Dr. Lesley Ashmore

Please email me for contact information.
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JOB OBJECTIVE

A position in an organization that requires a creative, analytical, and adaptable person with an extensive background in scientific research

SUMMARY
  • Motivated, creative, and versatile research scientist with over twelve years of experience performing molecular biology techniques and reading the literature
  • Exceptional ability to learn new, relevant job skills quickly and competently
  • Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, demonstrated in publications, frequent oral presentations, and teaching
  • Able to plan, execute, and problem shoot long-term, as well as short-term, projects with excruciating attention to detail.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology                                    2003-present
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.

Postdoctoral Appointee
  • Organized and conducted large-scale behavioral screens in fruit flies, and developed more accurate statistical assay for identification of relevant mutants.
  • Identified flaws in sleep analysis software and, in a period of three months, learned Matlab and rewrote entirely new working analysis program for lab use.
  • Improved oral and written communication skills by frequently presenting work at lab meetings and conferences through talks and posters.
  • Developed teaching and mentoring skills while overseeing visiting high school student summer project.

 

Laboratory of Dr. Amita Sehgal                                                                       1998-2003
The University of Pennsylvania Neuroscience Graduate Program

Graduate Student
  • Conducted long-term, highly independent study in a fast-paced environment.  Adapted project quickly as new techniques became available and cut down projected project length by half.
  •  Became proficient in many modern molecular biological techniques, including various methods of DNA and RNA amplification, isolation, manipulation, protein quantification, cloning, genomic transformation of flies and cell cultures, and gel electrophoresis.
  • Improved communication skills through publications and oral presentations, culminating in written and oral defense of thesis.

Laboratory of Dr. Wayne Dornan                                                                    1993-1996
Illinois Wesleyan University

Lab Assistant
  • Conducted graduate-level research on Alzheimer’s disease.  Learned care and maintenance of laboratory rat populations, IACUC procedures, and common behavioral test procedures.
  • Created neuroscience major from existing coursework and independent studies at undergraduate university; first neuroscience major to graduate from Illinois Wesleyan.

EDUCATION
  • Ph. D., neuroscience, 2003.  University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
  • B.A., neuroscience, 1996.  Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL

OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Business/ Entertainment Experience                                                      1996-present
  • Self-employed professional middle eastern dancer for five years; gained experience with marketing, customer service, and contract negotiation.
  • Co-founder of Yalla, dance troupe at University of Pennsylvania, with ample opportunity for creatively solving problems and contributing to planning, goal-setting, and organization.
  • Disciplined member of professional folkloric dance troupe, The Habiba Dance Ensemble.
  • Regular teacher of dance technique and history to children and adults at various local venues, including L.A. Fitness (Bala Cynwyd)

Webmaster/Computer Skills                                                                       1996-present


PUBLICATIONS
  • Ashmore LJ, Sehgal A.  (2003) A fly’s eye view of circadian entrainment.  Journal of Biological Rhythms, 18(3):206-16.
  • Ashmore LJ, Sathyanarayanan S, Silvestre DW, Emerson MM, Schotland P, Sehgal A. (2002) Novel insights into the regulation of the timeless protein.  The Journal of Neurosciece, 23(21):7810-19.
  • Wang GK, Ousley A, Darlington TK, Chen D, Chen Y, Fu W, Hickman LJ, Kay SA, Sehgal A.  (2001)  Regulation of the cycling of timeless (tim) RNA.  Journal of Neurobiology. 47(3):161-75.
  • Murphy MP, Hickman LJ, Eckman CB, Uljon SN, Wang R, Golde TE. (1999) gamma-Secretase, evidence for multiple proteolytic activities and influence of membrane positioning of substrate on generation of amyloid beta peptides of varying length. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 274(17):11914-23.
  • Ousley A, Zafarullah K, Chen Y, Emerson M, Hickman L, Sehgal A. (1998)  Conserved regions of the timeless (tim) clock gene in Drosophila analyzed through phylogenetic and functional studies. Genetics. 148(2):815-25.
  • Dornan WA, McCampbell AR, Tinkler GP, Hickman LJ, Bannon AW, Decker MW, Gunther KL. (1997) Comparison of site specific injections into the basal forebrain on water maze and radial arm maze performance in the male rat after immunolesioning with 192 IgG saporin. Behavioural Brain Research. 86(2):181-9.

 *NOTE: Hickman is maiden name


 References available upon request.