Tamara Pulpitel
Glebe,NSW
Summary
A meticulous and industrious Research Scientist with vision and experience in the big-picture elements of multidisciplinary studies. Highly effective in providing operational and collaborative solutions within research. Driven to lead team members towards best practice science using carefully targeted plans and frameworks for success. Detail-oriented and dependable team player, with excellent organisational and communication skills. Prepared to leverage 8 years of progressive experience to take on a new role with long-term potential.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Research Officer
Charles Perkins Centre
09.2015 - Current
- Manages laboratory space, generates research data and provides resources for a team of 15+ researchers including post-docs, HDR students, placement students, volunteers and visiting researchers.
- Has designed, scheduled and led the execution of over ten large-scale rodent studies focusing on diet, ageing and associated metabolic health using the geometric framework for nutrition.
- Currently completing the final stages of a "mega-mouse" time-course and lifespan study involving a range of in vivo procedures, endpoint culls, tissue collection and downstream analyses in a study comprising over 2500 mice.
- Manages a team of RA's and students in the maintenance of an ageing mouse colony, performing and teaching skills in welfare and heath checks, in vivo procedures, tissue harvesting and post mortems.
- Performs molecular biology and proteomic experiments, including gene expression and protein quantification assays, histology preparation, as well as sample prep for RNA sequencing, mass spectrometry and microscopy.
- Trains students and researchers in equipment use and molecular biology techniques for analyses of rodent, human, insect, plant and cell culture samples.
- Manages sample and chemical manifests to ensure secure storage of clinical and pre-clinical samples as well as safe storage of hazardous reagents.
- Collaborates with team members by contributing to data generation & analysis, writing for grant applications and formulation of ethics protocols and manuscripts.
- Liaises with teaching and technical floor managers to maintain efficient and safe laboratory, office and animal working procedures.
- Performs administrative duties, including ordering and finance management, review of working protocols, RA and SWP documentation, and ensures regular servicing and maintenance of laboratory equipment.
- Mentors students & colleagues, offering ad hoc practical experience and advice across multiple projects within own team and across collaborating groups.
- Active member of Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Laboratory Research Advisory Group, Animal Research Advisory Group and Animal Behavioural Facility Committee.
Museum Collections Officer
Macleay Museum
06.2013 - 08.2015
- Performed conservation treatment of museum specimens displaying fungal outbreaks using UV-irradiation and mechanical removal.
- Handled over 30,000 fragile specimen skins, mounts and objects for natural history and scientific instruments collection audit, accurately transcribing historical information from specimen labels into the Museum Collections Systems database.
- Assessed specimen condition for referral to museum conservator, conducted object measurements and ensured stable and secure long-term storage.
Animal Technician
Behaviour And Physiology Laboratory
03.2008 - 08.2014
- Performed general animal husbandry tasks including feeding, monitoring, breeding and maintenance of a continuous locust colony comprising over 10,000 insects.
- Cleaned and disinfected equipment, cages to prevent diseases and control odors.
- Assisted and maintained food production and greenhouse maintenance to ensure continuous wheat grass supply for animals.
- Liaised with senior laboratory technician, postdocs, students and teaching staff to produce insects at correct instar age for research and teaching purposes.
Laboratory Demonstrator
School Of Biological Sciences
03.2010 - 04.2011
- Taught and assisted students molecular techniques such as DNA extractions, gel electrophoresis and PCRs for two third-year undergraduate courses.
- Prepared and tested samples for analysis to maintain assay quality in classes.
- Set up and packed down equipment, maintained equipment and serviced pipettes used for teaching.
- Marked exams, assessments and coursework.
- Led several interactive laboratory experiments and demonstrations for science communication workshops, Kickstart Science programs and High School workshops.
Research Assistant
Marine Symbiosis Laboratory
07.2006 - 02.2008
- Worked both independently and collaboratively in marine laboratory to gather research data on sub-cellular effects of copper on zoanthid models.
- Performed general lab housekeeping duties, glassware sterilisation, waste disposal, solution preparation and pH testing.
- Maintained living cultures of experimental zoanthid and coral specimens in the laboratory.
Education
Ph.D. - Biological Sciences
The University of Sydney
Camperdown, NSW2014
Graduate Diploma - Science
The University of Sydney
Camperdown, NSW2009
Bachelor of Science - Molecular Biotechnology
The University of Sydney
Camperdown, NSW2008
Skills
- Project Management: Skilled in experimental design, technique optimisation, resource planning, project implementation, task delegation, timeline planning and post-project evaluation
- Lab Operation and Management: Routinely provides equipment-specific trainings, maintains sample storage manifest systems, and performs chemical SDS & hazard audits, workflow and SWP reviews
- Strategic Decision Making: Adept in risk analysis, rapid problem solving, experimental troubleshooting and has excellent judgement concerning animal welfare and ethical compliance
- Team Leadership: Highly driven to use motivational and personalised training approaches and actively monitor team performance Encourages active listening & communication and provides constructive feedback
- In vivo Rodent Procedures: Proficient in IP injections, oGTTs, minor surgeries, submandibular blood collection, metabolic testing, blood pressure analyses, EchoMRI & DEXA scanning, frailty assessments, vaginal cytology, oral gavages, cardiac bleeds, tissue dissections, behavioural assays and general husbandry
- Molecular Biology Techniques : Expert in DNA/RNA isolation, protein purification, gel electrophoresis, qRT-PCR, western blotting, ELISAs, histology techniques, bomb calorimetry and other general laboratory assays
- Computer Proficiency : Competent using Microsoft (Excel, Word, PPT, Teams), Zoom, and software for qRT-PCR analyses, figure generation, image processing, gel analyses, microscopy imaging and other analyses tools
- Administrative Skills : Experienced in budget formulation, preparation of animal ethics documentation, ordering systems, inventory management, supplier evaluation, RA and SWP preparation, timesheet approvals, personnel scheduling and interviewing
Certification
- First Aid and CPR training
- Mental Health First Aid Training
- Cultural Competence Training
- Building Positive Work Relationships Workshop
- Emotional Intelligence Workshop
- Human Resource Management Online Course
Conferences
- Australian and New Zealand Laboratory Animal Association Conference: Perth 2019 (Oral Presentation)
- Australian Biology of Ageing Conference: Brisbane 2017 & Sydney 2018 (Attendee)
- Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Conference: Austin (USA) 2014: (Oral presentation)
- Australian Entomological Society Conference: Adelaide 2013 (Oral presentation)
- Sydney Emerging Infectious Diseases Conference: Sydney 2012 (Poster presentation)
- Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour: Geelong 2012 (Poster presentation)
- Australasian Flow Cytometry Group: Sydney 2011 (Attendee)
Publications
- Van Woerkom, A., Harney, D. J., Nagarajan, S. R., Hakeem-Sanni, M. F., Lin, J., Hooke, M., ... & Hoy, A. J. (2023). Hepatic Lipid Droplet-Associated Proteome Changes Distinguish Dietary-Induced Fatty Liver from Insulin Resistance in Male Mice. bioRxiv, 2023-03
- Havula, E., Ghazanfar, S., Lamichane, N., Francis, D., Hasygar, K., Liu, Y., ... & Senior, A. M. (2022). Genetic variation of macronutrient tolerance in Drosophila melanogaster. Nature Communications, 13(1), 1637.
- Brandon, A. E., Small, L., Nguyen, T. V., Suryana, E., Gong, H., Yassmin, C., ... & Cooney, G. J. (2022). Insulin sensitivity is preserved in mice made obese by feeding a high starch diet. Elife, 11, e79250.
- Le Couteur, D. G., Solon-Biet, S. M., Parker, B. L., Pulpitel, T., Brandon, A. E., Hunt, N. J., ... & Simpson, S. J. (2021). Nutritional reprogramming of mouse liver proteome is dampened by metformin, resveratrol, and rapamycin. Cell Metabolism, 33(12), 2367-2379.
- Wali, J. A., Milner, A. J., Luk, A. W., Pulpitel, T. J., Dodgson, T., Facey, H. J., ... & Simpson, S. J. (2021). Impact of dietary carbohydrate type and protein–carbohydrate interaction on metabolic health. Nature Metabolism, 3(6), 810-828.
- Bernier, M., Harney, D., Koay, Y. C., Diaz, A., Singh, A., Wahl, D., ... & de Cabo, R. (2020). Elucidating the mechanisms by which disulfiram protects against obesity and metabolic syndrome. npj Aging and Mechanisms of Disease, 6(1), 8.
- Freire, T., Senior, A. M., Perks, R., Pulpitel, T., Clark, X., Brandon, A. E., ... & Solon‐Biet, S. M. (2020). Sex‐specific metabolic responses to 6 hours of fasting during the active phase in young mice. The Journal of Physiology, 598(11), 2081-2092.
- Hunt, N. J., Lockwood, G. P., Kang, S. W., Pulpitel, T., Clark, X., Mao, H., ... & Cogger, V. C. (2020). The effects of metformin on age-related changes in the liver sinusoidal endothelial cell. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 75(2), 278-285.
- Bernier, M., Mitchell, S. J., Wahl, D., Diaz, A., Singh, A., Seo, W., ... & de Cabo, R. (2020). Disulfiram treatment normalizes body weight in obese mice. Cell metabolism, 32(2), 203-214.
- Morimoto, J., Senior, A., Ruiz, K., Wali, J. A., Pulpitel, T., Solon-Biet, S. M., ... & Eberhard, J. (2019). Sucrose and starch intake contribute to reduced alveolar bone height in a rodent model of naturally occurring periodontitis. Plos one, 14(3), e0212796.
- Solon-Biet, S. M., Cogger, V. C., Pulpitel, T., Wahl, D., Clark, X., Bagley, E. E., ... & Simpson, S. J. (2019). Branched-chain amino acids impact health and lifespan indirectly via amino acid balance and appetite control. Nature metabolism, 1(5), 532-545.
- Koay, Y. C., Wali, J. A., Luk, A. W., Macia, L., Cogger, V. C., Pulpitel, T. J., ... & O'Sullivan, F. J. (2019). Ingestion of resistant starch by mice markedly increases microbiome‐derived metabolites. The FASEB Journal, 33(7), 8033-8042.
- Ribeiro, R. V., Solon-Biet, S. M., Pulpitel, T., Senior, A. M., Cogger, V. C., Clark, X., ... & Couteur, D. G. L. (2019). Of older mice and men: branched-chain amino acids and body composition. Nutrients, 11(8), 1882.
- Wahl, D., Solon-Biet, S. M., Wang, Q. P., Wali, J. A., Pulpitel, T., Clark, X., ... & Le Couteur, D. G. (2018). Comparing the effects of low-protein and high-carbohydrate diets and caloric restriction on brain aging in mice. Cell reports, 25(8), 2234-2243.
- Solon-Biet, S. M., Cogger, V. C., Pulpitel, T., Heblinski, M., Wahl, D., McMahon, A. C., ... & Simpson, S. J. (2016). Defining the nutritional and metabolic context of FGF21 using the geometric framework. Cell metabolism, 24(4), 555-565.
- Wahl, D., Cogger, V. C., Solon-Biet, S. M., Waern, R. V., Gokarn, R., Pulpitel, T., ... & Le Couteur, D. G. (2016). Nutritional strategies to optimise cognitive function in the aging brain. Ageing research reviews, 31, 80-92
- Pulpitel, T., Pernice, M., Simpson, S. J., & Ponton, F. (2015). Tissue-specific immune gene expression in the migratory locust, Locusta Migratoria. Insects, 6(2), 368-380.
- Graham, R. I., Deacutis, J. M., Pulpitel, T., Ponton, F., Simpson, S. J., & Wilson, K. (2014). Locusts increase carbohydrate consumption to protect against a fungal biopesticide. Journal of insect physiology, 69, 27-34.
- Gonzalez-Tokman, D., Ruch, J., Pulpitel, T., & Ponton, F. (2014). Cuticular antifungals in spiders: density-and condition dependence. Plos One, 9(3), e91785.
Timeline
Senior Research Officer
Charles Perkins Centre
09.2015 - Current
Museum Collections Officer
Macleay Museum
06.2013 - 08.2015
Laboratory Demonstrator
School Of Biological Sciences
03.2010 - 04.2011
Animal Technician
Behaviour And Physiology Laboratory
03.2008 - 08.2014
Research Assistant
Marine Symbiosis Laboratory
07.2006 - 02.2008
Ph.D. - Biological Sciences
The University of Sydney
Graduate Diploma - Science
The University of Sydney
Bachelor of Science - Molecular Biotechnology
The University of Sydney
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