Instrumentation: Confocal fluorescent microscope (Leica TCS SP5), MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometer (Voyager-DE STR), HPLC/UPLC (Waters).
Molecular Biology and Biotechnology:
Proteomics: soluble/membrane protein isolation, cell free (in vitro) protein translation with 35S incorporation and fluoro/radiography, protein expression in E. coli and purification, purification of specific membranes using two-phase polymer method, 1-D, 2-D SDS-PAGE, IEF, Blue-Native electrophoresis for separation of protein complexes, operation of MALDI-TOF for protein analysis, in vitro and other enzyme activity assays.
Genomics: Isolation and purification of plasmid and genomic DNA, RNA/mRNA isolation, Southern and Northern hybridization, cDNA synthesis and cloning, restriction mapping, PCR and DNA sequencing, vector construction and optimization for expression, site-directed mutagenesis, qRT-PCR, DNA microarray (microchip).
Various lab techniques: Chromatography, radioisotope handling and maintenance.
Microbiology & Immunology: Maintenance and transformation of animal, bacterial, plant, viral and cyanobacterial cultures, dot/immunoblot, ELISA and Western blotting.
Bioinformatic skills: Database retrieval (GenBank/EMBL), Data Explorer for analyzing mass-spectra, ImageJ and LAS AF for analyzing confocal images, Swiss Pdb-Viewer, other gene and protein analysis software.
Computer background: Windows, Macintosh, MS Office, Adobe Photoshop and InDesign, and other routine office automation programs.
Maria Shumskaya, Ph.D. 