Casandra Lee Hoffman

1412 Carlton Ave, Apartment 304, Charlottesville, VA 22903(484) 553-0624

EDUCATION

University of Virginia 2012-2017

PhD in Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program: Infectious Diseases and International Health

GPA: 3.61

Advisor: Erik Hewlett, MD

Activities: Graduate Biosciences Society, UVA Graduate Consulting Club, VaBIO @ UVA

Juniata College 2008-2012

B.S. in Biology with highest honors in Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

GPA: 3.79

Biology Thesis Advisor: Jill Keeney, PhD

Activities: Cross Country, Track, Women’s Basketball, Special Olympics Volunteer, ASM Chair, Tri-Beta VicePresident

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

University of Virginia, Medical School July2017-Present

Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Department

Advisor: Sean R. Moore, MS, MD

  • Currently using a novel platform, human-derived “mini guts” or colonoids, to investigate the role of C. difficile toxins A and B and their contribution to human disease. Defining sex- and age-related factors that predispose certain populations to C. difficile infection, and determining the links between disease and inherent circadian rhythms of the human body.
  • Assisting in large-scale mouse studies, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to understand the benefits of diet supplementation for growth defects in malnourished children.
  • Usingacquired expertise in molecular biology, cell culture, microbiology, bacterial toxin biology, microscopy, flow cytometry, and assay development to understand human gut physiology in the context of disease. Specifically, I have developed plasmids for lentiviral transduction into stable cell lines and stem cell populations. These tools will allow real time monitoring of circadian rhythm and cell cycle gene expression.

University of Virginia, Medical SchoolAugust 2012-May 2017

Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Department

Advisor: Erik Hewlett, MD

  • Revealed a novel function of a protein bacterial toxin in Bordetella pertussis. Adenylate Cyclase Toxin inhibits biofilm formation via a direct interaction with a surface displayed adhesin, Filamentous Hemagglutinin
  • Discovered that Bordetella pertussis is motile and express flagella, eliminating the dogma that B. pertussis is a non-motile organism
  • Acquiredexpertise in techniques ranging from cell biology, molecular biology, microscopy, cell culture, iPSC technology, mouse modelsand flow cytometry to understand a novel, unprecedented function of a bacterial toxin
  • Obtained proficiency in CLC Genomics Workbench Software and completed a transcriptomics project (big data/data mining and statistics) to better understand future vaccine antigens for Bordetella pertussis (Whooping Cough)
  • Cultivated a network of researchers with whom I actively collaborate and discuss scientific research
  • Invented abacterial toxin-derived peptide for biofilm inhibition, patented through the Licensing Ventures Group at University of Virginia
  • Presented at 2international conferences and 18 national conferences. Awarded 2 NIH fellowships (Infectious Disease Training Grant 2013-15)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Biomedical ProgramSummer, 2011

Biological Engineering Department Internship

Advisor: Peter Dedon, MD, PhD

  • Developed a DNA point-damage mapping schemato locate and define Mycobacteriumtuberculosis point mutations after oxidative stress and began step-by-step optimization of the technique
  • Usedmolecular biochemistry and microbiology lab techniques, including oligonucleotide design, strategic enzyme condition optimization,protein phosphorylationassays, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and analysis
  • Partnered with New England Biologicals to design the optimal conditions for their yet-unreleased enzyme and involved in the patent and disclosure process

University of Maryland Baltimore, School of Medicine Summer, 2010

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department Internship

Advisor: David Weber, PhD

  • Using protein crystallography, cell culture, protein and DNA preparation, and NMR techniques, determined the specific function of S100B based on the molecular structure, resolved at <2Å

Juniata College 2011-2012

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department

Advisor: Jill Keeney, PhD

  • Studied Ty1 retrotransposable elements in Saccharomyces cerevisiae(yeast) and determined their roles in stress granule and P body formation, which relates directly to HIV viral replication
  • Became competent in fluorescence microscopy, confocal microscopy and biochemical and microbiological techniques

Juniata College 2009-2011

Biology and Ecology Department

Advisor: Douglas Glazier, PhD

  • Contributed to the debate of the ecological body mass verse metabolism equation by determining the metabolic scaling relationship to body fat mass in small freshwater amphipods
  • Obtained field experience and performed statistical analysis on large data sets

PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

University of Virginia Graduate Bioscience Society: Academic Committee (2014-2015), Treasurer (2015– 2016)

Advisor: Amy Bouton

  • Organized the Biomedical Science Research Day (23rd Annual GBS Symposium – April 17th, 2015) for over 200 attendees with a team of academic committee members
  • Spearheaded career panel events and fundraising events within the University and with prominent UVA-BIMS Alumni
  • Maintained balance sheets, allocated funds for events, and prepared budget increase proposals
  • Increased social media presence and graduate student participation
  • Organizedon-site visits with local biotech firms to increase student exposure to local companies

University of Virginia VaBIO @ UVA, Outreach Chair August 2015 - Present

  • Part of the founding members of the Virginia Bio Chapter at the University of Virginia
  • Organized initial meetings with local biotech companies
  • Spearheaded career panel events and fundraising events within the University and with prominent UVA-BIMS Alumni
  • Maintained balance sheets, allocated funds for events, and prepared budget increase proposals
  • Increased social media presence and graduate student participation
  • Organized visits to local biotech firms to increase student exposure to local companies

BUSINESS & TEACHING EXPOSURE

Microbial Pathogenesis Course: Bacterial Toxin Lecturer, Microbial Biofilm Lecturer May 2017

  • Designed a two day course for each of the topics (Toxins and Biofilms, 4 days total) for graduate students to provide background knowledge about bacterial mechanisms for expression of toxins and biofilm components, and to better understand the beneficial and harmful aspects to microbial toxins and biofilms.

Bacterial Toxin Consultant for Signature Science, LLC Summer, 2014 – Present

  • Acted as one of the toxin experts to explain and demonstrate mass production of bacterial toxins and developed a lecture-based teaching experience to help members from the Department of Defense and/or Department of Internal Affairs understand bacterial toxin production and microbial growth

Consultant for OystirDecember 2014-January 2015

Advisors: Zach Marks, CEO and Rudy Bellani, COO

  • Initiated client contact with Oystir and developed the go-to market strategy for an early stage tech start-up
  • Conducted market research and completed a customer acquisition analysis by researching the post-academic job landscape
  • Directly advised the CEO and COO of the company in a team-based atmosphere

Biofilm Consultant for Team Virginia iGEM Group Fall 2014

Website:

  • Aided a group of 10 undergraduate Biomedical Engineers as a biofilm expert at the University of Virginia. Directly aided in optimization of their protocol and provided a background knowledge to the group

Teacher for University of Virginia Summer Enrichment Program Summer, 2014

  • Developed a curriculum to teach to 5th and 6th grade summer camp students. The lesson plans revolved around Infectious Diseases, with a major focus on Host-Pathogen interactions and Public Health Awareness
  • Ignited the students with a passion for science, specifically microbiology and raised public health awareness

SERVICE AND OUTREACH

Kumon Math and Reading Grade School Tutor January 2016 – October 2016

  • Tutor students age 4-18 in general math and reading practices
  • Teach organizational skills and presentation skills

Charlottesville High School Poster Symposium Advisor and Judge September 2015 - March 2016

  • Aided students formulate a question and critically think about solutions to a specific medical problem, through guided literature searches, and served as poster judge during poster session.

Inside UVA: Buford Middle School Medical Center Visit March 2016

  • Served as a tour guide and was able to answer questions about medical professions, including graduate school, while middle school students visited UVA to tour the medical and research facilities
  • Inspired young students to pursue careers in the medical sciences

Piedmont Regional Science Fair Judge February 2015

  • Acted as a poster judge for Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biology posters during the science fair. Shared experiences as a graduate student with the middle and high school students to inspire them to remain interested in the science field.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

American Society for Microbiology, AAAS, International Bordetella Society

HONORS & AWARDS

Juniata College, Honor Roll, Cum Laude, Senior Thesis Completion, Track Field Two-Time Record Holder, Team Captain

NIH Infectious Disease and International Health Training Grant T32 2013-2014 (5T32AI007046-37)

ASM General Meeting 2013, Student Travel Grant Awardee

International Bordetella Conference 2013, Student Travel Grant Awardee

NIH Infectious Disease and International Health Training Grant T32 2014-2015(5T32AI007046-38)

University of Virginia Infectious Disease Research Day 2014, Outstanding Oral Presenter

Mid-Atlantic Microbial Pathogenesis Meeting 2015, Student Travel Grant Awardee

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

  1. Barbier, Mariette, Dylan Boehm, Emel Sen-Kiliç, Claire Bonnin, Theo Pinheiro, Casandra Hoffman, Mary Gray, Erik Hewlett, and Fredrick Damron. (December 2016) Modulation of pertussis and adenylate cyclase toxins by sigma factor RpoE in Bordetellapertussis. Infection and Immunity. 85(1).
  2. Hoffman, Casandra L., Joshua Eby, Mary Gray, F. Heath Damron, Jeffery Melvin, Peggy Cotter, Erik L. Hewlett. (January 2016) Bordetella adenylate cyclase toxin interacts with filamentous haemagglutinin to inhibit biofilm formation in vitro. Molecular Microbiology. 103(2):214-228
  3. Joshua C. Eby, Casandra L. Hoffman, Laura A. Gonyar, Erik L. Hewlett. (October 2015) Review of the neutrophil response to Bordetellapertussis infection. Pathogens and Disease. 73(9).
  4. Liriano, Melissa A., Kristen M. Varney, Nathan T. Wright, Casandra L. Hoffman, Eric A. Toth, Rieko Ishima, and David J. Weber. (2012) Target binding to S100B reduces dynamic properties and increases Ca(2+)-binding affinity for wild type and EF-hand mutant proteins. Journal of Molecular Biology, 423: 365-385.

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

  1. Casandra Hoffman, J. Eby, M. Gray, F. Heath Damron, R. Villarino Romero, R. Osicka, L.Bumba, P. Sebo, J. Melvin, P. Cotter, E. Hewlett. (April 2016) Bordetella Adenylate Cyclase Toxin Interacts with Filamentous Hemagglutinin to Inhibit Biofilm Formation. 11th International BordetellaMeeting, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  2. C. Hoffman, M. Gray, Y. Reyes, J. Eby, R. Osicka, L. Bumba, P. Sebo, M. Conover, R. Deora, J. Melvin, P. Cotter, E. Hewlett. (July 2014) Novel Regulatory Role for Protein Bacterial Toxin: Adenylate Cyclase – FilamentousHemagglutinin Interaction Inhibits Bordetella Biofilm. Gordon Conference Microbial Toxins and Pathogenesis, Waterville Valley, NH.