Kawssar Harb, Ph.D.

Experience

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  Lebanese University - Faculty of Sciences

  Jan 2010 - Jul 2010

  Master Thesis Student

  Contributed to develop new inhibitors of cyclooxygenase 2 by assessing their antagonistic efficiency on inflammationusing biochemistry, molecular biology and enzyme immunoassay techniques on a cell culture model. Demonstrated high adaptability, quick learning and efficiency in delivering very organized and well documented data.

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  Institut de Biologie Valrose - iBV

  Nov 2010 - Apr 2016

  Identified novel neocortical neuronal sub-populations and characterized their connectivity, morphology, molecular andelectrophysiological properties.Revealed an epigenetic mechanism leading to co-expression of mutually-repressive molecular determinants involved inneuronal differentiation and diversity. Demonstrated high adaptability, quick learning, efficiency, time and stress management and enjoyed teamwork with excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Proven track of excellent scientific writing skills as demonstrated by thesis, review, papers, proposals and posters and very good presentation skills. Show less

  • Postdoctoral Researcher | Neuronal Reprogramming | Neurodegenerative diseases

    Nov 2014 - Apr 2016

  • Doctoral Researcher | Cortical development | Molecular and Cell Biology | Neurobiology

    Nov 2010 - Oct 2014
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  Zentrum für Molekulare Neurobiologie Hamburg

  Jul 2016 - May 2021

  Postdoctoral researcher | Cell, Molecular & RNA Biology | Neuroscience

  Investigated RNA-binding proteins and translation in development and disease.Revealed a crucial role for the key ALS and dementia protein, TDP-43, in defining area-specific cytoarchitecture and connectivity of the somatosensory mice neocortex by translational regulation of mRNAs coding for key layer identity molecular determinants.Identified a connection between early developmental mis-specification of subcerebral projection neurons and their later degeneration in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in vivo mouse models .Independently lead the project, designed and performed experiments, delivered reliable high quality data in exceptional timing limitations. Supervised students and technicians, collaborated with national and international laboratories and managed simultaneously multiple scientific, organization, and financial tasks with high efficiency, motivation and determination. Show less

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  SanaGroup®

  Sept 2022 - Sept 2023

  Deputy Head of Laboratory

  Development and validation of new in vitro diagnostic assays including antigen rapid and qRT-PCR tests, extraction and virus handling kits for a wide range of diseases caused by respiratory and sexually transmitted viruses and routine review of their efficiency and conformity. Development of new point of care in vitro diagnostic devices (PCR machine) including devices optimization, updates and handling customers requirements and feedback. Management and organization of laboratory tasks, work plans, shifts, experiments, SARS-CoV-2 testing and supervision of a team of scientists and students. Accreditation of the laboratory according to the ISO 17025 rules, preparing Standard operating procedures (SOP) for laboratory protocols and ensuring that lab members receive sufficient training for all procedures. Conduct weekly meetings with international companies including partners, suppliers and collaborators and implementing automated system for our laboratory procedures using LIMS system. Show less

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  Lebanese International University

  Oct 2023 - now

  Assistant Professor

  Developmental Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology, General Biology