Thank you for visiting my online CV. For a brief overview, see below. If you’d like more details, please click HERE for my CV or check out my LinkedIn profile.
I defended my dissertation on May 31st, 2016 and am currently looking for employment in St. Louis, MO starting in July.
Current Research Interests
Megakaryocytes (Mks) are large, polyploid cells that differentiate from the hematopoietic stem cell and produce platelets (the cells responsible for blood clotting). By better understanding how Mks produce platelets, we can develop more effective, cost-efficient methods for producing platelets ex vivo and more appropriate therapies for individuals with low platelet counts (due to chemotherapy, acute illness, or chronic disease). My work investigates how mechanical forces from the blood directly alter gene expression, which transcription factors are responsible for this modulation, which signaling pathways activate these transcription factors, and how all of these changes work together to carry out platelet biogenesis.
Academic Background
University of Delaware, PhD, Molecular Biology & Genetics, 2011 – current
Nova Southeastern University, BS, Biological Sciences, 2008 – 2011
Publications
1. S.A. Luff and E.T. Papoutsakis, Megakaryocytic Maturation in Response to Shear Flow is Mediated by the Activator Protein 1 (AP-1) Transcription Factor via Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) Mechanotransduction. Journal of Biological Chemistry (2016): Link to JBC
2. S.A. Luff , C.Y. Kao, and E.T. Papoutsakis, Transcription-Independent p53-Induced Apoptosis is Involved in Shear Flow-Induced Megakaryocytic Maturation and Particle Biogenesis, in preparation for June submission
Technical Skills
Advanced Equipement: Flow Cytometry (BD FACS Aria II), Confocal Microscopy (Zeiss LSM 780), & Super Resolution Microscopy (Zeiss Elyra P1)
Molecular Techniques: Cloning, Protein tagging, Site-Directed Mutagenesis, PCR, qRT-PCR and TaqMan Assays, Western Blot Analysis, Gel Electrophoresis, & ELISA
Systems Biology: Genome-Wide Gene Expression Microarray Analysis (all steps from RNA to bioinformatic analysis), Chromatin Immunoprecipitation & Sequencing (ChIP-Seq)
Computer Skills: Bash (Self-taught beginner), Adobe Creative Suite (Expert), Web Design (Very Competent)
Honors & Awards
AAAS/Science Program for Excellence in Science, April 2015 – April 2017
Poster Presentation Runner-up Winner, 43rd Annual Philadelphia Workshop on Hemostasis, Thrombosis, and Atherosclerosis at Temple University
NSF IGERT Fellow, January 2013 – June 2015
IGERT Poster & Video Competition Winner, posterhall.org/igert2013/posters/393
Professional Development
Science Outside the Lab, Consortium for Science, Policy, & Outcomes (CSPO), Arizona State University Washington Center, June 2013
New Graduate Student Orientation Panelist, “Your First Semester as a Ph.D. Student”
Innovate to Mitigate Challenge 2015 Judge, http://innovate2015.videohall.com
American Institute of Biological Sciences Congressional Visits Day, Washington, D.C. Public Policy Office
Delaware Bioscience Association, Government Affairs & Community Outreach Intern
Affiliations
Graduate Student Government: Vice President of Membership, Communications Committee Chair, & Biological Sciences Senator
University of Delaware Faculty Senate: Graduate Studies Graduate Student Representative
College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Senate: Graduate Student Representative
Biology Graduate Student Association: GSG Liaison & Secretary
Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society: Member 2009-2011, President 2010-2011
Alpha Chi National College Honor Society: Inducted 2010
Teaching Experience
University of Delaware, Teaching Assistant, Introductory Biology I (BISC 207), Fall 2011
University of Delaware, Teaching Assistant, Introductory Biology II (BISC 208), Spring 2012
Contact Information
sluff@udel.edu