CURRICULUM VITAE

 

Renda L. Hawwa

 

The University of Illinois at Chicago

The Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and

The Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy

900 South Ashland Avenue (M/C 870)

Chicago, IL 60607

Lab Phone: (312) 996-1687

Fax: (312) 413-9303

Email: rhawwa1@uic.edu

 

EDUCATION

 

Ph.D. Candidate   Current      University of Illinois, Chicago

B. S. Chemistry   May 2003   Wheaton College, Norton, MA Magna Cum Laude

 

HOMETOWN

North Providence, Rhode Island

 

GRADUATE RESEARCH PROJECT

 

Research focuses on the enzymatic hydrolysis of chemical pesticides and warfare agents. Mutations of active site and near active site residues provide a means of reengineering binding pockets, allowing increased catalytic efficiency toward a wide variety of substrates.

 

EXPERIENCE

2003 - 2005                University of Illinois at Chicago, Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology.  Graduate Research Assistant under Dr. Andrew Mesecar. 

2003 – 2005                University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy.  Teaching Assistant for Pharmacy Courses.  Four semesters.

Spring 2003                Wheaton College.  Synthetic Chemistry Lab.  Research Assistant under Dr. Christopher Kalberg.  Stereoselective synthesis of an anti-hyperglycemic agent for patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. 

Summer & Fall 2002    Women and Infants Hospital.  Providence, RI.  Pharmacy Technician.  Responsible for preparing, filling, and dispensing oral and IV medications for patients in intensive care. 

2001 – 2002                Wheaton College.  Chemistry Department.  Teaching Assistant.  Responsible for running laboratory sessions for general chemistry classes. 

 

AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

 

Balfour Scholar at Wheaton College, annual stipend and computer.

 

MEMBERSHIPS AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

 

American Crystallographic Society (ACA)

 

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

Literature Seminar. “Exploring the Mechanisms of Phosphotriester and Phosphodiester Hydrolysis”  University of Illinois at Chicago.  Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy.  October 14, 2004


CONFERENCES ATTENDED

* American Crystallographic Society Annual Meeting          July 2004

* Annual MIKI Medicinal Chemistry Meeting                      April 2004

 

X-RAY INSTRUMENTATION EXPERIENCE

 

LABORATORY SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES

*     Cloning of expression vectors

*     Optimization of expression conditions

*     Site-directed and Saturation Mutagenesis

*     Protein Purification – column chromatography

*     Gel chromatography

*     SDS PAGE protein gels, comassie blue staining

*     Agarose DNA gels

*     Preparing crystal trays and optimizing conditions

*     High-throughput screening of compound libraries