOPs for faculty and students. • Maintained laboratory equipment for proper and safe usage. • Technologically integrated stockroom inventory in searchable database.

• Taught, substituted for, and tutored virtually all grade levels and subjects, K-12. • Proctored exams for homeschoolers. • Privately tutored several high school, middle school, and undergraduate students in various subjects ranging from the arts to STEM education, including courses in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, and upper-level math and writing. • Substituted for Quantitative Analysis and Instrumental Labs at SUNY Potsdam for Dr. Maria Hepel, Distinguished Professor, per her specific request. • Tutored various subjects and levels, including most of the college level courses I participated in with successful results at SUNY Potsdam.

Register work, cleaning, sorting, handling money, working with customers, creating displays, opening & closing store, retail duties

• Worked in fast-paced call center travel agency • Operated phone system with multiple lines, forwarding, holding and conference calling • Utilized internet programs and phone contacts to complete reservations and travel itineraries with cruise lines, resorts, airlines, and insurance agencies. • Corresponded with all contacts via phone, email, as well as letter form as necessary • Used Outlook regularly • Planned, created and booked travel packages with national & international clients, creating a large, loyal client base • Input data entry, general & detailed information on travel packages, client information, sensitive and financial details, as well as agent notes on all phone calls • My method of detailed note-taking become the standard to follow • Daily use of office hardware including computers, copiers, fax machines and filing • Handled irate situations with patience, professionalism, understanding, settling with compromise • Dealt with extensive, dynamic information while communicating that knowledge to others • Consistently multi-tasked through fielding phone calls, taking hand-written & computer notes, researching internet, conveying information, data entry and met critical time deadlines

The PhD in Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Biotechnology (IBB-PhD) program will educate you with the skills needed to work on complex problems in the biosciences. To support this aim, the graduate program faculty includes biologists, chemists, physicists, mathematicians and engineers who serve as dissertation advisors. The objective of the biotech PhD program is to provide you with specialized knowledge in a major field of biology, plus the technical skills to enable you to work with interdisciplinary teams of bioscientists in academic, corporate and government research settings. Based on current areas of faculty expertise within the IBB Program, you have the option of specializing in one of four interdisciplinary sub-fields: Molecular Bioscience & Biotechnology Biomedical Sciences & Neuroscience Computational Biology & Bioinformatics Ecology, Evolution & the Environment

Biochemistry (broadly defined as the chemistry of life) is foundational to understand and investigate the life sciences. The B.S. in Biochemistry at SUNY Potsdam integrates knowledge from areas of both chemistry and biology and is demanding in terms of core course requirements, since additional courses are also required in mathematics and physics. Opportunities for undergraduate research projects with faculty members are highly encouraged and common. The B.S. in Biochemistry provides a strong basis for admission into a number of professional programs in the health sciences (such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy etc.), or the continuation of studies at the graduate level in several areas of the life sciences. It also provides opportunities for employment in government, commercial or academic laboratories.