Francesco Palmas

Experience

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  Harvard Medical School / Massachusetts General Hospital

  Nov 2013 - May 2014

  Intern at Molecular Pathology Department

  Preformed preliminary testing for the synthesis of PET tracers for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis. Second Research Project: “Preliminary studies on new PET tracers for prostate cancer”Supervisor: Prof. L.L. Cheng

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  Università degli Studi di Cagliari

  Apr 2015 - Mar 2018

  Thesis “Versatility and Clinical Applications of Metabolomics: Tissues and Biofluids Investigation for Pathological Clustering”.Performed metabolomic analysis of diverse bio-fluids and tissues highlighting the relation of metabolic changes to several pathological/physiological conditions, leading to over 15 publications.Acquired experience in NMR- (liquid and HRMAS) and CG-MS-based analyses and data processing.Performed uni- and multivariate analysis to underline the results of the research and strengthen our work for publications.Supervised 4 BSc, 2 MSc, and 2 visiting PhD students during their research projects, increasing the productivity of the research group by assigning and guiding through specific tasks.Developed study design for research projects.Synthesised and characterised organic compounds, validating our analytic methods.Generated Excel templates for automatic data processing significantly accelerating the operations of the group.PhD rapresentative for the Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences.PhD rapresentative for the Faculty of Science.PhD rapresentative for the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biology.Coordinator among PhD students. Show less

  • PhD Candidate

    Nov 2014 - Mar 2018

  • Teaching Assistant

    Apr 2015 - Dec 2017
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  Harvard Medical School

  May 2016 - Nov 2016

  Visiting PHD Student

  Performed metabolomic analysis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) solid tissue samples through high resolution magic angle spin -magnetic resonance spectroscopy (HRMAS-MRS) highlighting relation of metabolic changes to oncological conditions and publishing obtained results.Implemented procedures and generated tools for data processing which accelerated research operations.Applied uni- and multivariate analysis to underline research results.

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  Queen Mary University of London

  Apr 2018 - Apr 2021

  Postdoctoral Research Assistant

  Profiled lipid mediators from cell cultures, and murine and human biological samples in relation to diverse physio-pathological conditions by means of LC-MS/MS (HR-QQQ).Generated templates for automatic data processing (conversion, threshold setting, coefficient and values calculation, macro, etc.) significantly accelerating operations and increasing coherence among the members of the group.Applied uni- and multivariate analysis to highlight results of experiments.Filed official reports, producing graphs and plots, and summarising results and trends for more than 15 projects for national/international external collaborations, stimulating data release.Managed and organised laboratory space, inventories, and schedule minimising waste and coordinating analyses to enhance productivity and decrease overlap.Acted as Problem-Based Learning (PBL) tutor for Medicine Programme.Held seminars and presentations to communicate theoretical principles and project results to a mix audience of experts and non-experts in analytical strategies.Optimised methods increasing instrument stabilitySupervised junior team members Show less

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  The British Museum

  Nov 2021 - now

  Scientist: Organic Technician

  Analysed organic composition of archaeological and heritage samples from different media by means of GC-MS, LC-MS/MS (QTOF), and GC-MS/MS (QTOF).Developed MS method for the analyses of novel research lines.Optimised methods for energy and resources conservation, significantly decreasing operational costs and increasing instrument stability.Managed and organised laboratory space, inventories, and scheduling tools minimising waste and coordinating analyses to enhance productivity and decrease overlap.Optimised sample preparation protocols to enhance yield and standardisation across lab users.Generated reports, following analytical analyses, to highlight scientific outcomes.Scheduled and performed monthly tests on three GC-MS (single quad), one LC-QToF, and one GC-QToF, minimising isntrument downtime.Performed preventive maintenance on all the mass spectrometry instruments.Designed an efficient archiving system for recording legacy and newly collected data.Developed automatic data processing tools (Excell, Python) to provide faster and uniform results across lab users.Contributed to a number of research papers (currently under review).Enhanced Health and Safety protocols by generating risk assessments, implementing inventory record systems, reviewing COSHH assessments, and advising other departments on waste and chemical management.Provided training and supervision for junior members of the department, refresher for all staff, and dissemination within and outside the organisation.Oversaw LEV system upgrade.Acted as Fire Warden.Acted as First Aider and Mental Health Firs Aider.Liaised with Home Office for certification applications.Generated templates for cost analyses. Show less