Nicole

Spears, B.S.
EDUCATION
Bachelors of Science, Degree in Biology, May 2013, Howard
University
Minor: Chemistry GPA: 3.4/4.0, Cum Laude
University of Virginia Medical School, Summer Medical and Dental
Enrichment Program (2010)

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Research
Technologist, (9/2013-7/2014)
• PI: Nicola M. Heller, Ph.D. Project Title: Macrophage
polarization in allergic inflammation
- Assist in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell
(PBMC) purification, to isolate monocytes from other
immune cells in the blood for cell
culture/differentiation into macrophages
- Perform Western blot, to identify proteins based on
molecular weight
- Perform Real-time quantitative Polymerase Chain
Reaction (qPCR)
- Maintain breast cancer cell lines, THP-1, U937 and
MCF7 for experiments by sterile cell culture
techniques
- Telephone screening to determine patient eligibility
for experiments
- Consent patients through IRB protocol

National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and

Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Intramural Summer
Research Fellow (6/2013-8/2013)
• PI: Andy Golden, Ph.D. Project Title: Identification and
characterization of new mutant required for
embryogenesis in C. elegans
- Performed RNA interference and complementation
tests
- Assisted in Western blot
- Maintained C.elegans strains
 Howard University
Course work: Independent study in Advance Cytology
(1/2013-5/2013)
• Instructor: Winston Anderson, Ph.D. Project title: Estrogen
and antagonist-induced structural changes in the vaginal
epithelium of immature rats
- Assisted in cell culture and Western blot
- Developed light microscope skills and learned
perfusion techniques

Course work: Immunology (1/2012-5/2012)

• Instructor: Michael Lipscomb, Ph.D. Group Debate: CD11c
depletion severely disrupts Th2 induction and
development in vivo vs. Basophils contribute to Th2-IgE
responses in vivo
- Presented, promoted and defended a scientific idea
(hypothesis) against a group that carried an opposing
scientific idea (hypothesis)
- Exposed to public speaking and presentation, critical
thinking and reasoning tactics for debate

WORK EXPERIENCE
National Center for Advancing Translational Science, Scientific
Program Analyst (10/2014 – Present)
- Biospecimen Liaison: collects data and reports all
biospecimens for NCATS-Division of Clinical
Innovation (DPI)
- Annual reporting: collects information from all group
leads for the NCATS webpage
- Tracks and organizes DPI programs and individual
projects for Matrix, Toxicology Century 21, Chemical
Technology, Assay Development and Screening
Technology (ADST) and the Center
o Minute write-up –tracks action items, tasks
and provide deadline reminders for all
groups
- Assists in leading NCATS DPI Opportunities
Committee
 o Organize, plan and manage grant pre-proposals,
full-proposals, schedule meetings, write
minutes (action items and tasks), create power-
point presentations, poster presentations and
monitor webpage content posting
- Provide support for managing and organizing MTA
and CDA contracts for NCATS/DPI group leads
- Search for grant opportunities
- Tracks budgeting: POTS orders (tracking and
monitoring orders, budget reports)

Howard University, Center for Sickle Cell Disease, Health Screener

(8/2010-5/2013)
- Performed Sickle Cell screening by testing patients
for the Sickle Cell Disease and trait
- Obtained blood and organized tubes to be tested in the
laboratory
- Organized IRB documents for submission
- Assisted with grant submission, ordering supplies,
coordinating conferences and workshops

POSTER PRESENTATION/MEETINGS
Poster title: “Resource for Collaborative Biologics Development in the
NIH
Intramural Program: NIH-Pfizer CTI Partnership”

National Institutes of Health, Bethesda Maryland

• NIH Intramural Research Festival (9/2015)

Project title: “Macrophage polarization in allergic inflammation”

David Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA

• American Association of Immunologists (5/2014)

Harvard University
• New England Science Symposium (4/2014)

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore

Maryland
 • Immunology floor meeting, Graduate Immunology Training
Program (2/2014)
• Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine (ACCM) Research
Day (12/2013)

Project title: “Identification and characterization of new mutant

required for
Embryogenesis in C. elegans”

National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland

• National Institutes of Health Research Day (Summer 2013)
• Genetics Journal Club (Summer 2013)

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Maryland Children Health Center, Shadowing Experience (2018)
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Student National
Medical Association (SNMA), Health Professions Recruitment and
Exposure Program (HPREP) Mentor (2014-present)
Jubilee Christian Church, Worker/Staff duties (2011-2013)
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Hat/T-shirt distributor (2011)
Howard University Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynecology Labor and
Delivery Department, Assisted staff (2010-2013)
Dream Girls Mentoring Program, Youth Mentor (Girls ages 9-11)
(2010-2011)

ORGANIZATIONS
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Student organization(s):
• Biomedical Scholars Association (Member) (2013-present)

Howard University
• Beta Kappa Chi National Scientific Honor Society,
Executive Board Member, Publication Chairperson (2010-
2013)
• Health Professions Society Member (2010-2013)

ADDITIONAL COURSE-WORK
Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health
• Audited Graduate level Biochemistry course (9-12/2013)
 SKILLS
• Familiar with Microsoft Word, Excel, Power point and
Outlook
• Institutional Review Board (IRB), Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) and Conflicts of
Interest (COI) trained, Purchasing Online Tracking System
(POTS)
• Good organizational and interpersonal skills

ACTIVITIES
• Educational tour to England, France and Spain (Summer
2012)
• Track (4x100, 200 and individual 300)
• Functional Spanish