Mandy J. Laufer, Ph.D.

15 Gerald Street • Belltown, PA 19146

Phone: (555) 555-9224 E-mail:

Education
Post-doctoral / 2008-present / Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute
University of Pennsylvania
Graduate / Ph.D.
2008 / Immunology
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Thesis: Redirection of T cell antigen specificity through genetic transfer of supraphysiologic T cell receptors.
Undergraduate / B.S.
2001 / General Sciences (Cum Laude)
Concentration in Cell Biology and Chemistry
University of Puerto Rico, San Juan
Awards and Honors
2008-present / Fellow / Postdoctoral Opportunities in Research and Teaching (PENN-PORT) Fellowship University of Pennsylvania
2005-2006 / Fellow / Training in Virology Grant AI-07324
1999-2001 / Fellow / Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Program, School of Natural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico.
1998-2001 / Fellow / Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program, College of General Studies, University of Puerto Rico.
1996 / Fellow / Beca Gobernador, Department of Education, Puerto Rico. (Governor’s Scholar – awarded to the top 50 high school seniors)
Research Experience
Fall 2008-present / Redirection of human T cells to tumors through genetic transfer of high-affinity telomerase-specific T cell receptor.
Principal investigators: James Riley, Robert Vonderheide and Carl H. June
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Spring 2006–Fall 2008 / Redirection of T cell antigen specificity to HIVgag through genetic transfer of high-affinity T cell receptors.
Principal investigator: James Riley
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Spring 2003–Fall 2005 / Analysis of CD4 and co-receptor density requirements for HIV-1 entry and infection in the CNS.
Principal investigator: Francisco González-Scarano
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Summer/Fall 2002 / Studied the effects of attenuated Listeria monocytogenes infection on angiogenesis of a mouse model of human cervical cancer.
Principal investigator: Yvonne Paterson
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Spring 2002 / Studied CD4 dependence for entry of HIV-1 reporter virus bearing viral envelopes isolated from peripheral lymphoid and brain tissues.
Principal investigator: Francisco González-Scarano
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Fall 2001 / Studied activation of human dendritic cells after transfection with an HIVgag-encoding RNA vaccine.
Principal investigator: Drew Weissman
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Fall 1998–Summer 2001 / Studied immunosuppressive effects of opiate drugs on human monocyte-derived macrophages.
Principal investigator: Fernando L. Renaud
University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras
Summer 2000 / Studied bovine platelet activation by Haemophilus somnus as a cause of bovine thromboembolic meningoencephalitis.
Principal investigator: Charles J. Czuprynski
University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine
Presentations
February 2009
Morgantown, WV / “Lentiviral delivery of a high-affinity, hTert-specific T cell receptor to human T cells allows recognition of endogenously-processed I540 antigen on tumor cells.” Poster presentation at the 11th Annual Translational Research Cancer Center Consortium.
March 2008
Vancouver B.C. Canada / “Lentiviral Transfer of High-Affinity, HIV Gag-specific T-cell Receptors into CD8+ T cells Improves CTL Ability to Control HIV Infection.” Poster presentation at the 2007 Keystone Molecular and Cellular Determinants of HIV Pathogenesis meeting.
September 2004
Baltimore, MD / “Brain-derived HIV-1 Envelope Glycoproteins Have Lower CD4-dependence and Reduced Sensitivity to a Fusion Inhibitor Than Their Splenic Counterparts” Poster presentation at the 5th International Symposium on Neurovirology.
November 2000 Chicago, IL / “Haemophilus somnus Activates Bovine Platelets in vitro”. Poster presentation at the 1999 Conference of Research Workers in Animal Disease.
Teaching Experience
Spring 2009
Lincoln University of Pennsylvania / Shared lecturing duties with Dr. John Chikwem for the Immunology course (BIO-402).
Responsibilities: Prepared and presented lectures. Guided in-class discussions. Helped to develop, administer and correct examinations.
Fall 1998-Spring 1999
University of Puerto Rico / Teaching assistant for the General Biology course (BIOL3101-3102) under Dr. Mayra Carlo.
Responsabilities: reviewed assigned topics, guided in-class discussions, met with students for small group discussions. Helped to develop, administer and correct examinations.
Publications
Laufer A, York PE, Li Y, Suhoski MM, Lee VC, June CH, Jakobsen BK, Sewell AK, Riley JL. 101 Immune System Jokes. Nature Medicine 2009 (Accepted for Publication).
Suhoski MM, Golovina TN, York PE, Lee VC, Laufer A, Milone MC, Carroll RG, Riley JL, June CH. A Discussion of Cellular Stuff. Mol. Ther. 2007; 15(5):981-988.
Martín-García J, Cao W, Laufer A, Lee VC, González-Scarano F. My First Book of HIV Cultures. Virology. 2007; 346(1):169-179
Languages
Spanish – native language
English – speak fluently, read/write with proficiency
Portuguese – speak and read with basic competence