CURRICULUM VITAE Michael Tilelli, B.Sc.

Transcription

1 Michael Tilelli, BSc Research Assistant II Plant Biotechnology Laboratory Department of Cell and Molecular Biology 530 Liberty Lane West Kingston, Rhode Island (o) (c) (f) CURRICULUM VITAE Michael Tilelli, B.Sc.

2 Michael Tilelli, B.Sc I. Educational Background B.Sc. Biological Sciences, 2009,, Kingston, R.I. Minor in Chemistry Advisory Professor: Dr. Albert Kausch: Department of Cell and Molecular Biology Certified Phlebotomy Technician, 2013, 911 Programs Educating Professionals, Warwick, R.I. Certified Phlebotomy Technician, 2013, National Healthcare Association II. Experience The Plant Biotechnology Laboratory at The. Research Assistant II (2009-present). Plant genetic engineering; advanced tissue and cell culture, and plant genetics. Improvement of cereal (maize and rice) and bioenergy crops (switchgrass and related species) using transgenic technology and advanced breeding strategies. Responsibilities include: genetic transformation and recovery of T 0 and T 1 plants; development of wide cross and hybrid experiments (embryo rescue); media preparation; DNA isolation and quantitation, transgenic plant molecular analysis; brightfield and dissecting light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy(gfp analysis); PCR; Southern blots; field and greenhouse experience, conducting controlled crosses, and intern supervisory experience. Experience with routine laboratory notebook records, timely filing of quarterly laboratory reports, review and contribution to manuscripts, patents and conference presentations. Management experience includes direction of undergraduate laboratory student interns. Additional experience includes research on biofortification and hybrid plant production in transgenic maize and rice. The Plant Biotechnology Internship ( ). Laboratory work experience in the Plant Biotechnology laboratory at URI; tissue culture, media preparation, laboratory safety, aseptic technique, experimental design and execution, embryogenic switchgrass callus line development, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, DNA extraction, plant field work, T 0 and T 1 plant maintenance, seed collection and proper data collection, notebook record keeping, and report preparation. III. Skills Transgenic/Molecular/Genetic Technologies: Media preparation, sterile technique, plant tissue culture, tissue sampling, microbiology, light microscopy, macrophotography, monocot Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, biolistic particle bombardment, plant growth and maintenance, DNA/RNA isolation, gel electrophoresis, gel purification, GUS and GFP reporter gene analysis, Southern-blot analysis, PCR, greenhouse maintenance and automated lighting and irrigation. Data collection, lab meeting Powerpoint presentations of results, notebook record keeping, and report preparation. Computer Software Applications: MS Word, MS Powerpoint, MS Excel.

3 Phlebotomy/Blood and Non-Blood Collections: Venipuncture (evacuated tube system, hypodermic, winged infusion), CPR (certified), specimen labeling, throat and nasal cultures, capillary finger and heel sticks, thick and thin blood smears, collection of occult blood cards, stool, and urine samples, centrifuge operations. IV. Publications 1. Kausch, A.P., J. Hague, A. Deresienski, M. Tilelli, C. Longo and K. Nelson. (2012) Male Sterility and Hybrid Plant Systems for Gene Confinement. In Plant Gene Containment. M. Oliver and Yi Li. Eds. (2012) John Wiley & Sons,. Inc. New York, New York. 2. Kausch AP, Deresienski A, Hague J, Dellaporta SL, Tilelli M, et al. (2013) Hybrid Plant Systems for Breeding and Gene Confinement in Bioenergy Crops. New and Future Developments in Catalysis Catalytic Biomass Conversion. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. 3. Nelson, K., J. Hague, A. Deresienski, M. Tilelli, And A.P. Kausch (2013). Improvement of Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and Atlantic Coastal Panic Grass (Panicum amarum L.) Tissue Culture and Genetic Transformation. Plant Cell Reports (In preparation). 4. Deresienski A, Nelson K, Hague J, M. Tilelli, Kausch AP (2013) Using an herbicide resistance selectable marker for recovery of intraspecific and interspecific hybrids in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). BioEnergy Research (In preparation). 5. Nelson K, Hague J, Deresienski A, Longo C, Tilelli M, et al. (2013) Use of a selectable marker gene in embryo rescue for Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and Atlantic Coastal Panicgrass (Panicum amarum Ell. var. amarulum). Agriculture (In preparation). V. Poster Presentations 1. Use of an Herbicide Resistance Selectable Marker for Recovery of Intraspecific and Interspecific Hybrids in Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) Adam Deresienski, Kimberly Nelson, Mike Tilelli, Joel Hague, and Albert P. Kausch *Department of Cell and Molecular Biology,, Kingston, RI American Society for Plant Biology (ASPB) July 2012 Austin Texas. 2. A Project-Based Undergraduate Internship Program in Agricultural Biotechnology. Kimberly Nelson, Adam Deresienski, Mike Tilelli, Joel Hague, Albert P Kausch *Department of Cell and Molecular Biology,, Kingston, RI American Society for Plant Biology (ASPB) July 2012 Austin Texas. 3. Use of a Selectable Marker for In Situ Embryo Rescue using Transgenic Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) for Recovery of Wide Crosses. Mike Tilelli, Kimberly

4 Nelson, Adam Deresienski, Joel Hague, and Albert P. Kausch**Department of Cell and Molecular Biology,, Kingston, RI American Society for Plant Biology (ASPB) July 2012 Austin Texas. VI. Patents The use of genetically modified plants for recovery of non-genetically modified hybrids from wide crosses Inventors: Adam Deresienski; Kimberly Nelson; Michael Tilleli; Joel Hague, Stephen Dellaporta and Albert Kausch. United States Patent Application. US 2013/ Assignee; In situ embryo rescue and recovery of non-genetically modified hybrids from wide crosses Inventors: Kimberly Nelson; Adam Deresienski; Michael Tilleli; Joel Hague and Albert Kausch. United States Patent Application.US 2013/ Assignee; University of Rhode Island Wide crosses for gene confinement of genetically modified plants Inventors: Albert Kausch; Kimberly Nelson; Adam Deresienski; Michael Tilleli; Joel Hague, and Stephen Dellaporta United States Patent Application. US 2013/ Assignee; VII. Awards 2013 Intellectual Property Recognition Award for two invention disclosures

5 Summary and Career Objectives I am currently a Research Assistant II working in the Plant Biotechnology Laboratory (PBL) at the. The projects that I have been involved with rely heavily on biotechnology strategies for genetic improvement in plants. These staretgies include an expertise with Plant genetic engineering; advanced tissue and cell culture, and plant genetics. The PBL, under the Direction of Dr. Albert Kausch currently has funded projects on; (I) The nutrional improvement of maize for African Germplasm; (II) The development of hybrid systems and heterosis for rice; (III) Genetic Improvement of switchgrass for Bioenergy Traits and,; (IV) The Development of Green Garlic as a New Vegetable. The work that I have been involved with at the PBL has afforded me a broad experience in biotechnology in general and the exposure to a broad range of research techniques and approaches. For example, the work I have conducted recently on novel plant embryo rescue techniques uses reporter transgenes and selectable markers for the recovery and development of new inter-specific, intra-specific, interploid, and intergeneric hybrid varieties. I am responsible for carrying out Agrobacterium-mediated transformation experiments on a variety of plants. For these projects I am responsible to prepare various plant tissue culture media, perform seed surface sterilizations, grow bacterial cultures, use light microscopy to isolate embryogenic plant cells and other structures, maintain cell lines through tissue culture methods, tissue sample plants and isolate DNA/RNA, prepare and run gel electrophoresis, and perform necessary molecular analysis. This work has also allowed me to develop management skills and exposure to working with and training other laboratory personnel and undergraduate students. I supervise and instruct U.R.I. undergraduate interns who assist in much of the fieldwork, tissue culture, tissue sampling, molecular techniques, and data collection. All members of the PBL are required to document, organize, and present data and results using Microsoft office programs, and I have been responsible for collecting and organizing data for formal laboratory quarterly reports. The experience that I have gained at the PBL at URI has provided an invaluable knowledge base for my future career objectives and goals. My skills now allow me to develop and work on other important crop systems, including sorghum, millet, and other closely related species. I am experienced with all aspects of plant transformation biology, including; the media preparation, maintenance of embryogenic callus cultures, selection, regeneration, greenhouse care, tissue sampling, nucleic acid extraction, PCR, and southern blot analysis. For seven years now I have been involved with Agrobacterium-mediated transformation experiments in different explants of commercially important species, using a variety of A. tumefaciens strains, selectable markers, reporter genes and protocols. I also have experience with biolistic particle bombardment. Additionally, my experience has equipped me with a critical eye for visual selection of tissue culture and various embryogenic and cell morphotypes using microscopy. This is an essential step to transformation and plant regeneration common to many crop plant systems. As part of my phlebotomy certification-training program I was required to work 80 clinical hours at Milford Regional Medical Center in the outpatient laboratory. There I gained much knowledge and experience in various venipuncture techniques and specimen collections. During my clinical externship I performed over

6 200 successful blood draws from patients. Also while there, I developed good communication and interpersonal skills with patients and hospital laboratory personnel. Both my laboratory experience and phlebotomy training have taught me proper lab safety, waste/hazardous material disposal, chemical storage, and infection control. My career objective is to one day become a licensed cytotechnologist or laboratory supervisor in cytotechnology or a related field. I firmly believe that when choosing a career, one should pick something they truly enjoy and are passionate about. My whole life I have been fascinated by biology and the examination of cells and tissues at a cellular level. I am capable of using different types of microscopes, preparing slides, and using microscope computer software for image documentation. I enjoy performing laboratory tests and the interpretation of results. I understand the importance of sterilization, aseptic work, and laboratory safety and cleanliness. Working in a laboratory setting has required me to work both independently and as part of team. I feel that the skills, knowledge, and techniques I have learned while working in biotechnology have prepared me to enter this area of study.

7 References: (Available on Request) Albert Kausch Ph.D. Professor Director, Plant Biotechnology Laboratory Department of Cell and Molecular Biology 530 Liberty Lane West Kingston, RI (o) (c) (f) Joel Chandlee Ph.D. Professor Department of Cell and Molecular Biology 477 CBLS Kingston, RI (o) (f) Kimberly Nelson Program Manager, Plant Biotechnology Laboratory Department of Cell and Molecular Biology 530 Liberty Lane West Kingston, RI (o) (f) Marianne Santos CPT, Phlebotomy Instructor and Course Coordinator 911 Programs EMS and Allied Health Education 555 Jefferson Blvd Warwick, RI (c)

8