Dr. Shahila Mehboob

EXPERIENCE

University Of Illinois Chicago, IL
Research Assistant Professor -present

• Currently working on structure based drug design, in developing lead molecules for inhibitor design against Bacillus anthracis
• Involved in guiding graduate student projects

Postdoctoral Research Associate August 2001- July 2005

• Studied protein and RNA conformations in solution, protein-protein interactions and was involved in validating protein and RNA as drug targets
• Collaborated with various research groups located in UIC, Loyola University of Chicago as well as at Argonne National Laboratory
• Have hands on experience with various biophysical techniques such as EPR, NMR, Small angle X-ray scattering, Isothermal Titration Calorimetry, Circular Dichroism and Fluorescence Spectroscopy
• Served as a reviewer of grant applications for the Alzheimer’s Association
• Manage laboratory including instrument maintenance and ordering

Proof Positive / Farrowlyne Associates Inc. Chicago, IL
Freelance Scientific Writer Sep. 2000 - Nov 2000

• Formulated questionaires for college students in chemistry
• Created questions in 3 levels of difficulty
• Explained wrong answers for all questions

Loyola University Chicago, IL, Teaching Assistant Aug. 1996 - June 1999

• Supervised and managed organic chemistry, general chemistry and inorganic chemistry laboratories
• Was in charge of laboratory set-up and weekly grading of lab reports and quizzes
• Designed and graded final written examinations

WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS ATTENDED

• Annual Biophysical Society Meeting Baltimore, Feb. 2004
• RNA Society Meeting Madison, WI, June 2004
• Poster presentation at the Annual Biophysical Society Meeting New Orleans, Feb. 2003
• Poster presentation at the Annual Biophysical Society Meeting Boston, Feb. 2001
• 22nd International EPR Symposium Denver, Aug. 1999
• HPLC workshop sponsored by Waters Corporation Wood Dale IL, Nov. 1998
• Solution Interaction of Macromolecules (received travel award) Seattle, Sep. 1998
• Princeton Lectures on Biophysics (selected among candidates nationwide) Princeton, June 1998
• Poster presentation at the Annual Biophysical Society Meeting Kansas City, Feb.1998

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

• Molecular Biology: Primer design, cloning, PCR, site-directed mutagenesis, ligations, DNA isolation and purification, preparation of competent cells, transformation, screening of colonies by DNA analysis using restriction enzymes, large scale bacterial growth for recombinant protein expression.
• Protein Chemistry: Electrophoresis (reduced and native proteins), Western Blots, protein assays, design, express and purify recombinant proteins, protein characterization, modification of proteins by mutagenesis and by using cross linking SH specific cross linking agents of various lengths (e.g. iodine, N,N’-o-phenylenedimaleimide, N,N’-p- phenylenedimaleimide and 1,6-bis(maleimido)hexane).
• Biophysical Chemistry: Well versed with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), circular dichroism (CD), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and fluorescence spectroscopy.