CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
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Authored 10 published peer-reviewed manuscripts, 6 so far as first-author.
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Designed and led an innovative preclinical study that resulted in patented pharmaceutical IP as 50% co-inventor.
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13 research awards, from National Research Service Awards to scientific publication highlighted author.
Nationally ranked 1st of 917 scientific preclinical and clinical fellowship applications (top 011%; 20-21').
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Pharma/R&D Research Scientist
University of Texas Health at San Antonio (2011 - Present)
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Build necessary capabilities, and leverage and secure external resources necessary to plan, budget, manage, and lead all aspects of preclinical drug development or nonclinical applied pharmacology, drug safety, and physiology studies as Principal Investigator for NIH and American Heart Association grants and awards totaling $709,045.
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Design, oversee, safely conduct, analyze, interpret, and submit project reports that validate preclinical R&D and a new animal model - now available for clinical trials & commercialization benefiting employer (60% royalties and license payments).
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Contribute as team member to generation of data for the funding and/or execution of research projects totaling $6,335,872 in addition to external collaboration on a project supported by U.S. Army Military Operational Medicine Research Program and Clinical Rehabilitative Medicine Research Program.
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Provide timely scientific report and publication updates, as evidenced by 10 published peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts and 44 scientific meeting abstracts that demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between pharmacology, drug safety, and metabolism across multiple therapeutic areas including inflammatory pain, like rheumatoid arthritis, sleep apnea, drug overdose, prescription misuse, and diabetes.
Texas Woman's University (2009-2010)
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Developed an understanding of scientific research and technical skills that include lab equipment and software knowledge, data collection and entry, troubleshooting, and literature review to support 2 senior-level graduate students.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Opioid-related Side Effects
Neurocircuitry behind opioid-induced respiratory depression and resuscitation by opioid receptor antagonists and non-opioid methods.
Opioid-mediated Analgesia
Peripheral mechanisms of opioid receptor signaling that underlie analgesic and therapeutic effects.
EDUCATION
UT Health | School of Biomedical Sciences
Departments of Pharmacology and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
PhD in Pharmacology (2017)
Magna cum laude
TWU | Colleges of Arts & Sciences and Health Sciences
Department of Nutrition & Food Sciences
BS in Biochemistry (2010)
BS in Nutrition (2010)
+Minor in General Sciences (2010)
Magna cum laude
Opioid-related Drug Abuse
Molecular mechanisms underlying neural circuits responsible for abuse behaviors and drug withdrawal.