Ali Blount

Experience

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  Cracker Barrel

  Jun 2018 - Jul 2022

  Server / Togo & Catering Specialist / Employee Trainer
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  National HealthCare Corporation (NHC)

  Jun 2020 - Oct 2021

  Certified Nursing Assistant
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  Harmony Senior Services

  Jul 2020 - Oct 2021

  Certified Nursing Assistant
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  Vanderbilt University Medical Center

  Nov 2021 - Jun 2024

  Help facilitate plan of care on a variety of cases, including Level I, II, and III trauma cases. Floating to various units, I have a wide variety of skills and exposure to multiple specialized medicine units. Some include: Cardio ICU Step-down, Pulmonary ICU Step-down, Neurosurgery ICU, Palliative Care, Medicine Observation, etc. Moving from Dementia Care work of 2 years, I have worked on a variety of units here at Vanderbilt: MedSurg, Medicine, and Observation.

  • Pediatric ER Technician (CNA)

    Jul 2022 - Jun 2024

  • Float Pool CNA

    Mar 2022 - Nov 2023

  • Multi-Unit (MedSurg/Medicine/Observation) CNA

    Nov 2021 - Jul 2022
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  Trevecca Nazarene University

  Nov 2021 - May 2024

  Assisted struggling undergraduate students in specialized areas of need, such as: time management, effective studying techniques, balancing various positions, and overall success as a student. Working under the Student Development department at Trevecca, I tutor individuals as needed in a variety of courses such as: Gen Bio I & II, Gen Chem I & II, Orgo Chem I & II, Calculus I & II, Microbiology, and Physics. I work closely with the professor coordinating with class needs such as: individual tutoring, class exam prep, lab grading, managing exams, mentoring younger students, and preparation for weekly lab sessions. Mainly, I maintain bacteria samples, prep sterile agar/broth, prepare bacteria samples for students labs, and maintain sterilization of lab. I manage lab organization and preparation. Appointed to serve on a board made up of undergraduates students whose role was to fairly judge consequences of peer mistakes. I work closely with the professor coordinating with class needs such as: individual tutoring, class exam prep, lab grading, managing exams, mentoring younger students, and filling in as class officiator when Professor is absent.

  • Academic Coach

    Sept 2022 - May 2024

  • Biology & Chemistry Dual-Department Tutor

    Jan 2021 - May 2024

  • General Biology I Teaching/Lab Assistant

    May 2022 - Sept 2023

  • Microbiology Lab Assistant

    Jan 2022 - May 2023

  • Student Peer Review Board Member

    Aug 2021 - May 2023

  • General Biology II Teaching Assistant

    Aug 2021 - Jan 2023

  • Cancer Research Student

    Nov 2021 - Nov 2022
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  Meharry Medical College

  Mar 2022 - Nov 2022

  Undergraduate Cancer Researcher

  At the end of my sophomore year, I was selected to participate in Meharry's Summer Undergraduate Cancer Research Program spanning from March-August 2022. Working in Shanker Laboratory I studied a combination therapy for TNBC that decreases exponentially migratory and invasive ability.

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  Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists

  Nov 2022 - Nov 2022

  Undergraduate Poster Presenter & Awardee

  National conference research poster presenter. Awarded excellence award for research completed in Cancer Biology.

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  Meharry Medical College

  Apr 2023 - Apr 2023

  Oral Research Presentation

  I presented my work collected in Shanker Lab at Meharry Medical College, studying a combination therapy for TNBC that decreases exponentially migratory and invasive ability, at my Undergraduate Institution's research symposium.

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  Loveless Cafe, LLC

  Jun 2023 - Oct 2023

  Server
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  Vanderbilt University

  Oct 2023 - now

  RA I working in Jeff Rathmell lab under the advisement of Katy Beckermann MD PhD. My primary project involves characterizing the phenotypic expression of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in Renal Cell Carcinoma and the changes in metabolism and energy demands in the tumor microenvironment. My secondary projects involve the multidisciplinary HIDI project and other translational research initiatives. Student researcher in Eley Lab working on establishing a patient-driven mice model for pediatric glioblastoma. Trained in plasmids, electroporation, and neonatal mice brain surgery. Presented research on Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in regard to development of pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis at National Conference of Undergraduate Research. All data collected during my time in Freeman Lab, VUMC. Presented research on Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in regard to development of pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis at National Conference of Undergraduate Research Student working on mice trials for Radiation Induced Lung Fibrosis project under Freeman Lab

  • Research Assistant

    Jun 2024 - now

  • Eley Lab, Radiation Oncology

    Sept 2023 - May 2024

  • Research Poster Presentation

    Apr 2024 - Apr 2024

  • Oral Research Presentation

    Apr 2024 - Apr 2024

  • Freeman Lab, Radiation Oncology

    Oct 2023 - Apr 2024