About me

I bring extensive project management and leadership skills to the table, along with excellent scientific presentation and clear strategic communication skills!

Summary
•> Scientific achievements: Strong publication record with 300+ citations, and awarded over $300,000+ in research awards and grants, attributable to my impactful and effective communication skills in both written applications and verbal presentations.
•> Mentorship and teaching: Supervised and mentored 20+ junior scientists, teaching highly difficult techniques and theories. Trained 50+ research professionals in complex neuroscientific techniques in 7 advanced neuroscience courses across 3 countries.
•> Fun fact about me: I have traveled to 18 countries and speak 3 languages fluently.

Clinical Scientist, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (2024-present)
Nashville, United States of America

•> Provide high-level guidance for Ph.D. students and postdoctoral fellows, including (but not limited to) supporting the preparation and implementation of analytical requests and reviewing all trainee work products (manuscripts, grants, and conference abstracts and presentations).
•> Oversee the creation, coordination, and implementation of programmatic activities related to the Vanderbilt Interdisciplinary Training Program in Alzheimer’s Disease.
•> Facilitate intra- and inter-team collaborations and coordinate didactic events at the Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center, such as Journal Clubs, Works-in-Progress Meetings, Guest Lectures, and the annual Alzheimer’s Disease Research Day.

Postdoctoral Researcher Fellow, Neurocentre Magendie, INSERM (2021-2024)
Bordeaux, France

•> Managed 5 studies investigating drug efficacy in human and rodent models of neurological disorders while collaborating with research teams in the Netherlands and Germany.
•> Mentored and led a team of 7 graduate students, interns, and engineers, supporting their independent research projects and goals.
•> Spearheaded the establishment of novel techniques and translational platforms to test drugs on induced pluripotent stem cell-derived human neurons.

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland (2020-2021)
Auckland, New Zealand

•> Established novel imaging techniques and complex neurosurgeries and successfully taught these technical skills to junior scientists to use this imaging technology for their graduate projects.
•> Worked with 10+ multi-disciplinary teams and facilitated 14+ collaborative research projects, which led to efficient data collection and analysis, resulting in 5 high-impact publications within 1 year.
•> Mentored 4 Ph.D. students and 2 Master’s students, providing strategic guidance and scientific support to assist with the timely completion of their projects.

Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Science, University of Auckland (2015-2020)
Auckland, New Zealand

•> Utilized 10 different neuroscientific techniques for pre-clinical testing from the neuronal to the circuit and whole organism levels.
•> Exceeded expectations by winning 23 awards and scholarships worth $130,000+ for my science communication and research outputs.
•> Collaborated with pharmacists, physicists, and microbiologists on 5 interdisciplinary projects, resulting in 6 publications from those projects.

Postgraduate Student Association, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland (2015-2019)
Auckland, New Zealand

•> Postgraduate Studies Committee (2016-2018) – chaired by the Associate Dean, Academic
•> Board of Studies Committee (2017-2018)
•> Faculty Research Committee (2016) – chaired by the Associate Dean, Research
•> Events Team (2015) – organizing educational and interactive events for postgraduate students
•> Web Manager and Social Media Coordinator (2015)
•> Travel Grant Committee (2015) – reviewing international and domestic student travel grants

Teaching Assistant, University of Auckland (2011-2018)
Auckland, New Zealand

•> Taught 1000+ students in the laboratory component of their anatomy, physiology, neuroscience, and clinical undergraduate courses over the 9 years and led teams of up to 10 tutors in the laboratories.
•> Evaluated tests and exams for medical and biomedical science courses.
•> These courses included: Medsci 142 Biology for Biomedical Science (Lead Tutor, 2015-2017); Medsci 201 Human Structure and Function (Lab Demonstrator, 2015); Medsci 205 The Physiology of Human Organ Systems (Lead Tutor, 2012-2017); Medsci 206 Introduction to Neuroscience (Lead Tutor, 2013-2017); MBChB 221 Clinical Physiology (Lead Tutor, 2015-2017); MBChB 221 Microanatomy (Lab Demonstrator, 2015); Maorihlth 21H Introduction to Biology (Lab Demonstrator, 2015-2017); Medsci 317 Integrative Neuroscience: From Fetus to Adult (Invited Tutorial, 2019); Medsci 701 Special Studies in Medical Science (Examiner, 2020); Medsci 733 Advanced Methods in Cell Physiology (Lab Demonstrator, 2018).

Australian Course in Advanced Neuroscience (2017-2018)
Brisbane, Australia

An intensive three weeks electrophysiology course involving hands-on training on the practical skills for in vitro and ex vivo whole cell patch clamp electrophysiology, and the in-depth theories that underlie this specialized technique. I was one of 12 participants selected worldwide and the only participant from New Zealand in 2017.

Based on my performance in the course, I was invited and attended as a lab demonstrator for the course in 2018.

HealtheX Conference Co-Director, University of Auckland (2015-2016)
Auckland, New Zealand

•> Led 40+ staff and students to organize the largest student-led conference in New Zealand (2015-2016).
•> Secured funds, organized budgets, and oversaw the planning and progress of four organizing committees that led to a seamless conference for 100+ presenters and 250+ attendees.
•> Co-led the Program and Abstract Organization Committee (2013), the Marketing and Communications Committee (2014), and the Judging and Prizes Committee (2014).

Research Assistant, School of Pharmacy, University of Auckland (2015)
Auckland, New Zealand

Role involved culturing primary hippocampal neurons and other technical assistance in the lab as required for the Department of Physiology and School of Pharmacy at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

Master of Science, University of Auckland (2014)
Auckland, New Zealand

Examining the influence of autism spectrum disorder associated-Shank2 mutations on excitatory glutamatergic synapses in primary hippocampal neuronal cultures. A+ Grade: First Class Masters.

Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science with First Class Honours, University of Auckland (2010-2013)
Auckland, New Zealand

Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science (2010 – 2012)
Courses studied include: Sensory Neuroscience (grade: A), Integrative Neuroscience (A), Physiology of Human Organs (A), and Biology of Cellular Processes and Development (A).

Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biomedical Science (2013)
Thesis title: Characterizing the Expression of Shank Isoforms in Autism Spectrum Disorder-associated Shank3 Mutation. First Class Honours (A+ grade).

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