Curriculum Vitae

Bahman “Beau” Rostama

Work Experience

University of Maine Laboratory Rotation #4 (MMCRI, Scarborough, ME) 07/10 - present

Graduate Student

Principal Investigator: Lucy Liaw, Ph.D.

  • Project: Characterization of changes in miRNA-221 and -222 in human aortic smooth muscle cells (hASMC) upon Notch stimulation.

Techniques utilized: tissue culture of primary hASMC cells, RNA extraction, PCR, RT-qPCR, adenoviral transduction of cells, light and fluorescent microscopy.

University of Maine Laboratory Rotation #3 (UNE, Biddeford, ME)05/10 – 07/10

Graduate Student

Principal Investigator: David Mokler, Ph.D.

  • Project: Determination of the hemispheric differences in presynaptic serotonin transporter protein (SLC6A4) in the prefrontal cortices (PFCs) and striata of adult male Long-Evans rats.

Techniques utilized: dissection of rat brains, isolation of synaptosome fractions from tissues, BCA assay, acrylamide gel electrophoresis, traditional and fluorescence-tagged western blotting, coomassie gel staining.

University of Maine Laboratory Rotation #2 (MMCRI, Scarborough, ME) 01/10 –05/10

Graduate Student

Principal Investigator: Cliff Rosen, M.D.

  • Project1: Characterization of β-catenin translocation from cytoplasmic to nuclear compartments in pre-adipocyte and pre-osteoblastic, 3T3L1 and MC3T3 cell lines using modified sucrose fractionation techniques.
  • Project 2: Analysis of the impact of Vitamin D receptor insufficiency on the ex-vivo induced differentiation of osteocyte and adipocyte progenitors.
  • Techniques utilized: RNA isolation, cDNA preparation, PCR, RT-qPCR, Superarray qPCR, agarose and acrylamide gel electrophoresis, BCA assay, western blotting, subcellular compartment fractionation, light microscopy, tissue culture of primary mouse calvarial osteoblast, marrow stromal, and peripheral adipocyte cells, von kossa staining, alizarin red staining, alkaline phosphatase staining, TRAP staining.

University of Maine Laboratory Rotation #1 (MMCRI, Scarborough, ME)09/09 –12/09

Graduate Student

Principal Investigator: Igor Prudovsky, Ph.D.

  • Project: characterization of release of FGF1 or FGF2 by endothelial cell lines HUVEC and HAEC in response to heat shock after adenoviral transduction by FGF1, FGF2 or Notch(ic domain)/FGF1 viruses.
  • Minor project: characterization of the release of FGF1 by smooth muscle cell line HVSMC after adenoviral transduction.
  • Major techniques utilized: adenoviral transduction, heat shock of cell lines, protein extraction by heparin-sepharose chromatography, LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) cytotoxicity assay, western blotting.
  • Minor techniques utilized: RT-PCR, agarose gel electrophoresis, fluorescence staining, fluorescence and confocal microscopy, luciferase assay, MaxiPrep isolation of plasmid.

U.H.HiloCollege of Pharmacy (Hilo, HI)11/08 – 06/09

Laboratory Technician

Principal Investigators: John M. Pezzuto, Ph.D. and Leng-Chee Chang, Ph.D.

  • Conducted Cytotoxicity and Nitric Oxide (iNOS) assays to screen biological and synthetic compounds for pharmaceutical activities.
  • Analyzed and interpreted experimental data to determine significance of findings.
  • Developed and presented reports of findings to Principal Investigators, and followed up with additional analyses.
  • Extracted proteins and RNA from dosed tissue samples, determined in-vivo efficacy of novel therapeutic compounds.
  • Created two manuals for lab’s new Eppendorf epMotion 5075 Automated Liquid Handler and trained lab personnel on its use.
  • Taught student researchers the protocols for screening assays, cell culture techniques and data analysis.
  • Insured laboratory functions, including maintenance of stocks, reagents, labware, biohazards, and equipment maintenance.

Management Recruiters of Woodland Hills, Inc. (El Dorado Hills, CA)08/06 – 09/07

Owner, Partner, Account Executive Recruiter

  • Negotiated and established working relationships with business clients to help with their recruiting needs.
  • Utilized internet, telephone and email networks to recruit specialized employees for contracted client companies.
  • Established relationships with and marketed highly valuable candidates to desired potential clients.
  • Worked with business partner and support companies to maintain the operation of my business franchise.

U.C. San Francisco Gyn. Oncology Dept.(San Francisco, CA) (05/01 – 09/02) & (10/03 – 08/06)

Staff Research Associate – Cervical Cancer Tissue Bank (Apr. 2006 – Aug. 2006)

Principal Investigator: Karen Smith-McCune, M.D. Ph.D.

  • Coordinated with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and pathologists at 2 hospitals to collect and preserve tissue samples.
  • Scheduled and met with patients to inform about research studies and obtained their consent for participation.
  • Established and conducted various tissue preservation methods respective to desired research techniques.
  • Developed and instituted catalog, database and archival systems for tissues, research data, and patient medical information.

Staff Research Associate – Ovarian Cancer Tissue Bank (May 2001 – Aug. 2002) & (Oct. 2003 – Aug. 2006)

  • Collaborated with surgeons, pathologists, anesthesiologists and nurses at 2 hospitals to collect and preserve tissue samples.
  • Helped improve methods to identify, consent, harvest from and follow-up with research participants.
  • Collected and preserved blood, ascites, tumor tissues, epithelial cells, and normal tissues with fixation and cryopreservation techniques.
  • Maintained catalog, archive and database systems for tissues, research data and patient medical information.
  • Cultured and characterized novel primary and commercially available cell lines with light and fluorescence microscopy.
  • Conducted regular mycoplasma testing on cell cultures and developed novel treatment methods for persistent strains.
  • Made paraffin cassettes of fixed tissues and cryogenic OCT molds of fresh tissues for microtome/cryostat sectioning.
  • PreservedDNA, RNA, and proteins from tissue samples and cell cultures via TriZol for analysis, archiving and distribution.
  • Utilized microtome, cryostat, and cell cultures for preparation and analysis of fresh, frozen and fixed tissue slides.
  • Used immunological and histological stains to examine tissue slides for microdissection, quality control, and archiving.
  • Insured general laboratory needs, including purchasing stock, reagents, and labware, as well as equipment maintenance.

U.C. San Francisco Surgery Dept.(San Francisco, CA)08/00 – 05/01

Staff Research Associate – Melanoma Vaccine Group

Principal Investigator: Stanley P.L. Leong, M.D.

  • Per protocol, helped make 3 different melanoma vaccines using participating patients’ fresh blood and tumors.
  • Cultured primary cells from patient tumors, blood and lymphatic tissues with adjuvant factors.
  • Gamma-irradiated tumor cells and lymphocytes from tumor tissues and cell culture for vaccine development.
  • Performed ELISA assays for cytokine titre in patient plasma, for antigens MART1, GP100, CD8 and CD83 to analyze vaccine efficacy and patient response.
  • Researched multiple tissue preservation techniques for improved RNA extraction from pathology samples.
  • Participated in weekly research presentations, reevaluation of research focus and scheduling of patient vaccinations.

U.C. Santa Barbara Materials Engineering Dept. (Santa Barbara, CA)04/98 – 07/00

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Principal Investigator: Cyrus R. Safinya, Ph.D.

  • As an Undergraduate Research Assistant, volunteered with biological functions of this materials engineering lab.
  • Conducted transfections on mammalian cell cultures with novel liposomes and GFP proteins.
  • Utilized live cell imaging techniques for fluorescence microscope using GFP and Hoechst dyes.
  • Used microinjection techniques for introduction of DNA into live cell cultures with real-time imaging.
  • Assisted in the assembly of an X-Ray diffractometer for crystallography of DNA-liposome complexes.
  • General lab maintenance – oversight of stock, reagents, labware, and equipment maintenance.

U.C. Santa Barbara Biology Dept. (Santa Barbara, CA)(Spring 1999) & (Spring 2000)

Teaching Assistant

Professor: Dennis O. Clegg, Ph. D.

  • Teaching assistant for Cellular Biology Lab, a core upper-division biology course with appx. 24 students per quarter.
  • Guided by professor and a graduate student, helped teach prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell biology techniques: hemacytometry, cell culture, protein spectrophotometry, western blotting, gel electrophoresis, chick embryo dissection and neuron culture.
  • Developed, assigned and graded homework and quizzes. Conducted and graded midterm and final exams and helped assigned final grades.
  • Held office hours to assist students with questions, difficulties and enrichment.

U.C. Santa Barbara Housing & Residential Services (Santa Barbara, CA) 09/99 – 06/00

Resident Assistant

  • Oversight of one floor of an on-campus residence hall, assisting 50 residents in individual rooms and communal suites.
  • Provided leadership and educational opportunities to residents through active and passive programming and mentorship.
  • Assisted residents with creation of organizations including academic support groups and scholastic clubs.
  • Mediated conflict resolution among room and hall-mates, and provided counseling to students

U.C. Santa Barbara Police Dept. (Santa Barbara, CA) 09/96 – 09/99

Community Service Officer (C.S.O.) and Area Coordinator

  • Provided general campus safety via liaising with students and campus police officers and providing patrols of university.
  • Conducted daily and nightly rounds of on and off-campus housing, and lecture halls and campus departments as assigned.
  • Worked with police, sheriff and other law enforcement agencies to provide security for emergencies and special events.
  • Helped expand C.S.O. program as an Area Coordinator, advising on points of efficiency and assisting in hiring processes.
  • Purchased and serviced C.S.O. program bicycles as bicycle mechanic (April 1998 – September 1999).

Cinemark Movies 8 (Palmdale, CA) (Palmdale, CA)(06/93 – 09/95) & (06/96 – 08/96)

Projectionist, Concessionist, Ticketeer, Usher

  • Booth Projectionist, projecting films, assembling and disassembling film, maintaining marquee and projectors.
  • Ticketeer, selling tickets, dealing with refunds and conducting business promotions.
  • Concessions, selling food and drink items, conducting stock surveys, and maintaining food service equipment.
  • Usher, guiding customers, enforcing auditorium rules, cleaning auditoriums, conducting building maintenance.

Research Articles, Posters and Presentations

Article title:

Inhibition of Nitric Oxide (NO) Production inLipopolysaccharide (LPS)-Activated Murine Macrophage RAW264.7 Cells by the Norsesterterpene Peroxide, Epimuqubilin A

Authors:

Sarot Cheenpracha, Eun-JungPark, Bahman Rostama, John M. Pezzuto andLeng Chee Chang

Publication (Open Access:

Marine Drugs (ISSN: 1660-3397); 2010 Mar: Vol (8): 429-437

Article title:

Cancer chemopreventive and anticancer evaluation of extracts and fractions from marine macro- and microorganisms collected from Twilight Zone waters around Guam

Authors:

Schupp PJ, Kohlert-Schupp C, Whitefield S, Engemann A, Rohde S, Hemscheidt T, Pezzuto JM, Kondratyuk TP, Park EJ, Marler L, Rostama B, Wright AD

Publication (PMID: 20120114):

Natural Products Communications(ISSN 1934-578X);2009 Dec: 4(12):1717-1728

Article title:

VDR Heterozygote Female Mice: an Experimental Model of Vitamin D Insufficiency; Investigation on Bone Mass, Body Composition and Cardiac Function in Basal Conditions and Four weeks after PTH treatment

Authors:

Francisco J. A. de Paula, Ingrid Dick-de-Paula, Sheila Bornstein, Bahman Rostama, Phuong Le, Clifford J. Rosen

Publication: Submitted, currently under review

Poster title:

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of Pipiturus Albidus and Moringa Oleiferaextracts

Authors:

Chaz Barit, Sarot Cheenpracha, Bahman Rostama, Tammy Tran, Marisa Wall, John M. Pezzuto, and Leng Chee Chang

Presented by primary author at:

American Society of Pharmacognosy 50th anniversary meeting, June 27, 2009, Honolulu, HI

Poster title:

Cancer chemopreventive potential of novel natural productderivatives

Authors:

Laura Marler, Beau Rostama, Mark Cushman, Richard van Breemen, Clinton Grubbs, John Pezzuto

Presented by primary author at:

American Society of Pharmacognosy 50th anniversary meeting, June 27, 2009, Honolulu, HI

Poster title:

Mechanism-based screening of resveratrol derivatives as potential cancer chemopreventive agents

Authors:

Tamara P. Kondratyuk, Eun-Jung Park, Laura Marler, Bahman Rostama, John M. Pezzuto

Presented by primary author at:

American Society of Pharmacognosy 50th anniversary meeting, June 27, 2009, Honolulu, HI

Poster title:

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Use is Prevalent in a Cohort of Women Undergoing Surgery in an Ovarian Cancer Tissue Core Study

Authors:

B Rostama, CB Powell, LM Chen, N Karnik-Lee, JB Campbell, PA Glenn, K Smith-McCune

Presented by primary author at:

The Western Association of Gynecologic Oncologists (WAGO) annual meeting, June 2005, Santa Fe, NM

Education

Sept. 1995 – June 2000University of California, Santa Barbara

  • Conferred June 2000 - B.S. Biological Sciences, B.A. Global and International Studies

Sept. 2002 – June 2003University of California, Davis

  • Post-Baccalaureate courses – no degree sought

Aug. 2009 – presentUniversity of Maine, Orono

  • GraduateSchool of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) Ph.D.graduate student; prospective graduation: 2015

Additional Training

  • Primary Ovarian Surface Epithelium Cell Culture Techniques – Beth Karlan / RaeLynn Baldwin Lab, UCLA Cedars Sinai Hospital, April 2004
  • Protein Microarray preparation, slide printing, and Immunohistochemistry – Gordon Mills Lab – M.D.AndersonCancerCenter – January 2004
  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) training – UCSF, annual training, latest: 2006
  • Blood Borne Pathogens training – UCSF, annual training, latest: 2006
  • Human Subject Research training – NIH (online) and UCSF, annual training, latest: 2006
  • General Lab Safety training – University of Hawaii, annual training, latest: May 2009
  • Laboratory Radiation Safety Training – University of Hawaii, annual training, latest: May 2009
  • Human Subject Online Tutorial – University of Maine, latest: December 2009
  • Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR) – University of Maine/MMCRI: 2009 and 2010
  • CITI training: Health Information Privacy and Security for Clinical Investigators; Health Information Privacy and Security for Students and Instructors; Working with Mice in Research Settings; Post-Procedure Care of Mice and Rats in Research; Working with the IACUC for Investigators, Staff and Students: May2010
  • Virus Core training – MMCRI: August 2010