Curriculum Vitae of

JOHN RANDALL CLAYTON

107 Boxbergring #20

Heidelberg, D-69126

(+49) 6221.386.220

john.clayton@embl-heidelberg.de

 

 

EDUCATION

 

 A.B. Molecular and Cell Biology, Emphasis Genetics and Development

University of California, Berkeley, California USA (2000)

 

 

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

 

European Molecular Biology Laboratory-Heidelberg, Germany             (March 2002-Present)

Research Technician

§     Anopheles gambiae transgenesis with multiple fluorescent markers (dsRED, EGFP) and multiple transposable element gene vectors (piggyBac, Minos) with eventual extension to in vivo reverse genetics.

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Infectious Disease Division of Parasitic Disease/Entomology Branch              (Sept. 2000–Feb. 2002)

Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratory Research Fellow

§     Germline transformation of the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae with a piggyBac transposable element vector.

§     Development and optimization of the existing protocol for microinjection of An. gambiae.

§     Molecular and genetic analysis of An. gambiae transformants.

§     Dissection of Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum infected transgenic Anopheles stephensi to determine efficacy of refractory phenotype.

§     Culturing of Anopheles cell lines for in vitro excision and transposition assays of piggyBac function.

§     Culturing of Anopheles mosquito stocks.

§     Assisted in surveillence of WNV in Atlanta Metro during 2001 Season.

§     Assisted in coordination of CDC emergency response during 2001 Anthrax Bioterror Crisis.

 

University of California, Berkeley   (Sept. 1998–Oct. 1999)

Laboratory Research Assistant; Department of Integrative Biology

§     Molecular evolution and Phylogenetics of the Bryophytes with special emphasis on resolution of deep evolutionary relationships of the Green Plants.

 

University of California, Berkeley   (Jan. 2000–May 2000)

Genetics Laboratory Course

§     Undergraduate course focusing on the use of molecular techniques for genetic analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Caenorhabditis elegens and Drosophila melanogaster.

 

 

Techniques/Skills

 

Molecular Techniques

§     DNA extraction and purification ; PCR ; Cycle Sequencing ; Automated DNA Sequencing (ABI 3100); DNA Sequence Analysis ; Southern Blot ; Ultra-Centrifugation ; Gel Electrophoresis  and Imaging ; Drosophila Microinjection ; Anopheles Microinjection ; Quartz, Aluminosilicate and Borosilicate Micropipette Design and pulling ; Fluorescent (GFP) Microscopy ; Cell/tissue Culture ; Cell Transfection ; Antiseptic Technique.

 

Entomology Techniques

§     All aspects of rearing several species of disease vector mosquitoes, including Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles stephensii, Anopheles quadrimaculatus, and Aedes aegypti.

§     Dissection of midgets and salivary glands of Anopheles mosquitoes.

§     Techniques include blood feeding, egg washing, hatching, larval feeding and separation, adult cultivation, manual mating, pupal and adult sexing, outcrossing and general stock maintenance as well as larval GFP screening for transgenic lines.

 

Computing and Other Skills

§     Expert user of both Windows and Macintosh platform software and hardware

§     Proper Waste Disposal Practices and Safety Training

§     Radioactive Isotope Certification and Safety Training

 

 

Teaching Experience

 

University of California, Berkeley   (Jan. 2000–May 2000)

Teaching Assistant

§     Undergraduate Student Instructor for Interdisciplinary Studies 130: Health and Medical ethics, an upper division course in  the College of Letters & Sciences.

§     Concurrent membership in the Health and Medical Apprenticeship Program (HMAP) at UC Berkeley.

 

 

Meetings/Courses Attended

 

§     American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene in Atlanta, GA (November, 2001).

§     3rd International Congress of Vector Ecology in Barcelona, Spain (September, 2001).

§     Cleveland Vector Encounter in Cleveland, OH (July, 2001).

§     Genetic Manipulation of Insects in Taos, NM (February, 2001).

§     XVI International Botanical Congress in Saint Louis, MO (August, 1999).

 

 

Publications

 

Germline transformation of the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae, with the piggyBac transposable element. Genelle L. Grossman, Cristina S. Rafferty, John R. Clayton, Theresa K. Stevens, Odette Mukabayire, and Mark Q. Benedict. Insect Molecular Biology 10 (6), 597-604 (2001).

 

 

Presentations/Posters

 

Germline Transformation of Anopheles gambiae with the piggyBac transposable element. John R. Clayton and Mark Q. Benedict. American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene 50th Annual Meeting. Atlanta, GA (November 10-15, 2001).

 

Mobility of piggyBac in Anopheles gambiae. Mark Q. Benedict, John R. Clayton, and Genelle L. Grossman. 3rd International Congress of Vector Ecology. Barcelona, Spain (September, 2001).

 

Phylogenetic significance of rbcL  secondary structures. John R. Clayton and John A. Wheeler. XVI International Botanical Congress,  St. Louis, MO (August, 1999).

 

 

Miscellaneous Contribution

 

Enserink, Martin. Two New Steps Toward A ‘Better Mosquito’. Contributed Photograph. Science, 289, 2370-2371 (2001).

 

EID Roundtable – Q and A Session From Current EID Fellows. Jean Bendik, John R. Clayton, Andrew Hopkins, Lauren Singer and Fernando Torres. Class VII EID Fellowship Orientation. Atlanta, GA (August 16, 2001).