Sonya D. Gopani

Biological Research Assistant

  • Portland, OR
  • Phone: 407.619.8497

Objective

To utilize my acquired biological skills and knowledge in the field of advanced scientific development or healthcare industry

Skills

Laboratory Skills

Polymerase Chain Reaction methods
Electrophoresis
Northern blot technique
Chromatography
Paper, thin layer
Aseptic techniques
Performance of sterile inoculations, two tube transfers, simple streak plates, quadrant streak plates, agar deep stabs, and agar slants
Isolation/characterization of Chromosomal and Plasmid DNA
Isolation of colonies; by means of quadrant streak plates, and transfer of isolated colony to a fresh medium.
Microorganism Identification
Conducting a series of culture tests in order to characteristically categorize two unknown microorganisms in a given sample, ultimately identifying the bacterial species
Simple staining
For the viewing of morphological characteristics
Gram staining
Differential staining for the determination of gram positive or gram negative species, by use of the critical step of decolorization, indicating the presence of a higher outer membranous lipid content, or lack thereof.
Endospore staining
Detecting presence of spores (vegetative cells and spore mother cells) by use of the Schaeffer-Fulton method.
Acid-Fast Stains
Determining the presence of mycolic acid using the Ziehl-Neelsen method
Dilutions
Plate counts
Direct microscopic counts
Enzyme detection within microbials
Environmental effects on microbial growth
Determining how factors such as temperature, salinity content, pH, UV light, and osmotic pressure affected the success of microbial growth.
Titrations / Buffers
Crystallization / Purification
Compound Identification
Centrifugation
Laboratory Calculations/ Formulations
Synthesis of compounds
Interpretation of Forward Scatter and Side Scatter Histograms, Fluorescence detection, emission peak interpretations

Education

Bachelor of Science in Biology, December 2008

University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

Courses Taken Include:
Microbiology
Genetics Lab
Tissue Engineering
Immunology
Animal Physiology
Vertebrate Histology

Associate of Arts, August 2006

Seminole Community College, Sanford, FL

Experience

Bears Truck Repair, Inc.

Corporate Secretary Officer | January 2007 - May 2009 (2.3 Years)

  • Management of payroll and taxes
  • Administrative duties
  • IT support

Electone, Inc.

Subcontractor | February 2001 - May 2002 (1.25 years)

  • Built electronic modules for hearing aids to NASA STD. 8739.3
  • Soldered Electrical Connections standards

Proficiency

  • Chemical, Biological and Physical Laboratory skills
  • Histological detection in light and electron microscopy
  • Microbe culturing and analysis
  • Visual Basic programming
  • HTML
  • Windows Operating Environment
  • Mac Operating System
  • 105 WPM

Activities

Volunteer Work:
Food Not Bombs - Collected food to prepare nutritious meals for homeless citizens
Humane Society - Handled, cleaned and cared for animals
ASM - American Society for Microbiology
FTN - Focus The Nation – Global warming awareness
Eco-Advocates – Environmental Club

Interests

  • Audio Recording and Software Sequencing
  • Circuit-bending Electronics
  • Painting and Photography