Curriculum Vitae for Sherif Morgan
Objective
Pursue a professional research position in a highly dynamic environment that combines management of basic science, translational, and clinical research projects.
Education
Ph.D. Cancer Biology
Degree Awarded: May 2009, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
Dissertation title: The Bile Acid, Deoxycholic Acid, Modulates IGF-IR Function in Colon Cancer Cells
B.S. Molecular and Cellular Biology
Degree Awarded: May 2002, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
Overall GPA: 3.975. Honors and Summa Cum Laude
Senior Honors Thesis: Applications of Wildtype and Mutant Luciferase: Monitoring Metastasis In Vivo
Research Experience
Cancer Biology Ph.D. Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
Advisor: Emmanuelle Meuillet, Ph.D. January 2005 to May 2009.
Investigated the role of deoxycholic acid in colon cancer via the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor.
Techniques Utilized: mammalian cell culture, transient cellular transfection, Western blot analysis, mRNA and protein extractions, membrane preparation, RT-PCR and other molecular biology techniques, immunofluorescence, and apoptosis assays.
Research Technician and Lab Manager, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
Lab of Donato Romagnolo, Ph.D. July 2002 to August 2004.
Investigated the transcriptional regulation of the tumor suppressor, BRCA1.
Techniques Utilized: mammalian cell culture, nuclear protein extracts, electro-mobility shift assays, Western blot analysis, transient transfections, luciferase assay, and chromatin immuno-precipitation.
Summary of Undergraduate Research. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
Mentor: Robert Gillies, Ph.D. January 2000 to May 2002.
Undergraduate Biology Research Program and Senior Honors Thesis. Details are available upon request.
Techniques Utilized: mammalian cell culture, RNA extractions, PCR, molecular biology, cloning, cellular transient and stable transfection, and fluorescent kinetic studies.
Relevant Coursework Experience
Human Research Certification. Completed July 2009.
Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI): Biomedical and Social and Behavioral Sciences
Cancer Biology Clinical Experience
Cancer Biology Course (CBIO 561). University of Arizona. Fall 2004.
Introduction to clinical cancer biology, which included lectures by clinicians as well as spending time in the clinic shadowing an oncologist.
Biostatistics in Public Health
Epidemiology Course (EPID 576A). University of Arizona. Fall 2004.
Introduction to biostatistical methods and applications. Example of topics covered: descriptive statistics, probability theory, and a variety of inferential statistical techniques.
Publications
Sherif S. Morgan, Sylvestor Moses, Ana Rosa Casanova, Eugene A. Mash, Garth Powis, and Emmanuelle J. Meuillet. A Novel AKT Inhibitor Prevents UVB-Induced Signaling in Human Skin Cancers. J of Investigative Dermatology. In Preparation.
Shawna Comer, Sherif S. Morgan, Zuohe Song, Samira Jean-Louis, Emmanuelle J. Meuillet. Deoxycholic acid downregulates EphB2 expression in human colorectal cancer cells: protective role of cholecalciferol. Nutr Cancer. In preparation.
Samira Jean-Louis, Sherif S. Morgan, B. Guerold, G. Crémel, Emmanuelle J. Meuillet. Deoxycholic acid-induced signaling is mediated through modulation of glycosphingolipids. Exp Cell Res. Submitted.
Sherif S. Morgan, Zuohe Song, and Emmanuelle J. Meuillet. Deoxycholic Acid-Induced Apoptosis is Mediated via the Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Receptor/p38 Pathway in a Caveolin-1-Dependent Manner in Colon Cancer Cells. Molecular Carcinogenesis. In Review.
Jennifer K. Hockings, Stephanie C. Degner, Sherif S. Morgan, Michael Q. Kemp, Donato F. Romagnolo. Involvement of a specificity proteins-binding element in regulation of basal and estrogen-induced transcription activity of the BRCA1 gene. Breast Cancer Res. 2008;10(2):R29. Epub 2008 Mar 31.
Jennifer K. Hockings, Patricia A. Thorne, Michael Q. Kemp, Sherif S. Morgan, Ornella Selmin, Donato F. Romagnolo. The ligand status of the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor modulates transcriptional activation of BRCA-1 promoter by estrogen. Cancer Research. 2006 Feb 15; 66(4):2224-32.
Brandon D. Jeffy, Jennifer K. Hockings, Michael Q. Kemp, Sherif S. Morgan, Jill A. Hager, Jason Beliakoff, Luke J. Whitesell, G. Timothy Bowden, Donato F. Romagnolo. An Estrogen Receptor-alpha/p300 Complex Activates the BRCA-1 Promoter at an AP-1 Site That Binds Jun/Fos Transcription Factors: Repressive Effects of p53 on BRCA-1 Transcription. Neoplasia. 2005 Sep; 7(9):873-82.
Brenda Baggett, Rupali Roy, Sofi Momen, Sherif S. Morgan, Lawrence Tisi, David Morse, Rober J. Gillies. Thermostability of firefly luciferases affects efficiency of detection by in vivo bioluminescence. Molecular Imaging. 2004 Oct; 3(4):324-32.
Selected Abstracts and Presentations
Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Receptor Plays a Dynamic Role in Deoxycholic Acid-Induced Apoptosis in Colon Cancer Cells. Sherif S. Morgan and Emmanuelle J. Meuillet. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Conference. April 2009.
The Bile Acid, Deoxycholic Acid, Modulates IGF-IR Function in Colon Cancer Cells.
Dissertation Defense Public Presentation to Arizona Cancer Center. April 2009.
Deoxycholic Acid Induces Endocytosis: A Mechanism to Select for Apoptosis-Resistant Colorectal Cancer Cells. September 11th, 2008. Nutritional Sciences Department Seminar.
Does Deoxycholic Acid Modulate Autophagy in Colon Cancer? November 14th, 2007. Nutritional Sciences Department Seminar.
Deoxycholic Acid Modulates the Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Receptor Signaling and Trafficking in Colorectal Cancer Cells. Sherif S. Morgan and Emmanuelle J. Meuillet. University of Arizona Graduate and Professional Student Council Showcase and Poster Session. November 2007.
Deoxycholic acid (DCA)-induced signaling in colorectal cancer via the insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR). Keystone Symposia: Molecular Targets for Chemoprevention. March 2006.
Regulation of the PI3K-Akt Pathway: Nutritional Modulation of Colorectal Cancer. Frontiers in Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona. October 2005.
Awards and Distinctions
Competitive Cancer Biology Pre-Doctoral Training Grant (NIH T32 CA09213).
> From September 2007 to June 2009, and
> From September 2004 to August 2005.
Leadership and Management Experience
Laboratory Management of Dr. Meuillet’s Lab (Arizona Cancer Center).
December 2007 to June 2009.
Cancer Biology Graduate Program Student Representative. May 2007 to June 2008.
Organized Cancer Biology student meetings, and communicated graduate student concerns and issues to the faculty members of the Cancer Biology Executive Committee.
Trained graduate rotation student (Spring 2008), Mentored undergraduates students in the lab for summer research program (Summer 2007), independent study (Spring 2008), and senior honors thesis (Fall 2008 to Spring 2009).
Entrepreneurship for Scientists Class. Spring 2007.
Worked in a team to develop a product, write a business plan, and present to investors.
Scientific Facilitator of Exploring the Entrepreneurial Dimensions of Science and Technology Workshop at the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Arizona. April 2007.
Lab Management of Dr. Romagnolo’s Lab (Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona).
July 2003 to August 2004.
Excellent References and more details are available upon request.