Sarah K.

- Generated patient derived cell lines (PDc) and patient derived organoids (PDO) from multiple tumor indications for use in in vitro and in vivo functional assessment of TIL therapies - Processed primary tumor samples and assisted in the preREP/REP process to create engineered TIL therapies - Characterized primary tumor and immune cells via flow cytometry, live cell imaging, confocal microscopy, co-culture assays, and cytotoxicity assay

- Formulated lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for in vitro experiments and characterized their biophysical properties in addition to maintaining the same responsibilities of previous role

- Explored new targets to develop in vivo gene editing therapeutics for undisclosed disease indication/organ system - Designed and executed knockdown experiments via LNP transfection for targets in human & non-human primate primary cells and cell lines with variety of endpoints, including Illumina Sequencing, qRT-ddPCR, and ELISA - Independently validated and optimized ELISAs to assess protein knockdown - Performed small & large scale DNA/RNA isolations using Qiagen AllPrep kits as well as gDNA extraction and normalization on the Biomek automated liquid handler before handing off to Sequencing team - Analyzed and presented data to project team weekly and to entire company at the end of the co-op

Tutored students from ages 9-15 in wide range of subjects including elementary & middle school level math, algebra I, algebra II, geometry, biology, chemistry, and preparation for standardized tests (such as the SAT, ACT, NYS Regents, and TACHS); communicated with parent and student to create weekly schedules and determine goals; adapted mode of tutoring to include enhanced virtual options (via Zoom or Microsoft Teams) as well as in-person options

- Contributed to the development of an edited iPSC derived NK cell (iNK) therapeutic product that will be better equipped to function in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment - Responsible for maintaining various cell lines, including iPSCs (KO/KI variants), iNK cells, HDNK, NK92, 293T, Jurkats, A549, etc. for use in a variety of assays - Differentiated iPSCs into natural killer cells (iNK) and ran and analyzed flow cytometry panels to assess maturity and lineage - Developed and optimized a transwell-based migration assay and a microfluidics-based platform to measure migration of iNK cells - Designed experiments using lentiviral transduction to assess the role of adaptor proteins and proprietary constructs on the surface expression of key NK cell activating receptors and impact on cell function

Worked as part of a Drug Concept Discovery project team to evaluate a panel of in house generated antibodies to determine if any can serve as tools for identifying endogenous protein expression in cell lines and primary human cells. Primary responsibility included: - Maintenance of three different cell lines, including HEK, THP-1, CHO-K1, and genetic variants of each (KO/KI) - Thawing and freezing down cell line stocks, preparing protein lysates, and running Western blots - Set up functional assays, including apoptosis and phagocytosis assays, with THP-1 cells and primary human macrophages and neutrophils to evaluate response to titration of antagonistic antibodies. - Culminated in two final presentations of key work for both the department group meeting and cross-department internship program poster session.

Graduated summa cum laude GPA: 3.949