Laura Prendergast
Founder -
(1)
4
Location
Albany, New York, United States
Bio

I am an experienced grant-writer and accomplished laboratory researcher with broad expertise in techniques of cell and molecular biology. I received my education in Biology at Columbia University, and my Master's degree from NYU in Genetic Engineering. In 2012 I founded VectorGen, a biotechnology start-up dedicated to HIV cure research.
Over the last several years, I've worked in various capacities: administrative work , bio-research, carpentry, senior science editor for an internet news outlet, and managerial work in a research biology laboratory. I've taught Biology to undergraduates in community colleges in New Jersey,
Additionally, my life trajectory includes the unusual, painful experience of having been homeless (undomiciled) on the streets of New York City for two years. I have written a full-length screenplay about this experience.

Companies
  • VectorGen
    Albany, New York, United States
  • PlanetBio
    Bellingham, Washington, United States
Categories
Biotechnology Social work Social justice

Socials

Achievements

Latest feedback

Recent projects

PlanetBio
PlanetBio
Bellingham, Washington, United States

PlanetBio Website Enhancement

PlanetBio, a leading company in the biotechnology sector, seeks to enhance its existing website (www.planet.bio) by adding new functionalities. The goal of this project is to provide a more comprehensive and user-friendly experience for visitors. Specifically, the project involves creating additional webpages, integrating job postings, and developing a user-friendly dashboard. These enhancements will help PlanetBio attract top talent and provide valuable information to its stakeholders. The project will allow learners to apply their web development and design skills, as well as gain experience in integrating dynamic content into a live website. Key tasks include: - Designing and developing new webpages to expand the website's content. - Integrating a job posting system that allows for easy updates and management. - Creating a dashboard that provides an overview of key metrics and information for internal use.

Matches 1
Category Website development + 4
Open
PlanetBio
PlanetBio
Bellingham, Washington, United States

Biotech and Healthcare Journalism/Content Writer Intern

PlanetBio is a global hub for life science news, jobs, and community. We are seeking interns to compose articles on topics and current events in the Biotech/Pharma industry, for posting on the www.planet.bio website. Topics to report on include: Drug Development Clinical Trials FDA Drug Delivery Deals Business Policy Job Trends

Matches 0
Category Biotechnology + 2
Closed
PlanetBio
PlanetBio
Bellingham, Washington, United States

Biotech Talent Acquisition/Recruitment Intern

PlanetBio is a global hub for Life Science news, jobs, and community. We're seeking interns to help with the ongoing process of identifying, attracting, and engaging potential candidates, including the overall process of filling job vacancies. The right candidate for the intern position will have a major/minor in Biology/Biochemistry or one of the other Life Sciences. In addition, the intern will perform outreach to companies within the Life Sciences ecosystem. Interns will help design job descriptions, and recruitment and selection strategy. Interns will also be responsible for transferring job postings listed on the client company websites onto the PlanetBio website.

Matches 0
Category Biotechnology
Closed
PlanetBio
PlanetBio
Bellingham, Washington, United States

Website Development Lead, Intern

About The Visionaries At The Visionaries, we’re building the next generation of industry-defining companies from Concept to Seed - and beyond. We do this by bringing together extraordinary people to ideate, refine and validate businesses through research and design. Building great companies is difficult, and while most ideas will fail, we have developed the script to launch the best ideas when we’ve built undeniable conviction that they can change the world. We are looking for a Web Development Lead to help us deliver distinctive digital brand experiences and lead our web development strategy. This position requires that you can shape strategies, define the technologies we deploy, and develop scalable solutions. Every project you will be working on is customized and tailored for every Newco we create at the studio. We are looking for an Agile-based mentality that can apply Scrum as a methodology for development. This role manages a bit of everything - processes, projects, and other intern developers. This requires very strong communication - written and verbal skills in addition to emotional intelligence. 

Matches 0
Category Website development + 2
Closed

Work experience

Laboratory Specialist - Serology
Taconic Biosciences
Rensselaer, New York, United States
September 2014 - December 2014

Tested rodent serum for viral antigens for Taconic and Taconic clients in high through-put serology laboratory using ELISA assay. Independently assessed quality of results. Scheduled tasks to assure quality results obtained in a timely
fashion.

Senior Science Editor
Guardian Liberty Voice
February 2014 - May 2014

-Planned, supervised & edited content/layout of science section.
-Selected breaking science news stories for coverage, curated photographs from internet for publications; wrote editorials and articles. Assigned stories to science writers, proofreading and editing submissions.

Cell Biologist
GE - Global Research
Niskayuna, New York, United States
August 2013 - December 2013

-Performed blood aggregation assay to solve a critical issue for a product transitioning from R&D to a commercial product for GE Healthcare.Utilized laboratory-scale and bioreactor-scale T-cell culture to develop improved devices for cell therapy.
-Expedited labor-intensive testing of candidate ingredients to stabilize blood products during sterilization process.

Founder
VectorGen
Albany, New York, United States
April 2012 - October 2018

-Developed numerous scientific collaborations with researchers in the field of HIV biology and gene therapy to perform critical proof-of-concept studies for HIV cure research.
-Extensively experienced in laboratory techniques of molecular genetics.
- Proven track record providing expert consultation and instruction on complex biological subjects to audiences at all levels of expertise.

Senior Research Technician
Albany Medical College
Albany, New York, United States
January 2010 - September 2011

In molecular immunology laboratory, utilized techniques of mammalian cell culture, performed transfection by electroporation, analyzed calcium release in response to ligation of T-cell, or MHC Class II receptor, and screened transfectants with flow cytometer, for expression of Ia.2 and Ia.17 epitopes, to correlate presence of Ia.2 epitope with physiological state of K46mu T-cells.

Adjunct Instructor
Bergen Community College
Paramus, New Jersey, United States
January 2009 - December 2009

Taught lecture and laboratory section of General Biology. Utilized PowerPoint for presentation of course material. Responsible for preparation of laboratory practical and test content. Grade assignments based on maintenance of laboratory notebook and test performance.

Adjunct Instructor
Berkeley College
Paramus, New Jersey, United States
January 2008 - December 2009

-Taught coursework in General Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, and Environmental Conservation.
-Responsible for syllabus and test content. Utilized Blackboard for communication with students and grading.
-Exceptionally adept at instruction of Biology; capable of assimilating complex ideas, presenting them in an understandable, meaningful, and enlightening format.

Graduate Researcher
The City University of New York
New York, New York, United States
September 2005 - August 2008

•In cognitive neuroscience laboratory, performed high density electrical mapping to study binocular interactions on monocularly deprived human subjects
•In neuropharmacology laboratory, tested putative neuroprotectants for efficacy against effects of gestational cocaine exposure in rats. Utilized HPLC, cell harvester for receptor binding studies, liquid scintillator, rodent handling and
dissection

Graduate Researcher
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
New York, New York, United States
June 2000 - July 2002

•In gene therapy laboratory, performed bacterial cloning and expression to generate poly-lysine construct for gene delivery. Utilized PCR, Western Blot, and autoradiography
•In neuroscience laboratory, used confocal photo-microscopy to study distribution and localization of presenilin. Experimentation involved mouse dissection, primary neuronal cell culture, fluorescence immunohistochemistry

Education

other, Neurobiology
The City University of New York
June 2005 - August 2008
other, Neuroscience
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
June 2000 - July 2002
MS, Recombinant DNA Technology
New York University
June 1999 - September 2000
BA, Biology
Columbia University
September 1984 - June 1988