EDUCATION
Ph.D. Genetics & Genomics
Boston University School of Medicine | September, 2017 | Boston, MA
  • Graduate Program in Genetics and Genomics, Biomedical Sciences:  Doctoral Thesis - Robust derivation of thyroid progenitors from embryonic stem cells through transient, developmental stage-specific overexpression of Nkx2-1

B.S. Biology
University of Southern Maine | December 2008, Magna cum laude | Portland, Maine

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (ORISE)
FDA | Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), Office of Translational Sciences (OTS), Division of Applied Regulatory Sciences (DARS) | October 2017 - Present  | Silver Spring, MD
  • Pioneered in-house hiPSC differentiation methods to cardiomyocyctes and hepatocytes to evaluate contexts of use for various cellular systems.
  • Established single-cell gene analysis methods to interrogate the impact of cellular heterogeneity of hiPSC-cardiomyocytes on drug response.
  • Defined context of use for emerging platforms integrating hiPSC-derived lineages (heart, liver) in engineered cellular systems relevant to modeling or predicting drug effects. 

Doctoral Candidate | Thesis Advisor: Laertis Ikonomou
Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston University | June 2013 - July 2017  | Boston, MA
  • Highly collaborative research lab focused on specification and differentiation of endodermal foregut derivatives, lung and thyroid, as well as bioengineering concepts and genome-wide expression profiling of developmental populations.
  • Investigated mechanisms of thyroid specification in an in vitro mouse embryonic stem cell system using transient overexpression of a transcription factor (Nkx2-1) to greatly enhance derivation of thyrocytes.
  • Studied endodermal derivation and patterning leading to thyroid competence and characterized derived progeny using a variety of protein, transcriptional, and functional analysis techniques.
  • Developed a mouse model to recapitulate the in vitro findings on Nkx2-1-driven thyroid specification.
  • Presented research data at lab meetings and seminars for the Center for Regenerative Medicine and Graduate Program.

Medical Laboratory Technologist
Good Start Genetics | February 2012 - August 2012 | Cambridge, MA
  • Employed through the rigorous launch phase of a biotech startup specializing in genetic carrier screening.
  • Conducted diagnostic assays (Cystic Fibrosis, Fragile X, SMA, alpha thalassemia) with high volume patient samples tracking.
  • Utilized Tecans for automated liquid handling; analyzed and submitted results to director for review. 
  • Finalized protocols, performed assay troubleshooting, and user-tested analysis and result submission programs.

Senior Technician / Technician
​Boston University Molecular Genetics Core Laboratory | March 2009 - February 2012 | Boston, MA
  • Provided and coordinated services to research labs on aging, Alzheimer’s, breast/colon cancer, diabetes & others.
  • Extracted DNA from various tissues, performed DNA analysis techniques (Sanger sequencing, PCR amplification, SNP genotyping) at low to high volume, established and stored lymphoblast cell lines.
  • Increased data organization and precision of record-keeping in the lab.  Also maintained equipment, inventory, and order requests.
  • Developed SOPs, trained technicians, and delegated tasks to optimize productivity & project turn-around time.

PUBLICATIONS
  • Dame, K., Cincotta, S., Lang, A.H., Sanghrajka, R.M., Zhang, L., Choi, J., Kwok, L., Wilson, T., Kańduła, M.M., Monti, S., Hollenberg, A.N., Mehta, P., Kotton, D.N., Ikonomou, L. (2017). Thyroid Progenitors Are Robustly Derived from Embryonic Stem Cells through Transient, Developmental Stage-Specific Overexpression of Nkx2-1. Stem Cell Reports 8, 216–225. doi:10.1016/j.stemcr.2016.12.024
  • Dame, K., Ikonomou, L. (2017). Forward Programming Strategies for the Derivation of Endodermal Lineages from Pluripotent Stem Cells. (Manuscript in Preparation)

TEACHING & MENTORSHIP
Teaching Assistant  |  Fall 2013, Fall 2014  |  Boston University
  • Course TA: Principles of Genetics and Genomics.  Responsibilities: Weekly group TA sessions for review and exam preparation, one-on-one extra help sessions, grading homework & exams, communicating student progress with instructor.
Undergraduate Research Mentor  |  ​2014 – 2017  |  Laertis Ikonomou Lab
  • Assisted in training / mentoring multiple undergraduate and summer students.  Taught basic laboratory techniques, project planning, experimental assistance, and gave presentation feedback.

LABORATORY SKILLS
  • General: High organizational skills, protocol development & optimization, high volume sample processing.
  • Cell culture: Pluripotent stem cells (human induced, mouse embryonic), primary mammalian cell lines (fibroblasts, lymphocytes, FRTL5, MLE15, MEFs, HEK293/293T), directed differentiation to heart, liver, thyroid, lung; general differentiation optimization strategies. 
  • Nucleic acid and protein analysis: RNA / DNA analysis from cells and multiple tissue types, immunostaining (ICC, IHC), flow cytometry, gene expression analysis (RT-qPCR), Western blotting.
  • Histology: Tissue preparation, mounting, sectioning, fluorescence microscopy, image analysis.
  • Virology techniques: Virus packaging, titering, infection optimization.
  • Mouse work: Colony maintenance, genotyping, drug administration, adult and embryonic dissections.
  • Computational Skills: FlowJo, ImageJ, GraphPad Prism, basic use of R.


GRANTS & TRAVEL AWARDS
  • 2015-2017    Clinical and Translational Science Institute (BU CTSI) TL1 grant TL1TR001410, covered annual stipend with $1500 for travel expenses to research conferences.
  • 2016               Graduate Medical Sciences Travel Award (BU), $250 for travel expenses to research conferences.
  • 2016               Graduate Program in Genetics and Genomics (BU), $1500 for travel expenses to research conferences.

ABSTRACTS 
--Oral Presentations--
Dame, K., et al. (2017) Thyroid Conversion of Mouse ESC-Derived Anterior Foregut through Transient Overexpression of Nkx2-1. Russek Student Achievement Day (BU). 
*1st place award winner.

Dame, K., et al. (2016) Thyroid Conversion of Mouse ESC-Derived Anterior Foregut through Transient Overexpression of Nkx2-1. Genome Science Institute Symposium (BU). 
*Award winner.

Dame, K., et al. (2016) Thyroid Conversion of Mouse ESC-Derived Anterior Foregut through Transient Overexpression of Nkx2-1. International Thyroid Conference. Orlando, Florida.
 

--Poster Presentations--
Dame, K., et al. (2017) Thyroid Conversion of Mouse ESC-Derived Anterior Foregut through Transient Overexpression of Nkx2-1. Clinical and Translational Science Institute Symposium (BU).

Dame, K., et al. (2016) Thyroid Conversion of Mouse Esc-Derived Anterior Foregut through Transient Overexpression of Nkx2-1. Evans Days Symposium (BU).

Dame, K., et al. (2016) Thyroid Conversion of Mouse ESC-Derived Anterior Foregut through Transient Expression of Nkx2-1. Russek Student Achievement Day (BU). 
*2nd place award winner.

Dame, K., et al. (2016) Thyroid Conversion of Mouse ESC-Derived Anterior Foregut through Transient Expression of Nkx2-1.  International Society for Stem Cell Research. San Francisco, CA.

Dame, K., et al. (2015) Thyroid Conversion of Mouse ESC-Derived Anterior Foregut through Transient Expression of Nkx2-1. Genome Science Institute Symposium (BU).

Dame, K., et al. (2015) Thyroid Conversion of Mouse ESC-Derived Anterior Foregut through Transient Expression of Nkx2-1. Evans Days Symposium (BU).

Dame, K., et al. (2015) Lung/Thyroid Specification of Mouse ESC-Derived Anterior Foregut through Transient Expression of Nkx2-1. International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR). Stockholm, Sweden.

Dame, K., et al. (2015) Lung/Thyroid Conversion of Mouse ESC-Derived Anterior Foregut through Transient Expression of Nkx2-1. Russek Student Achievement Day (BU).
*3rd place award winner.

Dame, K., et al. (2015) Lung/Thyroid Specification of Mouse ESC-Derived Anterior Foregut through Transient Expression of Nkx2-1. Keystone Symposia: Endoderm Lineages in Development and Disease. Keystone, CO.

​Dame, K., et al. (2014) Lung/Thyroid Specification of mESC-Derived Anterior Foregut through Transient Expression of Nkx2-1. Genome Science Institute Symposium (BU).

Dame, K., et al. (2014) Lung/Thyroid Specification of mESC-Derived Anterior Foregut through Transient Expression of Nkx2-1. Evans Days Symposium (BU).

Dame, K., et al. (2014) Lung/Thyroid Specification of Mouse ESC-Derived Anterior Foregut through Transient Expression of Nkx2-1. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB): The Lung Epithelium in Health & Disease. Saxtons River, Vermont.

Dame, K., et al. (2013) Stage-Specific Effects of Inducible Nkx2-1 expression in Specification of Lung/Thyroid Progenitors. Genome Science Institute Symposium (BU).

Dame, K., et al. (2013) Stage-Specific Effects of Inducible Nkx2-1 expression in Specification of Lung/Thyroid Progenitors. Evans Days Symposium (BU).

Ikonomou, L., Dame, K., et al. (2013) Pleiotropic Effects of Bmp4 and Tgf- β Signaling Inhibition on Definitive Endoderm Derived from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells. International Society for Stem Cell Research. Boston, MA