Sukru Tuzmen, Ph.D.

Email: st2a32be@westpost.net
http://www.linkedin.com/in/sukrutuzmen
VALUE TO AN ORGANIZATION
I have twenty-three years of multi-disciplinary scientific research and academic
experience integrating studies of the molecular basis of human diseases, includ
ing cancer genetics.
I have extensive experience in the management and operations of complex biomedic
al research environment. I am very knowledgeable of laboratory research programs
. I have experience in the development of genomic assays to profile clinical spe
cimens. I have knowledge of pertinent laws, regulations, directives, and instruc
tions including the ones issued by NIH, and other agencies related to facilities
management and safety. I have the ability to schedule, manage and coordinate a
large number of different and complex projects and priorities simultaneously and
to coordinate efforts with those of other organizations. I have the ability to
work within short time frames to meet deadlines and to adjust to unexpected dela
ys. I have the ability to exercise independent judgment, initiative and resource
fulness in carrying out duties and responsibilities. I am very skillful in resol
ving problems, forecasting, and developing long-range laboratory requirements, f
acility planning, and resource requirements. I have diplomatic skills to encoura
ge staff to accept and implement recommendations.
I served as a principal investigator (Head of Molecular Genetics Laboratory, TGe
n) for 5+ years, and managed my own active lab at the Translational Genomics Res
earch Institute (TGen). I have extensive experience in the areas of management o
f significant independent research projects and supervision of graduate research
ers and technicians; monitoring operations in matters related to personnel, budg
et, contracts, interagency agreements, and research grants monitoring, including
tracking requests for supplements, extensions, and other related administrative
issues. I have many publications in peer-reviewed journals. I presented my publ
ished work to scientific organizations nationally as well as internationally. I
successfully developed course materials, revised those materials when needed, ta
ught the courses, and identified qualified faculty who would also be willing to
teach these courses. I taught courses in life sciences-related disciplines. I se
rved as a reviewer on peer-review panels.
Currently, I hold the positions of Adjunct Associate Professor, Adjunct Professo
r and Adjunct Investigator at the University of Maryland University College (UMU
C), Arizona State University (ASU), and at the Translational Genomics Research I
nstitute (TGen) respectively. Overall, I have 10+ years of leadership experience
within fast-paced, multi-disciplinary for profit, and not for profit organizati
ons.
My mission has been to discover and validate links between gene states and disea
se phenotypes, and further use these links to identify druggable targets to be u
tilized as bio-signatures in the early diagnosis stages of genetic disorders.
I have been involved with the development of new high-throughput biochip technol
ogies for translating advances in pharmacogenomics into "cause-effect" relations
hips applicable in cancer drug discovery/development. Specifically, I worked on
the screening of druggable compound libraries and siRNA libraries, and validated
gene expression profiling via quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) technology.
I worked on the development of diagnostic assays including micro RNAs (miRNAs)/g
ene signatures, where patient samples were screened utilizing proprietary techni
ques for the diagnosis of certain cancer types/genetic disorders.
Previously as a research fellow at the NIH/NIDDK/LCB, I pioneered and designed e
xperiments in the examination of the regulation of globin gene expression by gen
e targeting and Cre-recombinase knockouts. In addition, I was involved in the st
udies of pharmacological agents i.e., hemin, butyrate, and hydroxyurea to change
the hemoglobin phenotype by inducing the expression of fetal hemoglobin in vari
ous cell lines.
I trained, and mentored/supervised scientists and students under the NIH Minorit
y Access to Research Careers (MARC) program to increase the number of highly-tra
ined underrepresented biomedical and behavioral scientists in leadership positio
ns to significantly impact the health-related research needs of the nation.
JOB OBJECTIVES
Challenging position that would best utilize my extensive multi-disciplinary sci
entific research/ administration background, involving leadership and management
skills in the areas of,
* Novel technologies.
* DNA profiling.
* Development of genomic/proteomic assays to profile clinical specimens.
* Studying associations between Drugs, Genes, Pathways, and Diseases.
* Molecular diagnostics.
* Lab coordination.
* Directing operations.
I am enthusiastic about facilitating operations of complex biomedical research e
nvironment, grant applications, research and technical matters of high-throughpu
t genetics/genomics, and pharmacogenomics research programs, generating contract
/research ideas and opportunities, and leading and preparing proposals.
This position should have opportunities for advancement for a dedicated individu
al with leadership abilities.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
* Experience in setting up nucleic acid based research/diagnostic molecular biol
ogy labs.
* Extensive experience with mutation screening, gene cloning, and molecular biol
ogy and human genomic techniques.
* Experience in grant applications to NIH, and other private sectors including S
usan G. Komen Foundation, Mayo Clinic, and Prostate Cancer Foundation etc. as a
PI and co-PI with collaborators within TGen, and at other academic institutions,
including ASU, and Mayo Clinic.
* Experience in independently managing the budget, inventory, grants, and collab
orative interactions.
* Experience in training, mentoring and supervising research associates, interns
and postdoctoral fellows and visiting scientists from national and internationa
l labs.
* Experience in troubleshooting of complex molecular biology experiments.
* Extensive experience in collaboration with academic and commercial scientific
communities.
* Extensive experience in publishing manuscripts, presenting posters and deliver
ing oral presentations nationally as well as internationally.
* Experience in validation of druggable compound libraries and siRNA libraries.
* Experience in setting up and managing quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) system
s.
* Experience in establishing qPCR assays for the key cancer, globin gene regulat
ion, cholesterol biosynthesis, and endometriosis related genes.
* Experience in the development of diagnostic assays including micro RNAs (miRNA
s)/gene signatures, utilizing patient samples such as blood, serum, and tissues
to screen via proprietary techniques for the diagnosis of certain cancer types/g
enetic disorders.
* Experience in the development of diagnostic assays based on amplification tech
nology and application of high-throughput screening of beta-thalassemia mutation
s, using an electrochemical detection platform and glass microarray screening sy
stems.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Scientific Consultant 8/2007 - Present
N. Potomac, MD
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) 12/2002 - 2/2009
Pharmaceutical Genomics Division
Gaithersburg, MD, and Scottsdale, AZ
Investigator & Head, Molecular Genetics Laboratory
Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (USUHS) 11/2001 - 12/2002
The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Bethesda, MD
Senior Research Associate (Laboratory Manager)
National Institutes of Health (NIH) 01/1996 - 11/2001
The Laboratory of Chemical Biology (LCB)
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Molecular Biology and Genetics
Bethesda, MD
Fogarty Post-Doctoral Fellow/Research Fellow
Bogaziei University, 09/1990 - 01/1996
The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics,
Istanbul, Bebek-Turkey.
Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant
EDUCATION
1992-1995: Ph.D., Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics,
Bogaziei University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Major: Molecular Biology and Genetics
1990-1992: M.S., Department of Biology, Bogaziei University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Major: Molecular Biology and Genetics
1985-1990: B.S., Department of Biology, Bogaziei University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Major: Biology

JOB RELATED TRAINING

September 1993: Research Trainee in the Sylvius Laboratory, Department of Human
Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, State University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlan
ds. (Under the supervision of Prof. Dr. L. F. Bernini). To learn the application
of DGGE (Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis) technique in screening geneti
c mutations.
January 1996 -: Biotechnology Training Courses, NIH, BIO-Track 10 DNA-Binding Pr
oteins,
November 2001 Transcriptional Regulators and Homeoboxes: Principles and Practice
.
March 1996: NIH, Radiation Safety Branch, Division of Safety, Radiation Safety i
n The Laboratory Course.
June 1999: Cartesian Technologies Genomic Array Workshop.
November 2001: DOD, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (USUHS), Ro
dent
Handling Course.
January 2002: DOD, Department of Environmental Health & Occupational Safety, Div
ision of
Radiation Safety, USUHS, Basic Principles of Radiation Safety Course.
November 2006: TGen, Management and Communication Skills (Training for investiga
tors).
October 2007: CITI, Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative: Responsible
Conduct of
Research, Passed.
AFFILIATIONS
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) Adjunct Investigator
Arizona State University (ASU) Adjunct Professor
University of Maryland University College (UMUC) Adjunct Associate Professor

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Community services 9/2006 - 9/2009
Phoenix, AZ, US
Technical Skills:
Molecular Biology
Extensive molecular biology techniques including,
* Genomic sequencing.
* Functional pharmacogenomics.
* Gene expression profiling.
* Mutation screening and analysis.
* Quantitative Real-Time PCR (qPCR).
* RNAi experiments.
* Compound library screening.
* Western blot analysis.
* Cloning (cDNA and genomic).
* PCR.
Cell Biology
* Culture of numerous suspension and adherent mammalian cell lines including mou
se embryonic stem cells.
* Eukaryotic cell transfections (transient and stable).
Computer Skills
* Experienced with Bioinformatics tools including:
a) Using OMIM to learn about genes and genetic diseases.
b) Using NCBI Map Viewer to find genes on particular chromosomes.
c) Accessing records in NCBI's sequence database.
d) Sequence-similarity search using NCBI BLAST.
e) Examining protein structure from the Protein Data Banks.
f) DNA sequence analysis tools such as Exonprimer, Mutation Surveyor, and Sequen
cher.
g) DotPlot, to compare a large sequence with itself or other organisms at Virtua
l genome Center.
* Experience with MacOS X, Windows 95, Windows XP, and Unix systems.
* Proficient in the use of Macintosh DNA analysis programs such as DNAStar and M
ac Vector.
* Experience with automated database, word processing programs, and graphics pro
grams.
Teaching Skills
* I have been appointed as an Adjunct Associate Professor at University of Maryl
and University College (UMUC) since 2001. Since then, I prepared numerous syllab
i, and delivered many lectures on Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cell biology,
and Biotechnology related subjects.
Scientific Workshops:
Led the workshop on the "Applications of Quantitative Real-time PCR (qPCR) in Cl
inic/Cancer Research, and functional RNAi in Cancer Genetics", Suleyman Demirel
University, Isparta, Turkey, 21st - 27th October, 2008.
17 ORAL PRESENTATIONS AND LECTURES BY INVITATION INCLUDING
"High-throughput RNAi Phenotype Analysis for Cancer Drug Target Identification a
nd Validation by QPCR", Center for Innovations in Medicine, Biodesign Institute,
Arizona State University, 10th June, 2008.
23 PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS INCLUDING
Sukru Tuzmen, Jeff Kiefer, and Spyro Mousses, "Validation of siRNA Knockdowns by
Quantitative Real-Time PCR", Methods in Molecular Biology, In: Methods in Molec
ular Biology, vol. 353: Protocols for Nucleic Acid Analysis by Non-radioactive P
robes, Second Edition, E. Hilario and J. Mackay Eds., Humana Press, Totowa, USA,
177-203, 2007.
14 AWARDS INCLUDING
1996: Fogarty Postdoctoral Visiting Fellow/ Research Fellow at the Laboratory of
Chemical Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disea
ses, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.
45 MEETING ABSTRACTS INCLUDING
Tuzmen S., Kiefer J,. Azorsa D., Basik M., Ozcelik H., Kallioniemi O., Mousses S
. "New Genomic Strategies to Accelerate the Discovery of Breast Cancer Genes". T
he Fifth Era of Hope Meeting for the Department of Defense (DOD) Breast Cancer R
esearch Program (BCRP), Baltimore, MD, 25th June - 28th June 2008.

THE FOLLOWING CAN BE PROVIDED UPON REQUEST

References and more detailed Curriculum Vitae.