2006-currently     -University of Puerto Rico Sequencing & Genotyping Facility (SGf)
Title: Genomics Specialist, Lab Manager
Duties:   Continuous development of the Sequencing & Genotyping Facility as a fee for service facility. Administration and management of the SGf and the Bioinformatics Satellite Laboratory (BSL).  Technician supervision, training and troubleshooting. Conduct workshops and seminars for students and post-docs. Provide sequencing and fragment analysis services to users.

                        -Self employed-Translation & Editing Services
Title: Editor and Translator
Duties:  Translation and editing services. Administrating and supervising translators and other personnel. Managing disbursements.

2005-2006      -American International Insurance Company
Title: Recovery Specialist/Clerk
Duties:  Deductible recovery of personal and commercial claims after accident. Training of personnel in customer service. Partial management of the recovery department. Assist medical practice examiners and claim adjusters after doctor’s referrals.
                    -Centro de Estudios Supervisados (CES)
Title: Science Tutor / Teacher (all areas—Kindergarten to High-school Senior Yr.)

2004-2005     -Self employed-The Handy Scribe
Title: Editor and Translator
Duties:  Translating a scientific / health text oriented towards the general public. Administrating and supervising translators and other personnel. Managing disbursements.
                    -Centro de Estudios Supervisados (CES)
Title: Science Tutor / Teacher (all areas—Kindergarten to High-school Senior Yr.)

2003- 2004    -UPR-RP Biology Department.  Molecular Biology of Learning and Memory, Dr. Peña/COBRE
Title: Graduate Student/ Neuro-Biology Technician
Duties:  Conducted a molecular neurobiology study related to long term memory and memory consolidation; cloning, restriction digest, cell culture, adenoviral construction, infection, genomic sequencing. Extensive data collection & analysis. Training of lab personnel and students.
                    -Millenium Tutors--Individual Tutoring & Specialized/Supervised Teaching
Title: Teacher/Tutor
Duties:  Teaching and tutoring in the areas of Mathematics (algebra & pre-calculus), Science, Social Studies, English and Ethics.

2002- 2003     UPR-RP Biology Department.
Title: General Biology Teacher’s Assistant
Duties:  Teach a general biology laboratory course which included 1.5 hours of literature and 1.5 hours of experimentation.

1998- 2002     UPR-RP, Biology Department.  Molecular Evolution and Ecological Genetics / Dr. W. O. McMillan; EPSCoR, Dengue Project
Title: Research Assistant / Lab Technician
Duties:  Dengue Project’s technical assistance; rt-PCR, automated DNA sequencing, cloning, restriction digestion, primer design. Data collection and analysis, database maintenance. Training of lab personnel & students. Inventory and sales, inventory database maintenance.

1997-1998     UPRRP, Genetics, Research Lab. Dr. Bruck
Title: Assistant Professor
Duties: Informative Research

1996-1997     UPR-Bayamón campus CUB, English Department
Title: Editor/Tutor
Duties: Editor of Tapestry Magazine; English, Mathematics, and Science tutor/supervised teaching.

1994-1996     Colegio Luterano Santísima Trinidad
Title: Tutor
Duties:  Science, Mathematics, English tutor of high school students

PUBLICATIONS (AS CO-AUTHOR)

Bennett, S. N., E. C. Holmes, M. Chirivella, D. M. Rodriguez, M. Beltran, V. Vorndam, D. Gubler, and W. O. McMillan. (2003) Selection-driven evolution of emergent dengue virus. Molecular Biology and Evolution 20 (10):1650-1658.

Bennett, S. N., E. C. Holmes, M. Chirivella, D. M. Rodriguez, M. Beltran, V. Vorndam, D. Gubler, and W. O. McMillan. (2006) Molecular Evolution of dengue 2 virus in Puerto Rico: positive selection in the viral envelope accompanies clade reintroduction. Journal of General Virology 87: 885-893

OTHER SKILLS

 Computers: IBM / Macintosh / Imac: Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop
 Sequencing / Genotyping / Molecular Biology / Biotechnology / Neurosciences
 Language skills: Fully Bilingual in English and Spanish. Speak some German.

Note:
I've had over seven years experience as a molecular biologist while working both as a research associate and a technician.  Some molecular biology techniques I have mastered over the years include DNA/RNA extraction from eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms, DNA/RNA purification, restriction digests, cloning, rtPCR, adenovirus construction, cell culture, primer design, automated DNA sequencing and fragment analysis, utilizing ABI377 Automated DNA Analyzer, MEGABace1000 capillary sequencer, ABI3130xl Genetic Analyzer, LiCor IR2 DNA Analyzer and Odyssey Infrared Imaging System; among other techniques.  I have also acquired extensive knowledge in data collection, analysis and interpretation using different specialized computer programs such as Sequencher, PAUP, OLIGO, Mega, BioEdit, Mr.Bayes, TreeFinder, TreeView, among others, and have broadly used general computer programs including MS word, excel, powerpoint, Adobe photoshop and programs related to data archiving and database organization.

As a research assistant, I conducted a research involved in understanding the function of viral molecular evolution in emergent disease dynamics of dengue.  This research included the assortment and analysis of extensive sequence data collected from a number or different gene regions of dengue viral isolates from Puerto Rico, USA and Asia.  I also conducted a research on the molecular neurobiology of learning and memory, where I cloned a specific protein (Nurr-1) into an adenoviral vector for subsequent infection and viral production; specific information of this research is under the supervision of Sandra Peña, PhD, Professor & Center Director of the Functional Genomics Research center (FGRc), it included the complete sequencing of several bacterial and viral strains.

During my years as a research associate, I trained students and post-docs to use the sequencing facilities of the University of Puerto Rico, this included setting up the reactions and running and maintaining the machinery for sequencing and genotyping.  I also trained several students in areas of primer design and sequencing data collection and analysis.  I had the opportunity to teach three technical general biology courses (2002-2003--two semesters and a summer course) which included a one-hour lecture and one-hour laboratory bench work to undergraduate students at the UPR and also was a Teaching Assistant for a Biotechnology course.

During later years, I taught general science and main courses in an independent high school student's center.  I also gained significant administrative and customer service skills during employment at a well-known insurance company.

Currently, I am the Sequencing facility's genomics specialist and manager.  I am charged with the re-establishment of the facility, administrative back-up and its continuous development as a research-intensive fee-for-service-facility.  I am also in the process of completing a re-admission solicitation for graduate studies in the University.  My main research interests are in the area of mitochondrial DNA gene rearrangements of Rivulid killifish, under the supervision of Tomas Hrbek, PhD, Associate Professor.

I'll be glad to aid anyone resolve their doubts or questions and would gladly accept and/or submit any information in the field.