Robyn Jong

Immunologist developing and testing therapeutic candidates for inflammatory skin diseases on in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo mouse and human skin models.

Designed, characterized, and optimized mRNA and self-amplifying RNA vaccine candidates using cell culture and mouse models.

Identified host directed therapy targets for infectious disease through CRISPR screening and genetic or small molecule validation.

Postdoc researching TB vaccine-induced immunity and neutrophil biology in the Stanley Lab at UC Berkeley. • Elucidated protective cellular mechanisms of a CD4 T cell-mediated TB vaccine using single cell RNA sequencing, bacterial CFU enumeration, and flow cytometry in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infected mice • Assayed survival of differentiation-related gene CRISPR knockout immortalized neutrophils and macrophages to test gene function in vitro and in vivo • Lead author on two publications

PhD student researching the host immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in the Stanley lab, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, UC Berkeley. • Performed CRISPR pooled screens and gene editing to interrogate in vitro neutrophil gene function during differentiation and M. tuberculosis infection • Investigated TB vaccine-induced T-cell mediated protection in vivo and ex vivo • Presented work at local meetings and conferences • Trained undergraduates in molecular biology techniques and data analysis

Creator and facilitator of undergraduate course in collaboration with fellow PhD candidate at UC Berkeley. • Collaborated with co-facilitator to design vaccine biology course for weekly undergraduate discussion class on primary scientific literature surveying basic immune responses and vaccinology • Facilitated discussions during student-led presentations, and provided feedback and guidance for students before and after presentations.

Program coordinator for the UC Berkeley Bridges to Baccalaureate summer research program. • Mentored community college students from underrepresented backgrounds through the research process and working in a UCB lab during biweekly individual meetings and weekly professional development dinners • Supported lab mentors in their professional development as mentors • Worked on a team with other coordinators to organize student and mentor orientations, workshops, and final poster session • Helped program pivot to an online instructional format during the summer of 2020: • Organized guest lectures • Taught module on immunology and host-pathogen interactions • Mentored four B2B students in an online research project

Graduate student instructor for undergraduates in an upper division immunology laboratory course at UC Berkeley. • Led discussions on both practical and theoretical experimental design • Demonstrated tissue culture and basic immunology research techniques • Designed and evaluated questions to test essential laboratory techniques and fundamental understanding

• Facilitated discussion sections and created worksheets to reinforce key concepts from lectures • Created test questions and led test reviews for undergraduate students in an introductory human physiology course

Assisted postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Tyler Jacks in the Koch Institute at MIT, investigating the roles of p53-regulated lincRNAs and other non-coding RNAs in mouse models of cancer • Utilized cell culture models and molecular biology techniques, including RNA isolation, qPCR, Western blotting, cloning, and PCR • Maintained mouse colony and bred transgenic mice

Facilitated group discussions on introductory biology, French conversation circles, and one-on-one tutoring in biology, genetics, and French.

Worked with postdoctoral researchers on projects related to trinucleotide repeat instability and fragility in yeast.

PhD candidate in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, studying innate and adaptive host immunity during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.