Shaun Hunter
Education Experience Techniques Publications Download PDF
SUMMARY
Molecular biology Ph.D. with 10 years of
research experience looking for a research position in a dynamic, goal-oriented
environment. Studied microRNA regulation during
development and cellular differentiation using both molecular and bioinformatic approaches. Work productively in a team, as
well as independently.
Washington
University in St. Louis, 2002, BA in
Biology summa cum laude
·
Minor in Computer
Science
University
of California, San Diego (UCSD), 2009,
Ph.D. in Biology.
LEADERSHIP
EXPERIENCE
·
Lead a small team
in the last year of my graduate project for the completion
and continuation of the project. Created schedules and coordinated activities
of my group to efficiently manage a large-scale project to a timely conclusion,
as well as establish the foundation for the continuation of the project in a
new direction by the rest of the team.
·
Trained, in
theory and in practice, team members and other lab members with a wide range of
experience from undergraduates to post docs on molecular biology, genetics and bioinformatic techniques, such as RNA interference, PCR,
plasmid cloning, sequence analysis, RNA extraction, and Northern blot analysis.
University
of California at San Diego, Department of Pediatrics
·
Postdoctoral Scholar, Oct. 2010 - Present.
Characterized the microRNA and target profiles in differentiating human
embryonic stem cells (hESCs) using next generation
sequencing (NGS) technologies. Designed expression vectors to overexpress
microRNAs in established cell lines as well as in hESCs. Assayed microRNA,
target mRNA and biomarker gene expression using several methods including qPCR, Northerns, and NGS Digital
Gene Expression.
University
of California at San Diego, Division of Biological Sciences
·
Graduate Research Assistant, Sep. 2002- Oct. 2009.
Designed and implemented an analytical scheme to
globally analyze the regulatory network of the conserved microRNA,
and tumor suppressor, let-7, moving from higher-throughput to lower-throughput
methods. Used microarray analysis to find ~2500 genes
up-regulated in let-7 mutants. Used bioinformatic
criteria followed by phenotypic assays to prioritize and test regulatory candidates
by RNA interference for biologically significant interactions. Discovered regulatory interactions with several known developmental
and cellular regulatory genes. Designed, refined and implemented a
reporter gene expression assay to validate high priority candidates as direct
targets. Led a small team in analyzing ~50 strains with this
assay.
Other projects and experience:
As part of team
efforts, characterized the primary transcript of let-7, showing some of the earliest evidence of RNA Pol II transcription of microRNAs,
and demonstrated that microRNAs (lin-4 and let-7) can
negatively regulate targets by directing target mRNA degradation contrary to
the established model.
Initiated a
project combining Immuno-precipitation and Solexa sequencing to find all of the microRNA
target binding sites in C. elegans.
Designed and
cloned plasmids for a variety of purposes including vector improvement,
increasing transformation efficiency, rescue analysis and reporter gene assays
Wrote and modified PERL scripts for various genomic
analyses, including PCR primer mispriming analysis,
BLAST parsing, and simple sequence repeat analysis.
Washington
University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Department of Genetics
·
Undergraduate Research Assistant, August 1998- May 2002
·
Laboratory Technician May. 2002- Aug. 2002.
Organized an ongoing positional
cloning project in zebrafish. Created the biggest physical contig of the zebrafish genome at
the time. Contributed this data as well as an assembly
of whole genome shotgun traces to the beginning zebrafish
genome sequencing project. Used both plate sequencing
and later capillary sequencing machines to generate new markers for further
genetic and physical mapping.
Molecular
Biology:
DNA
·
Sequencing on
multiple platforms
·
Southern blot
analysis
·
Genetic
mapping (in multiple species)
·
PCR, primer
design, and cloning
RNA
·
Microarray
analysis
·
RACE
·
cDNA synthesis
·
RNA and DNA
isolation
·
Northern blot
analysis (agarose and PAGE)
Protein
·
Immunohistochemistry
·
Western blot
·
Immunoprecipitation
Cell Biology
Growth and maintenance of hESC
(e.g. CyThera49) and established cell lines (e.g. HEK293)
Transfection (Lipofectamine, Neon)
Differentiation of hESCs
Bioinformatics:
Programming in PERL, familiar with Java and C++
Contig assembly
Sequence alignments (BLAST, CLUSTALW)
Software
Experience:
Sequencher, DNA Star, and VectorNTI
MS Office suite
Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
Windows
Mac OsX
Unix/Linux
Hunter S, Yeo G, Pasquinelli
AE. 2009. Functional genomic analysis of the let-7 regulatory network reveals targets
with roles in growth and development. In preparation.
Bagga S, Bracht J, Hunter S, Massirer
K, Holtz J, Eachus R, Pasquinelli
AE. 2005. Regulation by let-7 and lin-4 miRNAs
results in target mRNA degradation. Cell.
122(4):553-63. Abstract
Pasquinelli AE, Hunter S,
Bracht J. MicroRNAs: a
developing story. 2005. Current Opinions in Genetics and Development.
15(2):200-5. Abstract
Bracht J1, Hunter
S1, Eachus R, Weeks P, Pasquinelli AE. 2004. Trans-splicing and polyadenylation of let-7 microRNA
primary transcripts. RNA. 10(10):1586-94. Abstract
1Authors
contributed equally
SELECTED
MEETING PRESENTATIONS
Hunter S, Holtz J, Yeo G, Pasquinelli AE. 2007. Global analysis of the let-7 regulatory pathway in C. elegans. Poster- International Worm Meeting, Los Angeles, California.
Hunter S, Bagga S, Bracht J, Massirer K, Holtz J, Eachus R, Pasquinelli AE. 2005. MicroRNAs Direct Target mRNA Cleavage in C. elegans. Platform- International Meeting of the RNA Society.
Banff, Alberta, Canada.
Hunter
S and Pasquinelli
AE. 2005. Reporter based
investigation of miRNA function. Poster-
International Worm Meeting, Los Angeles, California.
HONORS
& AWARDS
NIH Cell and
Molecular Genetics Trainee, 2002-2005
NIH Endocrinology Trainee 2005-2007
References available upon request.