Ayça Akal-Strader

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Ayca Akal-Strader Resume
Resume updated: 2/12/2013
Award:
2013 EHLS
Address:
5611 Hoover Street
Bethesda, MD 20817
United States
Phone: 3015643660
Email:
Date Available for Employment: 7/1/2013
Professional Specialty: Scientist, Biochemist, Cellular and Molecular Biologist, Turkish Linguist
None
School: Georgetown University
Specialization(s)/Major:
Dissertation/Minor:
Date Received: 8/26/2013
Graduation Honor:
Doctorate
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Specialization(s)/Major:
Dissertation/Minor:
Date Received: 12/10/2004
Graduation Honor: • Subsistence & Travel Award for a National Scientific Meeting; Genetic Society of America, Meeting Finance Committee, University of Tennessee (08/2002)
• Outstanding Scholarly Achievement (Science Alliance Award); Division of Biology, University of Tennessee (05/2002)
• Excellence in Teaching Award; Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee (05/1998)
Masters
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Specialization(s)/Major: Biochemistry
Dissertation/Minor:
Date Received: 12/20/1997
Graduation Honor: • Fulbright/International Institute of Education (IIE) Fellowship (08/1994 to 12/1997)
• Thesis: Modification of APH(3')-IIIa, an Aminoglycoside Antibiotic 3'-Phosphotransferase, to Characterize its Active Site Residues
Bachelors
School: Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
Specialization(s)/Major: Chemistry
Dissertation/Minor:
Date Received: 7/6/1993
Graduation Honor: • Olcay Birgul Foundation Undergraduate student scholarships for Outstanding Student (09/1990 to 07/1992)
• Cum Laude (07/1993)
Other Education
Enrolled in English for Heritage Language Speakers (EHLS) Certificate Program, Georgetown University, 01/2013 - 08/2013. Full-time, intensive program in English for the professional workplace. Attending on full scholarship from the National Security Education Program (NSEP).
Foreign Languages and Proficiencies:
Language / Spoken Proficiency / Read/Write Proficiency / Listening Proficiency / Colloquially / Notes
Turkish / Superior / Superior / Superior / Yes / Native of Turkey with strong knowledge of and familiarity with Turkish cultural heritage.
English / Superior / Advanced / Advanced / Yes / Naturalized citizen of the US with over 17 years of residence in the U.S. Strong language communication skills and understanding of cultural characteristics.
Countries Visited and Periods of Stay:
Turkey
Visited Area: Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya / 4/2011 - 6/2011
Special Recognition:
Enrolled in English for Heritage Language Speakers (EHLS) Certificate Program, Georgetown University, 01/2013 - 08/2013. Full-time, intensive program in English for the professional workplace. Attending on full scholarship from the National Security Education Program (NSEP).
Employment History:
From:6/2008 / To:Present
Job Title: / Bio-Trac Course Instructor
Employer: / Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES)-National Institute of Health (NIH)
Supervisor: / Mark Nardone
Phone No.: / 3017742904
/ Description : • Serving as a regular team lecturer/instructor for the once–yearly or twice–yearly Bio-Trac course “Biotechnology: Recombinant DNA Methodology” with excellent record of student satisfaction as determined by student evaluation.
• Actively participating in the design of lectures explaining enzymes in recombinant DNA technologies, as well as blotting applications to study DNA, RNA, and protein samples.
From:4/2011 / To:3/2012
Job Title: / Managing Translator, Turkish
Employer: / American Journal Experts, LLC
Supervisor: / Kyongsook Kim, Ph.D.
Phone No.: / 2025101630
/ Description : • Started and developed a new manuscript language service for translation of scientific, medical, engineering, and social science manuscripts from Turkish to English and translated the company website from English to Turkish.
• Increased staff size by 300% and business (customer base) by 500% over four months with great customer satisfaction (25–45% repeat customer rate, no complaints), and two successful partnerships with companies from overseas.
From:10/2007 / To:4/2011
Job Title: / Research Fellow/Laboratory Manager
Employer: / Georgetown University, Department of Biology
Supervisor: / Anne G. Rosenwald, Ph.D.
Phone No.: / 2026875997
/ Description : • Collaborated on multiple projects pertaining to understanding the interactions between two proteins involved in membrane trafficking in yeast and successfully generated several reagents/constructs for use in functional studies.
• Mentored/trained students to assist in their senior thesis projects and troubleshoot their experimental problems.
• Assumed additional responsibilities and managed daily laboratory operations (ordered supplies, maintained equipments, updated databases).
• Assumed responsibility to serve as the laboratory safety officer to provide a safe laboratory environment and ensure that standard operating procedures were followed.
• Prepared reports (protocols, instructions, summaries) for the laboratory use
• Presented work in departmental seminars and interdisciplinary group meetings
• Volunteered to teach DC area community scholars to help them acclimate to the Georgetown University academic speed.
From:9/2010 / To:12/2010
Job Title: / Laboratory Coordinator
Employer: / Georgetown University, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Supervisor: / Ronald L. Cihlar, Ph.D.
Phone No.: / 2026871136
/ Description : • Successfully managed laboratory for the course “Microbiology for Medicine: Infectious Diseases II – Bacteriology & Mycology” for the 2nd year Georgetown University medical students.
• Handled Level 2/3 microorganisms and prepared/tested reagents/media for the smooth progression of the laboratory sessions.
From:8/2008 / To:12/2008
Job Title: / Ad-Hoc Instructor
Employer: / Georgetown University, Department of Chemistry
Supervisor: / Steven M. Singer, Ph.D.
Phone No.: / 2026879884
/ Description : • Volunteered to serve as the ad-hoc instructor for the "General Chemistry" course in order to help DC area Community Scholars with diverse backgrounds get acclimated to the Georgetown University academic environment and pace.
• Actively participated in designing slides/handouts for the course
• Increased students' awareness for various general chemistry topics by giving lectures on the important highlights of the weekly course material and solving diverse sample problems.
• Provided academic advice for the 1st year DC Area Community Scholars at Georgetown University.
From:10/2005 / To:9/2007
Job Title: / Research Fellow/Cancer Research Training Awardee
Employer: / Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Supervisor: / Munira A. Basrai, Ph.D.
Phone No.: / 3014022552
/ Description : • Collaborated on multiple projects to understand the function of an unknown gene in cell cycle progression in yeast. Successfully discovered a previously overlooked function of the gene of interest in G2/M progression and confirmed the role of this gene in G1/S transition of the cell cycle
• Prepared reports, summaries/updates for laboratory use
• Trained/mentored a summer intern on a supporting project
• Represented department by presenting work in departmental seminars and international symposia
• Received Cancer Research Training Award for the research project (10/2005 to 09/2007)
From:11/2004 / To:9/2005
Job Title: / Research Fellow
Employer: / University of Tennessee Medical Center, Amyloid & Neurodegenerative Disease Research Laboratory
Supervisor: / Ronald B. Wetzel, Ph.D.
Phone No.: / 4123835271
/ Description : • Collaborated on multiple projects to develop a cell–based assay for suppression of aggregation of a poly–glutamine protein by a heat shock protein in the neurodegenerative Huntington disease model. Successfully generated several constructs/reagents for use in assays.
• Ordered reagents, maintained equipments, updated databases, and prepared reports (summaries, presentations, lectures).
• Participated in teaching activities to senior biology students to introduce them to work in yeast.
• Gave presentations to represented the group in interdisciplinary meetings.
Societies, Professional Associations, and other Academic Memberships
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Professional Society of the Science Journal
Member since 08/1998
Major Presentations or Publications
Publications:
• Strader, M. B., Hervey IV, W. J. Costantino, N., Fujigaki, S., Chen, C. Y., Akal–Strader, A., Ihunnah, C. A., Makusky, A. J., Court, D. L., Markey, S. P., and Kowalak, J. A. A Coordinated Proteomic Approach for Identifying Proteins that Interact with the E. coli Ribosomal Protein S12. Manuscript accepted to Journal of Proteome Research with minor revisions.
• Kim, K.–M., Lee, Y.–H., Akal–Strader, A., Uddin, M. S., Hauser, M., Naider, F., and Becker, J. M. (2012) Multiple Regulatory Roles of the Carboxy Terminus of Ste2p, a Yeast GPCR. Pharmacological Research 65: 31–40.
• Chavez, D. R., Manlandro, C. M. A., Akal–Strader, A., Munson, A. M., and Rosenwald, A. G. Modulation of Nucleotide Binding to Yeast Arl1: Mon2 Inhibits GTP Binding. Manuscript submitted to FEMS Yeast Research.
• Akal–Strader, A., Khare, S., Xu, D., Naider, F., and Becker, J. M. (2002) Residues in the First Extracellular Loop of a G Protein–Coupled Receptor Play a Role in Signal Transduction. Journal of Biological Chemistry 277: 30581–30590.
• Sommers, C. M., Martin, N. P., Akal–Strader, A., Becker, J. M., Naider, F., and Dumont, M. E. (2000) A Limited Spectrum of Mutations Causes Constitutive Activation of the Yeast Alpha–Factor Receptor. Biochemistry 39: 6898–6909.
• Serpersu, E. H., Cox, J. R., DiGiammarino, E. L., Mohler, M. L., Ekman, D. R., Akal–Strader, A., and Owsten, M. (2000) Conformations of Antibiotics in Active Sites of Aminoglycoside–Detoxifying Enzymes. Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics 33: 309–321.
• Cox, J. R., Ekman, D. R., DiGiammarino, E. L., Akal–Strader, A., and Serpersu, E. H. (2000) Aminoglycoside Antibiotics Bound to Aminoglycoside–Detoxifying Enzymes and RNA Adopt Similar Conformations. Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics 33: 297–308.
Invited Talks:
• Feb. 2009. Biology Department Minisymposium, Georgetown University, Washington, DC. Chairman: Janet Mann, Ph.D. Title of Talk: Modulation of Nucleotide Binding to Monomeric G Protein Arl1 by Mon2 in S. cerevisiae.
• Jan. 2008. Biology Department, Georgetown University, Washington, DC. Host: Anne G. Rosenwald, Ph.D. Title of Talk: Structure–Function Studies of the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Alpha–Mating Factor Pheromone Receptor, Ste2p.
• Nov. 2004. Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, Senior Level Cell Biology Lecture, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN. Host: Barry D. Bruce, Ph.D. Title of Lecture: Yeast as a Model Organism: Signaling Through Cell Surface Receptors and Mating in Yeast.
• May 2003. Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology Scientific Retreat, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Pikeville, TN. Chairman: John Koontz, Ph.D. Title of Talk: Structure/Function and Topology Studies of the First and Third Extracellular Loops of Ste2p, a G Protein–Coupled Receptor of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Alpha–Mating Factor.
• May 2002. Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology Scientific Retreat, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Pikeville, TN. Chairman: John Koontz, Ph.D. Title of Talk: Structure and Function Studies of the First Extracellular Loop of Ste2p, a G Protein–Coupled Receptor for the Tridecapeptide Alpha–Mating Factor of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
• Dec. 1997. Advisory Board Meeting, Department of Biochemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN. Host: John Koontz, Ph.D. and Engin H. Serpersu, Ph.D. Title of Talk: Antibiotic Resistance and Drug/Inhibitor Design.
Poster Presentations:
• July 2010. Title: Mon2: A Novel Regulator of Nucleotide Binding to the Monomeric G Protein, Arl1. Yeast Genetics and Molecular Biology (YGMB) Meeting, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
• Dec. 2006. Title: Functional Analysis of EFG1: A Novel Gene Required for Cell Cycle Progression in Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Center of Excellence in Chromosome Biology Postdoctoral Fellows Retreat, FDRDC, CCR, NCI, NIH, Frederick, MD.
• July 2006. Title: Functional Analysis of EFG1: a Novel Gene Required for Cell Cycle Progression in S. cerevisiae. YGMB Meeting, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ.
• Mar. 2004. Title: 3D Modeling of Transmembrane Regions of Ste2p, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae G Protein–Coupled Receptor. South Eastern Regional Yeast Meeting (SERYM), Rhodes College, Memphis, TN.
• Feb. 2004. Title: 3D Modeling of Transmembrane Regions of Ste2p, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae G Protein–Coupled Receptor. The University of Tennessee (UT)/Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology (GST) Retreat, Knoxville, TN.
• Mar. 2003. Title: Determination of the Topology of the First Extracellular Loop of Ste2p, a G Protein–Coupled Receptor of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Alpha–Mating Factor. SERYM, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL.
• Mar. 2003. Title: Determination of the Topology of the First Extracellular Loop of Ste2p, a G Protein–Coupled Receptor of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Alpha–Mating Factor. The UT/ORNL, Graduate School of GST Retreat, Knoxville, TN.
• Aug. 2002. Title: Structure and Functional Studies of an Extracellular Loop of Ste2p, a G Protein–Coupled Receptor for the Tridecapeptide Alpha–Mating Factor of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae. YGMB Meeting, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI.
• Mar. 2002. Title: Structure and Function Studies with an Extracellular Loop of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae G Protein–Coupled Receptor for the Alpha–Mating Factor. SERYM, Gatlinburg, TN.
• Mar. 2002. Title: Role of an Extracellular Loop in the Structure and Function of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae G Protein–Coupled Receptor for the Tridecapeptide Alpha–Mating Factor. The UT/ORNL, Graduate School of GST Retreat, Knoxville, TN.
• June 2001. Title: Role of the First Extracellular Loop in the Functional Activation of S. cerevisiae Alpha–Factor Receptor. 2nd International Peptide Symposium/17th American Peptide Symposium, Peptides: The Wave of the Future, San Diego, CA.
• May 2001. Title: Role of the First Extracellular Loop in the Functional Activation of S. cerevisiae Alpha–Factor Receptor. The UT/ORNL, Graduate School of GST Retreat, Knoxville, TN.
• Apr. 2001. Title: Role of the First Extracellular Loop in the Functional Activation of S. cerevisiae Alpha–Factor Receptor. SERYM, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS.
Fieldwork, Volunteer, or Teaching Experience
On–The–Job Supervisor, Mentor & Trainer for Junior/Senior Researchers (07/1995 to 04/2011)
• Participated in daily interactions with multiple undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate researchers at the University of Tennessee, National Cancer Institute (NCI)/National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Georgetown University.
• Provided on the job instruction in biochemical, molecular biological, and genetic methods, experimental design, and laboratory notebook maintenance.
• Prepared protocols/tutorials for equipment use, data analysis, and software usage.
Teaching Assistant for Undergraduate and Graduate Students (01/1994 to 05/2000)
• Designed slides, prepared discussion sessions, and evaluated student performance for the courses “Nutritional Biochemistry/Physiological Chemistry” and “Biophysical Chemistry.”
• Directed laboratory sessions, prepared reagents/media, and evaluated student performance for the courses “General Chemistry Laboratory” and “Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory.”
Chair of Turkish Student Organization (08/2004 to 09/2005; Volunteer Work)
• Organized social and cultural gatherings for the Turkish community in the Knoxville/Nashville, TN area to strengthen community ties and increase awareness for the Turkish culture.
• Lead monthly organizational meetings to discuss relevant social, political, and cultural topics, recruit new members, and observe special holidays.
Co–Chair of and Secretary/Reporter for Turkish Student Organization (08/2003 to 06/2004; Volunteer Work)
• Attended monthly organizational meetings and performed administrative duties, such as preparing meeting minutes, reporting results of votes on issues, and scheduling events calendar.
• Assisted in welcoming the new Turkish students to the community.
Other Skills, Qualifications, or Comments
Scientific Skills & Qualifications:
• Self–driven bilingual (Turkish/English) biological scientist with 11+ years of original research experience, 3.5+ years of laboratory management experience overlapping with people management/mentoring function, 1 year of people management and translation experience, and strong teaching/training record.
• Scientist proficient in routine biochemical, cell/molecular biological, and genetic approaches.
• Manager proficient in supervising a multidisciplinary team of 4-22 scientific staff.
• Strong interpersonal skills coupled with effective presentation skills for the communication of scientific content to audiences from broad range of backgrounds.
• Effective oral and written communication skills demonstrated through teaching, mentoring, oral presentations, and publication record.
• Strong teamwork and leadership skills proven by multiple manager and chair/co–chair positions.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills as demonstrated by good prioritization and timely delivery of multiple scientific manuscript translation projects under tight deadlines with exceptional quality and customer satisfaction.
• Acute attention to detail as shown by detailed planning and execution of research projects, as well as editing of technical documents with excellent spelling, grammar, format, consistency, and flow.
Language Skills & Qualifications:
• Bilingual (Turkish/English) professional with 1 year of translation, quality assurance (translation content), customer support, marketing, and people management experience.
• Scientific/technical translator with exceptional language skills (fluent in Turkish and English).
• Manager proficient in supervising a multidisciplinary team of 4-22 scientific staff and achieving quality assurance in scientific manuscript language services.

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