Resume

PERSONAL SUMMARY

• >20 years of experience in developing and leading research projects

• Demonstrated leadership skills in project and group settings

• Proven ability to obtain funding for research

• Well-rounded oral and written communication skills

• Bilingual: English and French (written, reading, speaking)

• Enthusiastic, curious, growth oriented, creative and a team player

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology | 2008 | Western University

Advisor: Dr. Carole Creuzenet

M.Sc. in Microbiology and Immunology | 2001 | Western University

Advisor: Dr. Thomas Linn

B.Sc. Honours in Cell and Molecular Biology | 1998 | Concordia University

Science College Graduate

WORK EXPERIENCE

Director of Exploratory Research | IMV Inc. | 2019–July 2021

Created, implemented and supported research strategies in alignment with business goals under the immunotherapy preclinical research programs. Developed project proposals with external collaborators. Set project timelines; defined and oversaw completion of project milestones. Responsible for creating and monitoring $1MM yearly team budget in collaboration with VPs of Research and Finance. Directly supervised and mentored a team of six research scientists. Gained experience in managing and conducting translational preclinical research to support clinical developments. Routinely communicated and collaborated with cross-functional teams, reviewed study plans, ensured studies were performed and documented under QMS requirements, and analyzed data. Oversaw preparation of SOPs and staff training. Prepared written and oral reports for both internal and external audiences. Work resulted in one peer-reviewed publication and three poster presentations at international and national conferences.

Senior Scientist | Mara Renewables Corporation| 2012–2019

Continued research on metabolic engineering of microalgae for biofuel production. A key player in developing molecular biology techniques to characterize mutants for phenotypes of interest. Routinely presented data internally and externally to people with various backgrounds and expertise. Responsible for writing manuscripts, invention disclosures, reviewing patent applications and providing required data summaries for internal and external reports. Collaborated on writing grant applications. Routinely supervised technicians and co-op students. Work resulted in two peer-reviewed publications, a granted patent (WO 2017009790 A1), several patent applications and five invited talks at international conferences, regional universities and colleges.

Research Scientist | Ocean Nutrition Canada | 2011–2012

Wrote a successful grant application for funding of over $60,000 for research on metabolic engineering of microalgae for biofuel production. Successfully characterized key enzymes required for the metabolism of cheap carbon feedstocks.

Canadian Government Laboratory Visiting Fellow| Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada | 2008–2011

Advisor: Dr. Edward Topp

Wrote a successful grant application for funding of over $130,000 for research on environmental microbiology. Work resulted in a peer-reviewed publication as well as posters and oral presentations at national and regional conferences.

Graduate Research Assistant | Western University | 2003-2008

Prepared multiple successful grant applications for over $100,000 to study bacterial protein glycosylation. Work completed resulted in several peer-reviewed publications as well as multiple poster and oral presentations at international, national and regional conferences.

Research Technician | Western University | 2001–2003

Collaboratively established a new laboratory from the ground up while being responsible for monitoring and maintaining laboratory supply levels and associated spending, as well as updating protocols and supervising summer and work-study students.

Graduate Research Assistant | Western University | 1998–2001

Obtained $24,000 worth of scholarships to develop techniques required for the over-expression and purification of bacterial protein to perform assays with RNA. Presented work internationally and regionally in the form of oral and poster presentations.

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

Director of Exploratory Research | IMV Inc.| 2019-July 2021

Mentored and supervised five research scientists and one postdoc in an industrial laboratory setting.

Senior Scientist | Mara Renewables Corporation | 2012-2019

Supervised technicians and co-op and honours undergraduate students in an industrial laboratory setting. Was recognized in 2016 as a finalist for the Dalhousie Top Co-op Employer Award in R&D and Education.

Visiting Fellow| Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada | 2008–2011

Supervised and led a team of four technicians and seven undergraduate students in an environmental microbiology laboratory setting.

Graduate Assistant / Teaching Assistant | Western University | 2001-2008, Fall/Winter 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006

Managed and trained four technicians, three Master’s students, five fourth-year undergraduate students and three summer students in molecular and microbiology techniques. Demonstrated laboratory techniques to 10-15 second- and third-year undergraduate students. Supervised practical lab sessions, corrected students’ assigned lab reports and met with students upon request.

Self-employment and Volunteering Experiences

For the last seven years, I’ve owned and managed a small business producing and selling my paintings while collaborating with local business associations. In addition, for the last two years I have been the key co-founder of a local artist collective group that supports emerging artists in selling their art online. I am directly responsible for setting up collaborations, advertisement, and social media management.

I routinely present my research and scientific career path to post-doctoral fellows, undergraduates, high school and elementary school students and volunteer as a WISE-Atlantic role model.

I served on a Site Visit Committee to review a grant application or NSERC’s College and Community Innovation Program Technology Access Centre.

During my post-doctoral studies, I served in the post-doctoral association at Western University (two years as Vice President) and the Canadian Association of Post-Doctoral Scholars (elected three times as Vice Chair Communications)

RESEARCH SKILLS AND ABILITIES

I have expert experience in:

• DNA cloning and all methods of molecular biology (DNA preparation, restriction enzyme digests, PCR including multiplex PCR and RT-PCR, Southern blot analysis, etc.)

• Microbiology techniques, including growing and characterization of organisms such as Escherichia coli, Helicobacter pylori, Bacillus spp, Campylobacter jejuni, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and heterotrophic microalgae

• Protein expression and purification including FPLC and HPLC

• Analysis of proteins by Western blot, 2D PAGE, capillary electrophoresis, silver staining, etc.

• RNA synthesis and purification: in vitro transcription, cell and gel purification

• Protein -RNA analysis: magnetic beads capture assay, nitrocellulose filter binding, gel shift assay, coupled in vitro transcription/translation

• Lipopolysaccharides: purification, SDS-PAGE analysis

• Sugar-nucleotide analysis by capillary electrophoresis

• Infection assays using the Caenorhabditis elegans model and bacteria

• Working knowledge of UNIX, Macintosh and PCs, and extensive experience with productivity applications, including Microsoft. Strong foundation in programming and software utilization

• Experience with scientific computer software for sequence and restriction enzyme analyses, as well as statistical analysis software such as R, GraphPad, Statistica, and SigmaPlot

• Web design: HTML; graphics experience with Adobe Photoshop and Corel Graphics Suite

SELSECTED INVITED ORAL PRESTATIONS

*indicates when presenting author

• June 2018. A. Merkx-Jacques et al., Engineering anabolic and catabolic pathways in thraustochytrids. Algal Biomass, Biofuels, and Bioproducts, Seattle, Washington, USA.

• April 2018. A. Merkx-Jacques* et al., Micro-algae strain discovery and optimization for lipid production. Environmental Sciences: The Energy Dilemma course, John Abbott College, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada.

• March 2018. A. Merkx-Jacques* et al., Discovery and optimization of micro-algae for biotechnology. Acadia Biology Seminar Series, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada.

• June 2017. D.L. Woodhall, A. Merkx-Jacques et al., Establishing Thraustochytrids as a Biotechnology Platform. Biotech France 2017, Paris, France.

• July 2017. A. Merkx-Jacques* et al., Engineering xylose metabolism in Thraustochytrid T18. Biochemical and Molecular Engineering XX, Newport Beach, California, USA.

• June 2016. A. Merkx-Jacques* et al., Characterization of two xylose metabolism pathways in Thraustochytrid T18. The 6th International conference on Algal Biomass, Biofuel, Bioproducts, San Diego, California, USA.

PUBLICATIONS

1. A. -Leahey, A. MacKay, L. Portales-Cervantes, G. Weir, A. Merkx-Jacques, M. Stanford. 2020. Generation of highly activated, antigen-specific tumor-infiltrating CD8⁺ T cells induced by a novel T cell targeted immunotherapy. Journal of Oncoimmunology. 10.1080/2162402X.2020.1782574

2. A. Merkx-Jacques et al., 2018. Engineering xylose metabolism in thraustochytrid T18. Biotechnology for biofuels. 11(1):248

3. N. Zebian, A. Merkx-Jacques et al., 2016. Comprehensive analysis of flagellin glycosylation in Campylobacter jejuni NCTC 11168 reveals incorporation of legionaminic acid that is important for host colonization Glycobiology Apr;26(4):386-97

4. M.A. Scaife, A. Merkx-Jacques et al., 2015. Algal biofuels in Canada: status and potential. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews.44:620-642

5. Merkx-Jacques et al., 2013. Evaluating the pathogenic potential of environmental Escherichia coli by using the Caenorhabditis elegans infection model. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Apr;79(7):2435-45

6. P.S. Hopf, R.S. Ford, N. Zebian, A. Merkx-Jacques et al., 2011. Protein Glycosylation in Helicobacter pylori: Beyond the Flagellins? PLOS One. 6(9):e25722

7. S. Vijayakumar*, A. Merkx-Jacques* et al., 2006. Cj1121c, a novel UDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-GlcNAc C4 aminotransferase essential for protein glycosylation and virulence in Campylobacter jejuni. J. of Biological Chemistry 281(38):27733-43 *Equal contribution from both authors

8. A. Merkx-Jacques et al., 2004. The Helicobacter pylori flaA1 and wbpB genes control lipopolysaccharide and flagellum synthesis and function. J. of Bacteriology. April. 186(8):2253-65

9. A. Merkx-Jacques et C. Creuzenet. 2004. Helicobacter pylori: rôle de la glycosylation en pathogénèse. La Lettre de l’Infectiologue. Mars XIX:3-7