12265 SW 4TH TERR • MIAMI, FL 33184

P H O N E 3 0 5 - 3 2 2 - 3 1 9 3 • E - M A I L F E R R E RC @ B U C M A I L . B A R RY. E D U

CHRISTINA FERRER

EDUCATION

08/2003 – 05/2007 B.S., University of Central Florida

Orlando, Fl
Major: Liberal Studies, Health and Physical Sciences; Minor:
Biology

08/2007 – 05/2009 M.S., Barry University Miami

Shores, Fl
Major: Biomedical Sciences

08/2007 – 05/2008 MT, Miami Dade College Miami, Fl

Major: Medical Laboratory Technology

RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE

03/2008 – Present Laboratory Research Intern

Florida International University, School of Medicine, Molecular
Biology Laboratory
Miami, Fl
• PI: Dr. Rene J. Herrera, PhD; phone # (305) 348-1258
• Doctoral Fellow: Jason A. Somarelli
o Using antibodies, generated through in vitro phage display technology, for
the recognition of an FKBP45 peptide.
o Extraction of antibodies from E.coli in order to express, isolate and
purify the anti-FKBP45 peptide antibodies from phage display
clones
o ELISA detection to test the affinity of anti-FKBP45 peptide
antibodies
o Western blot detection to test the specificity of anti-FKBP45 peptide
antibodies
o Nickel column purification of anti-FKBP45 peptide antibodies using
anti-His resin
o Immunoprecipitation depleting FKBP45 peptide from Bm5 nuclear
extract with generated anti-FKBP45 peptide antibodies
o Epitope mapping of antigenicity in the U1 snRNP using 3D modeling
o Predict a framework in which peptides will be selected using a
generated 3D molecular model of the U1 snRNP
o Use of the programs BioEdit, I-TASSER, Pymol, ExPASy to select a
set of epitopes from the fourteen U1 snRNP proteins with potential
antigenicity due to placement within the complex and other
physiochemical characteristics
 o ELISA testing of autoimmune activity of 8 synthesized peptides
using SLE patient sera
 Development of a Quality Control protocol for testing serum
 Optimizing dilution curves for the most and least reactive SLE
sera and healthy sera
o In-silico assembly of spliceosomal polypeptides present in the silk moth
Bombyx mori
o manuscript in preparation for submission
o BLAST search of protein and RNA sequences in seven evolutionarily
related insects to Bombyx mori
o BioEdit sequence alignment in order to compare assembled
sequences and perform data analysis:
 Identifying conserved domains present in each polypeptide
family
 Calculation of % Identity of Bombyx mori protein similarity to
other insect proteins and similarity between insects
 Analysis of Variance on % Identity values
06/2007 – 08/2007 Volunteer
Mercy Hospital, Histopathology Laboratory
Miami, Fl
• Dr. R Spencer Howell, MD, Pathologist; phone # 305-663-
0069
• Volunteer Resources, 305-285-2773
o Pathology specimen delivery, accessioning, and labeling
o Inventory stocking
o Assisting the technologists and the pathologists

SPECIAL COMPETENCIES AND TECHNIQUES

Molecular Biology:
PCR, 2D Electrophoresis, agarose gel electrophoresis, SDS-Polyacrylamide gel
electrophoresis, Bradford protein concentration assay, protein dialysis, nickel affinity
column chromatography, assisting with in-vitro transcription and in-vitro splicing
experiments, authorized user of radioactive materials.

Cell Biology:
Maintenance of three stable cell lines (Bm5, SF9 and HeLa), protein nuclear material
extraction from Bm5 cell line. CBC using hemocytometer, MD-16 Coulter blood
sample reader, recognizing normal and abnormal blood cells in bone marrow and
peripheral blood smears.
o Wright’s staining, HE staining, Leukocyte Alkaline Phosphatase staining

Immunology:
Western transfer and blotting, ELISA, immunoprecipitation, performed various
enzyme immunoassays for the detection of Syphilis, Rubella, RF, Mononucleosis,
hcG, CRP.

Microbiology:
Preparation of broth and agar plates for bacterial culture, antibody extraction from
E.coli cells, Tease Mount, Scotch Tape, Microslide culture preparation for mycological
laboratory diagnosis, Sedimentation and Flotation preparations for parasitic
analysis.
o Gram Stain, Giemsa stain, Acid fast staining, India ink staning

Bioinformatics:
BLAST, PyMOL 3D modeling, I-TASSER, BioEdit, ExPASy, Pepitope and Bepipred
antigenic epitope prediction programs.

Other:
Phlebotomy experience, urine, CSF, fecal and semen analysis.
Clinical Laboratory Trainee License No. TR41157, State of Florida Department of
Health

ACTIVITIES

Secretary, Student Government Association, Miami Dade College Medical Campus,

Miami, Fl August 2007- May 2008
o Serve the student body of Miami Dade College by fighting for student issues,
legislative issues and putting on events for the students together with
Student Life.

o Received Student Service Grant for volunteering over 300 hours to SGA.

Secretary, Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity, UCF, Orlando, Fl Fall

2004- Spring 2007
o Participated in feeding the homeless, Teach for America and the Relay for Life
American Cancer Society Team in addition to many other Fraternity service,
fundraising and scholarship events.

Volunteer UCF, Alternative Spring Break, Rebuilding New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
Spring Break 2007
o Assisted New Orleans residents in renewing and rebuilding their homes that
were devastated by hurricane Katrina.

LANGUAGES
Fluent in both Spanish and English