Download Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Organic Chemistry

ALENKA TOMAZIC, Ph.D.
Home:
Celovška 106
1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia
Phone: 386-1-505-2385
Fax:
386-1-514-3285
E-mail: [email protected]
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QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY
Twenty eight years of varied theoretical and applied research experience in the fields
of classical synthetic and combinatorial organic chemistry, radiosynthesis, medicinal
and agricultural chemistry. Extensively published in peer reviewed journals. Author
of patents. Outstanding record of success in creative analysis and strategic problem
solving based on interdisciplinary background. Ten years experience of strategic
management of the R&D portfolio. Multilingual.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ANTEXBIOLOGICS, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
Director, Department of Organic Chemistry
2000-2002
I was responsible for leading the company Small Molecule Drug Discovery Program
which was specifically targeted at the identification and early stage evaluation (preclinical and Phase I) of novel anti-infectives.
 Reporting to the VP(R&D), this senior level position was responsible for
planning, managing organizing and directing all regulatory Chemistry,
Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) portion of drug development.
 Key responsibilities included directing the anti-infective discovery research
program, taking a creative approach in selecting new leads and guiding
products through development process from research bench to Clinical Trial
Phase I in collaboration with computational chemists, microbiologists, animal
modelers, pharmacologists and physicians.
 Responsibilities also included identifying and implementing formulation
technologies that enhance biopharmacuetic performance of NCEs.
 Supervised seven Synthetic/ Medicinal Chemists (six Ph.Ds, one MS), four
analytical chemists (two Ph.Ds, two MSs), two MS spectrometrists and two
NMR spectrometrists.
 Supervised chemoinformatic activities.
 Supervised a Combinatorial Chemistry Group.
 Supervised IP activities.
 Structured the company outsourcing R&D and manufacturing projects.
(negotiating CDAs and developing successful contracts).
 Coordinated consultant activities.
Head, Department of Organic Chemistry
1999 - 2000
Directed a research program focused on new antibiotics with broad spectrum
activities and as organism specific antibacterial agents. Pathogens that have high
incidence rate and have increasing antibiotic resistance to currently available
antibiotics were of primary interest.
 Responsible for directing medicinal and analytical chemistry, chemistry
development, lead development, and intellectual property projects.
 Responsibilities also included evaluations of outside technologies and
management of corporate collaborations pertaining to chemistry projects.
Group Leader, Chemistry
1997 - 1999
Lead generation and optimization through the design, synthesis, and screening of
small molecules combinatorial libraries in highly collaborative, multidisciplinary
team-based approach to discovery of anti-infective NCEs.
 Lead optimization employing structure-based design
 Methods for assessing and improving the quality of screening libraries
 The preparation of biased compound libraries tailored for specific therapeutic
targets
 The marriage of empirical and computational methods for drug discovery of
novel antibiotics.
ISOGEN L.L.C., Naperville, IL, USA
1996-1997
Principal Scientists, R&D
Responsible for 4 major programs of structure/activity-based design of small,
bioactive compounds for a major player in the food additive industry.
 Experienced in small molecule synthesis (10 mg to 1 kg) of novel fine
chemicals based upon isoprenoid technology (25-hydroxy vitamin D3,
zeaxantin and –carotene derivatives).
 Developed a route to key intermediates in a major program, leading to a
marketed product
 Surveyed process research, process development and scale-up operation
 Organized cGMP-compliant production
THE BIONETICS CORPORATION, Jefferson, AR, USA
1993-1996
Lead Chemist/Project Manager, On-Site Synthesis Contract
National Center for Toxicological Research, a division of Food and Drug
Administration (FDA).
The design, optimization, and execution of custom synthetic and fermentative routes
for the production of unlabeled, stable isotope (2H, 13C) and radio-isotope (3H, 14C)
labeled compounds in support of research protocols conducted under The National
Toxicology Program.
 Set up and operation of four laboratories for synthetic production of
specifically labeled compounds.
 Set up and operation of a laboratory for fermentative production of
specifically labeled compounds.
 Performed a range of analytical tests for raw materials, intermediates and
finished products.
 Day to day operation, troubleshooting and maintenance of three HPLC
systems, three NMR systems (500, 400, 300 MHz), GC, GC/MS, FT-IR, and
UV-Vis systems.
 Authorized User of radioisotopes
 Initiate, plan and direct all activities of assigned staff providing technical
support of chemical synthesis necessary to delivery of assigned compounds on
a schedule negotiated with the government.
 Identify and project all resources (manpower, materials, subcontracting)
necessary to manage the technical and financial obligations of the contract
within available financial limits.
 Proposal and technical report preparation; project budgeting
MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, Charleston, SC, USA
1989-1993
Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Designed, synthesized and applied quinazoline chemistry to the development of new
antineoplastic antifolates.
 Investigated the inhibition of enzymes involved in de novo formation of
dihydrofolic acid, DHFR and other enzymes which utilize tetrahydrofolate
cofactors.
UNIVERSITY OF LJUBLJANA, Ljubljana, SLOVENIA
1987-1988
Docent, Department of Agriculture
Provided technical and scientific support required to perform routine and special
analyses in the field of environmental protection.
MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, Charleston, SC, USA
1985-1987
Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Structure/activity-based design and syntheses of selected analogues of folic acid and
aminopterin targeted for colon adenocarcinoma, systemic mycotic infections, leprosy
and opportunistic microbial infections.
 Initiated preparation of affinity resins for the purification of tetrahydrofolate
dependant enzymes
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Development of fluorescent and photoaffinity analogues of novel
tetrahydrofolates as potential probes for proteins involved in the uptake of
folates into mammalian cells.
THE WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, Rehovot, ISRAEL
1983-1984
Visiting Senior Scientist, Department of Organic Chemistry
Designed and developed a total synthesis of the racemic form of sex pheromone of the
citrus mealybug (+/-)-citrilolacetate and (+/-) junionone.
CORNELL UNIVERSITY, Ithaca, NY, USA
1982-1983
Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Organic Chemistry
Developed a synthetic route for the substituted indolocarbazole system found in the
natural antibiotic, staurosporine, produced by Streptomyces staurosporeus.
THE WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, Rehovot, ISRAEL 1980 –1982
Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Organic Chemistry
Designed and synthesized various cyclopropane carboxylates used as intermediates
for preparation of substituted dienoates and dienedioates.
INSTITUTE JOŽEF ŠTEFAN, Ljubljana, SLOVENIA
1974-1976
Research Associate, Department of Organic/Analytical Chemistry
Responsibilities included developing, validating and transferring methods for the
assay and impurity measurements of drug substances and related materials.
 Broadened skills in MS, GC, MS/GC, HPLC, IR and UV.
EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF LJUBLJANA, Ljubljana, SLOVENIA
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry
Thesis: ˝ Some Transformations of Azines with Hydroxylamine˝
Thesis Director: Prof. Miha Tišler
1978-1980
UNIVERSITY OF LJUBLJANA, Ljubljana, SLOVENIA
M.S. in Organic Chemistry
Thesis: ˝ Some Transformations of Azines with Hydroxylamine˝
Thesis Director: Prof. Miha Tišler
1976-1978
UNIVERSITY OF LJUBLJANA, Ljubljana, SLOVENIA
B.S. in Chemistry
Thesis: ˝ Degradation of the Metallic Chelates in Mass Spectrometer˝
Thesis Director: Prof. Jože Marcel
1969-1974
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ANCILLARY EDUCATION
Advances in Structure –Guided Drug Discovery (In Silico Techniques & SAR
Approaches). La Jolla, CA, November 2002
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Integrating ADME/Tox and High Throughput Synthesis Strategies and
Analysis for Drug Discovery: Shortening the Time to Lead Discovery and its
Advancement to the Clinic. Short Course, ACS National Meeting, Orlando
FL, April 2002
Effective Supervision of Scientists and the Technical Staff. Short Course, ACS
National Meeting, Orlando FL, April 2002
Leadership Principles for R&D Managers and Scientists. Short Course, ACS
National Meeting, Orlando FL, April 2002
Organic Chemistry of Drug Design and Drug Action. Short Course, ACS
National Meeting, Orlando FL, April 2002
Modern Organic Chemistry: Modern methods and Strategies. Short Course,
ACS National Meeting, Orlando FL, April 2002
Experimental Design for Productivity and Quality in R& D. Short Course,
ACS National Meeting, Orlando FL, April 2002
Strategic Management of the R&D Portfolio. Short Course, Drug Discovery
Technology 2000, August 2000, Boston, MA
Practical LC/MS and CE / MS. Short Course, Drug Discovery Technology
2000, August 2000, Boston, MA
Combinatorial Chemistry: Solid and Solution Phase Synthesis. Drug
Discovery Case Histories, Drug Discovery Technology 2000, August 2000,
Boston, MA
Drug Discovery Using Molecular Biology Techniques to Find Drug Targets.
Drug Discovery Case Histories, Drug Discovery Technology 2000, August
2000, Boston, MA
The Role of Toxicology in Drug Discovery. Drug Discovery Case Histories,
Drug Discovery Technology 2000, August 2000, Boston, MA
New Technologies for High Speed Dispensing, Synthesis, and Storage of
Compounds for HTS. Technology Workshop, Drug Discovery Technology
2000, August 2000, Boston, MA
Partnering in Drug Discovery. November 2000, La Jolla, CA
Frontiers In Organic Chemistry. ACS Lecture/Lab Course, Dr. Barry M. Trost,
Course Director, June 1999, Palo Alto, CA
Chemical engineering and Process Fundamentals for Chemists. ACS Short
Courses, November 1996, Summerset, NJ
Supervisory Training Course. Wackenhut Training Institute, October 1994,
Hampton, VA
Management of Research and Development Organizations. University of
Kansas, Division of Continuing Education, November 1992, Overland Park,
KS
Methods, Interpretation, and Strategies for Problem Solving NMR Workshop.
Varian Associates, September 1985, Zurich, Switzerland
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Six year teaching experience including: Essentials of Organic Chemistry, Organic
Chemistry Review, Advanced Organic Chemistry, Special Topics in Organic
Synthesis, Experimental Organic Chemistry.
HONORS AND AWARDS
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Mina -James-Heinemann International Scholarship in 1980/1981 (Competitive
Award, Bonn Germany)
Schmidt Grant in 1983/1984, Co-investigator, (Israeli Academy of Sciences
and Art)
Award of Pharmaceutical Company Krka (Slovenia) for M.S. Degree Thesis.
Undergraduate and graduate scholarship from the Research Council of
Slovenia.
PROFESSIONAL AFILLIATIONS
American Chemical Society (ACS)
 Division of Organic Chemistry
 Division of Medicinal Chemistry
 Division of Analytical Chemistry
 Division of Chemical Education
 Computers in Chemistry Division
 Division of Chemical Information
 Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Division
International Isotope Society