Ryan J. Rafferty

Colorado State University                                                                                                           2202 W. Plum Street
Department of Chemistry                                                                                                            Apt O90
1872 Campus Delivery                                                                                                               Fort Collins, CO  80521
Fort Collins, CO  80523-1872                                                                                                    (970) 590-1612 (C)
(970) 491-6668 (W)                                                                                                                    Email: raff_rj@yahoo.com

Education
Colorado State University. Fort Collins, CO:
     Ph.D. student (Biological Chemistry), Emphasis: Natural Product Synthesis and                                 2004-
             Biological Evaluation
         Advisor: Robert Williams (Professor of Organic Chemistry)

University of Northern Colorado.  Greeley, CO:
    MS in Chemistry (Chemistry Research, ACS Certified), Biochemistry Emphasis                                  2001-2003
         Advisor: Richard M. Hyslop (Professor of Biochemistry)
         Thesis “HPLC and LC/MS methods for the assessment of UDP-glucose dehydrogenase activity”       
    BS Equivalent in Biological Sciences, Cellular Biology Emphasis                                                        2001-2003
    BA in Chemistry (ACS Certified), Biochemistry Emphasis                                                                   1996-2000

Conception Seminary College.  Conception, MO:
    Sacred Theology and Philosophy                                                                                                           1995-1996

Work Experience
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO:                             
    Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Chemistry                                                                        2004 - present
       – Instructed laboratory courses: Organic Chemistry (majors, CHE 345, 346 and 440).
    Graduate Research Assistant                                                                                                                  2005 - present
       – Conducting research under Dr. Robert Williams involving natural product synthesis and
          biological evaluation.  Project Title:  Synthetic Studies Towards the Synthesis of Antifungal
          Agent Ambiguine E and F.

Aims Community College, Greeley, CO:                                                                       
    Adjunct Chemistry Instructor, Department of Math and Sciences                                                          2003 - present    
        – Instructed lecture and laboratory for general inorganic, organic and biochemistry courses for
           nursing majors.  (Fall and Winter Quarters 2003)
        – Instructed lecture for general chemistry courses for majors (Fall 2005 and Summer 2004)

University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO:    
    Frontiers of Science Institute (FSI), Mathematics and Science Teaching (MAST) Center                     Summer 2004
       – Developed and instructed six-week course for advanced high-school students.  Topics,
          including laboratory work, were: acid/base chemistry, determination of antacid neutralizing abilities,
          paper production and recycling, paper and column chromatography, gel electrophoresis,
          characterization of enzymatic reactions, cellular biochemistry, and forensic/DNA fingerprinting.
      – Aided students in the understanding and application of the scientific method through research
         (as ten-students research advisor), served as editor of research papers and helped advises create and
         present PowerPoint presentations to a public audience.
    Supplemental Instruction Tutor, College of Arts and Sciences                                                                2003-2004
      – Instructed 3-1 hour sessions per week for General Biochemistry Course.
   Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry                                              2000 - 2004
     – Instructed laboratory courses in General Chemistry (non-majors, 1st & 2nd semesters), General
        Chemistry (majors, 1st semester), Honors General Chemistry (majors, 1st semester), Organic
        Chemistry (majors, 1st & 2nd semesters), Physical Chemistry (non-majors), and Biochemistry
        (majors, 1st and 2nd semesters).
     – Presented several formal lectures (for faculty at scholarly functions off-campus) in courses
        including: General Biochemistry (non-majors), General Chemistry (non-majors), General
        Chemistry (majors), Physical Chemistry (non-majors) and Biochemistry (majors and graduate levels).
     – Co-supervised undergraduate student research (ten-students over four-years).
     – Mentor for high school students in the Frontiers of Science Institute (F.S.I.), summers of 2002 and
        2003 (six-students over two-summers).
   Graduate Research Assistant-University of Northern Colorado    2000 - 2004
     – Conducted research under Dr. Richard M. Hyslop involving the synthesis and characterization of
        6-thiopurine analogs and the development of an analytical method for the determination of enzymatic
        activity of UDP-glucose dehydrogenase.
     – Performed an eight-week rat study to determine the mechanism of 6TP-dependent jaundice.  Injected
        rat’s daily and conducted sacrifices of the animals personally.
    – Proficient in the use of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Liquid Chromatography
        tandem Mass Spectrometry.  Experience with Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy,
        UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, Infrared spectroscopy, Agarose and PAGE electrophoresis, Gas
        Chromatography, and Gas Chromatography tandem Mass Spectrometry.
    – Techniques acquired: enzyme activity assessment, enzyme isolation and characterization, column
        chromatography (including preparation and care) centrifugation and high-speed centrifugation, SDS
        and standard electrophoresis gel preparation, and techniques in organic synthesis.

Oral Presentations

Ryan J. Rafferty and Richard M. Hyslop, “Investigation into the toxicity of 6-thiopurine: Inhibition of 6TP and metabolites of UDPGDH and development of methodologies for the assessment of toxicity” HPLC Symposium 2005,  Stockholm, Sweeden, June 2005  (Invited Speaker, unable to attend).

Ryan J. Rafferty, “Toxicology of 6-Thiopurine.”  University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, April 2004  (Invited Speaker to Toxicology Course).

Ryan J. Rafferty, “Operational Laboratory Safety.”  University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, August 2003.

Ryan J. Rafferty and Richard M. Hyslop, “Analytical Methodology for the Analysis of UDP-Glucose Dehydrogenase Activity by High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.”  Colorado-Wyoming Academy of Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, April 2003.

Ryan J. Rafferty and Richard M. Hyslop, “Analysis of Purine Analog Inhibitory Activity Towards UDP-Glucose Dehydrogenase.”  Colorado-Wyoming Academy of Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, April 2003.

Brian Keogh, Ryan J. Rafferty, and Richard M. Hyslop, “Synthesis of 6-Mercaptopurine (6-Thiopurine) Analogs.”  Colorado-Wyoming Academy of Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, April 2003.

Melynda M. Carter, Ryan J. Rafferty and Richard M. Hyslop, “Analysis of in vivo Hepatic Concentrations of UDP-Glucose and Glucuronic Acid.” Colorado-Wyoming Academy of Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, April 2003.

Ryan J. Rafferty, “Analysis of the Effects of 6-Thiopurine Analogs on UDP-Glucose Dehydrogenase.”  Departmental Seminar, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Northern Colorado, April 2003.

Ryan J. Rafferty and Richard M. Hyslop, “Development of An Analytical Method for the Determination of Enzymatic Activity of UDP-Glucose Dehydrogenase.”  17th Rocky Mountain Regional ACS Meeting, Albuquerque, NM, October 2002.  

Ryan J. Rafferty and Richard M. Hyslop, “Synthesis of 6-Thiopurine Analogs and Their Inhibitory Activity Towards UDP-Glucose Dehydrogenase.”  17th Rocky Mountain Regional ACS Meeting, Albuquerque, NM, October 2002.  

Ryan J. Rafferty, “UDP-Galactose 4-Epimerase: Interconversion of Galactose to Glucose.”  Departmental Seminar, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Northern Colorado, October 2002.

Ryan J. Rafferty, “Safety Protocols for Graduate Students Teaching in University Laboratories.”  University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, August 2002.

Poster Presentations

Ryan J. Rafferty and Richard M. Hyslop, “Inhibitory Analysis of 6-Thiopurine and its active Metabolites towards UDP-Glucose Dehydrogenase”  229th National ACS Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 2005.

Nevin R. Gallagher, Ryan J. Rafferty, and Richard M. Hyslop, “Utilization of a Capillary Electrophoretic Method for the Quantification of 6-Thiopurine Metabolites”  229th National ACS Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 2005.

Ryan J. Rafferty and Richard. M. Hyslop, “Methodologies for the Analysis of UDP-Glucuronic Acid In Vitro and In Vivo Utilizing HPLC and LC/MS.”  HPLC Symposium 2004, Philadelphia, PA, June 2004.

Ryan J. Rafferty and Richard. M. Hyslop, “Assessment of Dehydrogenase Enzyme Activities by RP-HPLC.”  HPLC Symposium 2004, Philadelphia, PA, June 2004.

Ryan J. Rafferty and Richard M. Hyslop, “Methodology for the Assessment of UDP-Glucose Dehydrogenase and Crude Synthesis of 6-Thiopurine Analogs.”  UNC Research Day, University of Northern Colorado, April 2004.

Ryan J. Rafferty and Richard M. Hyslop, “HPLC and LC/MS Methods for the Detection and Quantification of UDP-Glucuronic Acid.”  227th National ACS Meeting, Anaheim, CA, March 2004.

Nevin R. Gallagher, Ryan J. Rafferty, and Richard M. Hyslop, “Analysis of 6-Thiopurine Metabolites by Capillary Electrophoresis.”  227th National ACS Meeting, Anaheim, CA, March 2004.

J. Carl Cooley, Ryan J. Rafferty, and Richard M. Hyslop, “Quantification of 6-Thiopurine and   6-Thiouric Acid in Serum and Homogenized Liver Samples.”  227th National ACS Meeting, Anaheim, CA, March 2004.

Hannah C. Robus, Ryan J. Rafferty, and Richard M. Hyslop, “Inhibition of UDP-Glucose Dehydrogenase Activity by 6-Thiopurine Analogs.”  227th National ACS Meeting, Anaheim, CA, March 2004.

Brian H. Keogh, Ryan J. Rafferty, and Richard M. Hyslop, “Synthesis of 6-Thiopurine Analogs.”  227th National ACS Meeting, Anaheim, CA, March 2004.

Ryan J. Rafferty and Richard M. Hyslop, “Method Development for An Assay for UDP-Glucose Dehydrogenase.”  UNC Research Day, University of Northern Colorado, April 2003.

Ryan J. Rafferty and Richard M. Hyslop, “Development of an Analytical Method for the Determination of Enzymatic Activity of UDP-Glucose Dehydrogenase and Inhibitory Activity of Synthesized 6-Thiopurine Analogs.”  225th National ACS Meeting, New Orleans, LA, March 2003.

Publications

“Novel Excel Program to Illustrate the Effects of Mutations Within DNA and on Protein Synthesis”  (Submitted-Under revision)

“In vitro Methodology for the Quantification of UDP-Glucuronic Acid via HPLC with UV Detection”  (In Progress)

“Noncompetitive Inhibition of 6-Thiopurine and its metabolite 6-Thiouric acid towards UDP-Glucose Dehydrogenase”  (Submitted)

“The Determination of in vitro Enzymatic Activity of UDP-Glucose Dehydrogenase”  (In Progress)

“Operational Laboratory Safety Plan: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry”  (In House Publication)

Hyslop, R.M, Tak-yau, T., and Rafferty, R. J. “Laboratory Manual for Experimental Biochemistry
and Biochemical Techniques.”  University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO (2003).

Grants

Spencer Foundation: Instrumentation Grant.  “Integration of New Chromatographic Detectors into Chemistry Teaching Laboratories.”  ($35,000)  (Submitted)

Graduate School (University of Northern Colorado)  “Summer Research Fellowship”  ($3000 + tuition waiver), Summer 2004.

Milheim Foundation Grant.  “Mechanistic Studies of 6-Thiopurine-dependent Jaundice.”  ($25,000), March 2004.  Contributor (Not Funded)

Graduate Student Association (University of Northern Colorado)  “Conference Travel Grant”  ($500), Spring 2004.  

SPARC (University of Northern Colorado) “Faculty Research and Publication Board Grant”  ($2500), Fall 2003.  Contributor.

Graduate School (University of Northern Colorado)  “Summer Research Fellowship”  ($4900 + tuition waiver), Summer 2003.

Graduate Student Association (University of Northern Colorado)  “Conference Travel Grant”  ($500), Oct 2002.

Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Inc.  “Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry: Integration into Chemistry Teaching and Research”  ($165,000), 2001.  Contributor.

Graduate School (University of Northern Colorado)  “Summer Research Fellowship”  ($4900 + tuition waiver), Summer 2002.

Graduate Student Association (University of Northern Colorado)  “Research and Equipment Grant”  ($500), Fall 2001.

Graduate Student Association (University of Northern Colorado)  “Research and Equipment Grant”  ($500), Summer 2001.

Graduate Student Association (University of Northern Colorado)  “Research and Equipment Grant”  ($500), Spring 2001.

Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Inc.  “Liquid Chromatography-Fluorescence Detection: Integration into Chemistry Teaching and Research”  ($39,000), 2000.  Co-author.

Honors and Awards

Chemistry Graduate Teaching Assistant Award, Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, 2005

Graduate Dean’s Citation for Outstanding Thesis, University of Northern Colorado, 2003.

Graduate Dean’s Citation for Excellence, University of Northern Colorado, 2003.

Outstanding Graduate Research Award, Colorado-Wyoming Academy of Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, 2003.