Golam Tanjib Saffipksk NM

I hold a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from Toronto Metropolitan University (Canada). As an enthusiastic and dedicated educator, I am committed to fostering a nurturing and engaging classroom environment where all students feel valued and inspired to learn. With 7 years of teaching experience and 13+ years of research experience in cell and molecular biology and biochemistry, I emphasize differentiated instruction to meet diverse learning needs and create an inclusive space that encourages critical thinking and collaboration. I believe in building strong relationships with my students to support their academic and personal growth. I am eager to contribute my skills and passion for education and help cultivate a lifelong love of learning in my students.

Graduate Teaching Assistant             Toronto Metropolitan University              2014-2019

- Instructed undergraduate labs at all levels in Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Cell Biology within  the Biology and Chemistry departments.

- Delivered lectures on lab procedures, experimental setups, quizzes, safety protocols, and grading of lab reports.

- Actively participated in proctoring and grading mid-term and final exams for the department.

- Trained undergraduate and graduate students in executing research projects, providing guidance in data analysis, research instrumentation, chemical preparation, and report writing.

Graduate Teaching Assistant             University of Waterloo                   2012-2013 

- Instructed undergraduate labs in the Department of Pharmacy.

- Responsibilities included setting up equipment, conducting lab demonstrations, delivering lectures, enforcing safety protocols, supervising students, and administering and grading quizzes.

- Actively proctored and graded mid-term and final exams for the department.

- Trained graduate students in chemical preparation, proper use of research equipment, and data analysis.

Research Associate                        University of Toronto                                  2024-present

- Investigating the role of INPP4B in regulating TFEB function to enhance lysosome-related activities in pancreatic cancer.

- Conducting drug screening assays to identify potential candidates and associated molecular pathways that inhibit the growth of pancreatic cancer cells with INPP4B overexpression.

Post Doctoral Fellow                        University of Toronto                                    2019-2024

- Contributed to the successful acquisition of a government CIHR research grant to fund a project focused on the role of INPP4B in pancreatic cancer.

- Independently developed various microscopy, flow cytometry, migration, and invasion assays to characterize the INPP4B-dependent regulation of lysosomal functions and fibronectin cell adhesion, with implications for pancreatic cancer cell migration.

- Investigated the role of INPP4B expression in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines, focusing on lysosome-dependent proteotoxic stress and its effects on stemness, lineage, and differentiation.

- Designed advanced fluorescence and spinning disc confocal microscopy techniques to analyze aberrant lysosome morphology induced by PIKfyve inhibition in INPP4B-depleted mouse embryonic fibroblasts.

- Employed complex plasmid cloning methods to generate pancreatic cancer cell lines with tunable and stable expression or CRISPR-Cas9 depletion of INPP4B levels.

Graduate Research Assistant (Ph. D.)     Toronto Metropolitan University        2014-2019

- Developed novel microscopy image analysis techniques to evaluate the impact of PIKfyve function on lysosome morphology, resulting in a co-first author publication.

- Discovered an unreported role for reactive oxygen species in regulating lysosome morphology under varying conditions of PIKfyve function by utilizing various image analysis, organelle isolation, and phosphoinositide quantification techniques, leading to a primary author publication.

- Assisted in testing a novel 2xTgPH1-GFP probe for detecting the phosphoinositide lipid PtdIns(3)P.

- Conducted routine maintenance and inspection of laboratory equipment, including autoclaves, HPLC, and biosafety cabinets.

Graduate Research Assistant (M. Sc.)            University of Waterloo                  2012-2013

- Validated and developed a research project aimed at understanding the role of beta-amyloid, a key peptide in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, in inhibiting PDGF growth factor signaling as a mechanism to prevent the growth of neuronal cells, resulting in a co-first author publication.

- Key techniques utilized included immunoblotting and troubleshooting various immunoprecipitation methods.

Research Assistant                           University of Waterloo                  May 2011-Aug 2011

- Participated in screening a metagenomic library of cosmid clones to assess activity related to β-galactosidase function.

- Assisted with triparental mating to introduce gene expression plasmid constructs into cyanobacteria.

Biochemistry Researcher                    Iogen Corporation                      Sept 2009-Dec 2009

- Conducted polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to introduce mutations into the gene for hemicellulase, enhancing its efficiency in degrading cellulose—a rate-limiting step in the bioprocessing protocol for bioethanol production.

- Carried out genetic manipulations of the fungus Trichoderma reesei and the bacterium E. coli to optimize the production of hemicellulase enzyme.

Research Assistant                         University of Waterloo                   Jan 2009 - Aug 2009

- Conducted an ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) assay to evaluate the function of the xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 1A1 in rainbow trout liver cell lines, assessing the fish's capacity to metabolize brominated BPA compounds in polluted river environments.

- Evaluated the toxic effects of the pharmaceutical drugs lidocaine and procaine on the viability of rainbow trout cell lines using the neutral red assay.

- Ph. D. - Molecular Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (Canada)                          2014-2019                                             

Thesis Title: Understanding PIKfyve control of lysosome dynamics                                                                     

- M.Sc. - Pharmaceutical Science, University of Waterloo    (Canada)                            2012-2013                                           

Thesis Title: Identifying the mechanism of Aβ42 inhibition of PDGF-BB signaling         

- B. Sc. - Science and Business/Biotechnology University of Waterloo    (Canada)       2007-2011