Biochemistry Resume

Contact information

Briano S. Upcraft

17 Street

Dallas   

Texas

Career objective 

Looking for a challenging position of the Biochemistry Resume the reputed University with a view to use my wide experience for the benefit of the organization.

I am a research scientist with over 25 years of experience. Due to the retirement of Prof Louis Lim and the lack of further funding for the London lab my long tenure at the Institute of Neurology came to an end. The principles of research and the scientific techniques I have acquired over the years are tools I would like to continue to use. 

 

Currently, I am working on a voluntary basis in Clinical Trials R&D management at Ashford & St ’s Hospital Trust, Chertsey. 

 

I have always maintained very high standards and try to be meticulous showing a careful eye to detail. I have focused on very high quality research and building relationships. I have extensive problem solving and management skills which I have used to further my own personal development. 

 

Over the years I have maintained good relationships with my colleagues both in London and Singapore. In fact, the PhD students that I have trained and co-supervised both in London and Singapore remain my very good friends. 

 

 

 

Education 

 

University of London (1994) Biochemistry PhD 

University of Sussex (1983) Biochemistry BSc, Hons

 

 

 

Employment 

 

Ashford and St  ’s NHS Trust Honorary R&D Manager April 2010 – present 

(voluntary) 

 

Institute of Neurology (UCL) Honorary Lecturer- Dec 2002 – July 2009 

Visiting Research Fellow Sept 1994 – Dec 2002 

Research Assistant / Sept 1987 – Aug 1994 

PhD student (part-time) Sept 1991 – May 1994 

Research Technician Sept 1984 – Aug 1987 

 

IMCB, Singapore Research Fellow Sept 1994 – Mar 2009 

Junior Research Fellow Mar 1993 – Aug 1994 

 

 

 

Research Interests 

 

During my Ph.D. I sequenced and helped to name the novel brain-specific molecule Chimaerin. My work led the groups both in London and Singapore to move from studying heat-shock proteins and carboxypeptidase E to the area of small G-proteins of the Rho family. As a group we established an excellent reputation in this field. I was part of a Nature article in which we established, in collaboration with Prof  Hall, that Chimaerin is a specific GTPase-Activating Protein (GAP) for the small G-protein Rac1. 

 

My main interest has been brain-specific proteins, neuronal development and cell motility. But, this has not limited my interest in related areas, particularly that of cancer. Having studied the Rho family and interacting proteins, much time has also centred on the oncogenes of the Ras family and related molecules. 

 

On a more personal level I have spent much time studying the literature and methods used in the detection and treatment of thyroid and breast cancers, since, particularly while my mother and wife were being treated for these diseases. 

 

I am used to negotiating with representatives for lab equipment, and would often identify new equipment that was needed. When we upgraded our fluorescent microscope with a digital camera I negotiated with Improvision to buy an Openlab system worth over 20,000. I have also used Metamorph on an inverted Zeiss microscope for live cell imaging and the confocal microscope at Kings with the help of a member of Prof   Jones group. 

 

From the 1990s I have used BLAST to search NIH databases online, Using DNAStar*, Vector NTI, or other online tools I have used many bioinformatics tools to check for novel cDNAs and their genomic structure. 

 

Technical Experience 

 

Purification of poly(A) RNA and Northern blotting 

 

cDNA, Antibody and Yeast Two-Hybrid library screening 

 

DNA sequencing, PCR cloning and design 

 

Protein expression in many bacterial and eukaryotic systems 

 

Monoclonal & Polyclonal antibody production and purification 

 

Tissue culture of Hela, Cos7. Neuroblastoma and other cells 

 

Western blotting / probing with antibodies / immunostaining of cells 

 

Site-directed mutagenesis, deletions and manipulation of DNA constructs 

 

Personal Attributes / Interests 

 

I am good at solving problems, and have good management skills. This has been useful at work and at my local church. I was leader of the communications and multimedia departments and in these roles instructed and trained both young and old in the correct use of PowerPoint, the digital projector and other printing projects. 

I was responsible for project managing the completion of my local church building project in Balham. Working in collaboration with consultants and contractors based in Belfast I put together the Design team and I was in charge of the Budget of 1.1 million. I made daily decisions on the Project and signed off all payments leading to the successful completion of the Project in April 2009, and the grand Opening of the facilities in July 2009. 

 

I have an Honorary contract in the R&D Department at St’s Hospital in Chertsey, which has allowed me to follow the clinical trials procedure and get GCP accreditation. I have been to R&D Board Meetings and collaborated with Dr on a Report for the BME Network within the SEC already and helping with the R&D annual report. I am always trying to develop new skills and willing to learn, and I am committed to further professional development. 

 

I have a keen interest in computers. I have built my own PCs at home and often repair or upgrade those of my friends. This helped greatly at work in keeping our computers in good working order, often not needing the computing department to rectify faults. I am an advanced user of most software programmes, particularly Adobe and Microsoft Office products. I have a subscription to PCPro to keep up to date with the latest trends. 

 

I am a very keen photographer and videographer. I have been the photographer for many family and friends weddings. I enjoy mixing videos using Adobe Premiere and editing photographs using Adobe Photoshop.. 

 

I use to sing bass / tenor in Balham SDA, Gospel Choir. In 2008 we took part in ‘Last Choir Standing’ on the BBC and made it as far as the ‘Call-Backs’ where 28 choirs tried to make the cut for the TV programme. 

 

I love sport and I was the manager of our local church football team. Over the years we have won many tournaments. I was also the Secretary of the Sunday League (Adventist Football League) that we formed having previously been the Treasurer. 

 

I have taken part in many mentoring programmes in Secondary schools, to raise the awareness that there are successful men from my ethnic background – breaking the stereotype portrayed in the media. 

 

I have helped on various scientific projects. When the BBC made the programme ‘Motherland’, I helped provide subjects who took part in the genetic testing and interviews. I keep in contact with a wide range of other scientists particularly from my ethnic backgrounds, which have helped in mentoring programmes. 

 

References

Briano S. Upcraft

Manager

Wap Company.

Briano_Upcraft@gmail.com