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Resume

A Bit About Me

I seek to bridge technological innovation with scientific discovery. My tenure in technology consulting and software development provided me with a strong foundation in data engineering, analytics, and Agile project management. But, the complexities of molecular biology and human diseases always sparked a deeper curiosity in me, leading to my higher education in molecular and cellular biology and genetics.

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In the lab, I’ve embraced both wet lab experimentation and computational analyses, where my current projects focus on virology and cancer research. Looking ahead, I’m excited by the potential of functional therapeutics for diseases with a genetic basis. Core values that guide me: honesty, solution-oriented thinking, effective communication,  teamwork, and understanding. I’m always seeking that optimal balance between efficiency and meaningful impact in each project I take on.

Education

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Drexel University College of Medicine

PhD Candidate, Molecular and Cellular Biology and Genetics

August 2021- Present

  • GPA: 4.00

  • Elective coursework in Biochemical Data

  • Thesis lab: Bouchard Lab (hepatitis B Virus, liver cancer)

  • Drexel University Graduate College Outstanding Mentor Award — 2024

  • 1st Place, Best Trainee Poster Presentation — 2023 Sydney Kimmel Cancer Center Trainee Retreat

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Drexel University College of Medicine

M.S., Molecular and Cellular Biology and Genetics

August 2019 - June 2021

  • GPA: 4.00

  • Elective coursework in Cancer Biology, Drug Discovery and Development

University of Maryland College Park

B.S., Bioengineering

2009 - 2014

  • Dean's Scholarship Award

Resarch Experience

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Bouchard Lab, Drexel University College of Medicine

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Graduate Researcher | PhD Candidate
August 2021- Present

  • Wet-Lab Project: Focused on the novel characterization of a potential tumor-suppressive long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in hepatocytes, utilizing mammalian cell culture, RNA/DNA/Protein work, cloning, stable cell line generation, and other molecular biology techniques as listed below.

  • Bioinformatics Project: Investigating transcriptomic changes in liver cancer, profiling liver cancer cell lines, employing advanced RNA-sequencing pipelines, R, Python, and UNIX to analyze high-throughput datasets and identify novel biomarkers.

Work Experience

Accenture

4 years, 9 months

Technology Consultant
September 2017 - August 2019

  • Acted as a key client-facing point of contact, leading Scrum teams and managing the integration of front-end, API/web services, and back-end testing.

  • Bridged client functional requirements with technical solutions, collaborating with developers on code logic reviews, system architecture, APIs, and databases to deliver tailored solutions.

  • Oversaw production releases, post-release monitoring, and was on-call for production support. 

  • Utilized BASH/UNIX, SQL/CQL, and Python scripts to handle production analytics and testing oversight. 

Technology Consulting Senior Analyst

September 2015 - September 2017

  • Led backend-to-frontend integration, leveraging SQL/CQL and performing large-scale data analytics to ensure system accuracy for aggregated data and new feature implementations.

  • Served as a subject matter expert for a custom software segment, solutioning code algorithms and creating centralized technical documentation.

  • Managed 2-3 junior team members on backend testing, identified bugs through data analytics, and collaborated closely with clients to address technical challenges.

Technology Consulting Analyst

December 2014 - September 2015

  • Performed backend testing, ensuring functional correctness of new features by validating database storage, JSON messaging, and overall system logic.

  • Supported large-scale data processes, verifying end-to-end functionality in a complex data environment. Utilized BASH/UNIX regularly for testing and validation purposes.

  • Acquired public trust security clearance

Professional Skillset

Agile / Scrum / Project Management

Presentation and Communication 

Teamwork and Collaboration

Wet-Lab Skillset

Western, Northern, Southern Blotting

Mammalian Cell Culture, Aseptic Technique

PCR, RT-qPCR

Adeno/Lentivirus design, packaging, production

Oligo Designs (Primers, Plasmid Vectors)

Protein/RNA/DNA extractions

Plate-based assays (ELISA, OPP-incorporation/protein synthesis, Luciferase)

Bacterial transformation and plasmid prep

Transfections, Transductions, Infections

Stable cell line generation

Cloning (vector construction)

Colony Formation Assay (Standard and Soft Agar)

Seahorse Metabolic Assays

Computational / Software Skillset

R / Python / SQL / CQL / UNIX

Transcriptomics and RNA-Sequencing Pipelines (nf-core)

MS Office Suite, Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator, GraphPad PRISM

Virtual Environments

Languages

English (native)

Persian (fluent)

Spanish (proficient)

© 2023 by Nima Sarfaraz.
 

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