Danielle E Alexander
Education & Training
- CPMC Ophthalmology Grand Rounds and Resident Lectures, participant (2006-present)
- Training in multi-electrode brainstem recording with Dr Paul Gamlin at UA Birmingham (June 2005)
- B.S. in Molecular Cell Biology, emphasis in Neurobiology at UC Berkeley (2000-2004)
- Leadership Institute training in conflict management, Memphis Tennessee (March 2003)
Work Experience
- Research Associate in Physiology & Biomechanics at Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, San Francisco, CA (June 2004-present)
- Install and co-manage primate electrophysiology facility.
- Design & build miniature implantable strain gauge-based devices, brainstem recording electrodes, and FES electrodes.
- Extensive rabbit and NHP eye & head surgical assistant experience: gold bead implantation, brainstem recording chamber implantation, eye coil implantation, muscle force transducer implantation, head fixation implantation, kerato-pigmentation, perfusion, rabbit orbit dissection and micro-electrode implantation, and cadaver orbit dissection.
- Primary handler of lab research animals. NHP and rabbit diet management, environmental enrichment, drug administration, and implant maintenance.
- Clinical Research Assistant at Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, San Francisco, CA (June 2004-present)
- Investigate novel strabismus treatment through clinical and animal studies. Manage and analyze patient MRI data. Maintain contact with patients for clinical trial. Collect and manage rabbit muscle data.
- Pursue development of novel functional electrical stimulation device to treat ptosis. Contribute to electrode design, fabrication, implantation, and testing.
- Laboratory Technician in Molecular Epidemiology & Toxicology at UC Berkeley (2002)
- Blood sample processing, DNA aliquots, reagent formulations, and basic laboratory tasks.
- Patient Liaison at California Pacific Medical Center, Emergency Department. Assisted Head Nurse & Triage Nurse with non-medical tasks (July 2004-May 2005).
- Legislative Research, Writing & Analysis for the Health Insurance Association of America, Washington, D.C.. Contributing writer to a weekly eMagazine, HIAA Federal (see Publications, 2003).
Skills
Oculomotor Electrophysiology
- Primate gaze training and 3-D video eye position measurement using methods developed in our lab.
- Extracellular brainstem recording & stimulation using tungsten electrodes and quartz fiber tetrodes.
- Experienced surgery assistant for non-human primates and rabbit procedures and cadaver orbit dissections.
Computer/ Software/ Electronics
- Experienced user of Adobe GoLive, Adobe Photoshop, ImageJ, CorelDRAW, Ashlar Cobalt (CAD), Microsoft Office, etc.
- Experimenter-level knowledge of Powerlab, LabVIEW, SIDEXIS, and Chronos VOG.
- Macintosh hardware & software troubleshooting.
Other
- Excellent fine-motor skills.
- Thoroughly knowledgeable of local research regulations, including IACUC, Institutional SOPs, lab protocols and MPM.
- Research collaborators at UCSC, UCB, UA Birmingham, Facultad de Biologa, Sevilla, Spain, UCSF, and SF Magnetic Resonance Center.
Publications, Posters & Presentations
- A.B. Scott, D.E. Alexander. Bigger and Better Eye Muscles. April 2007 presentation at Berkeley School of Optometry Conference on Translational Research.
- Scott AB, Alexander DE, Miller JM (2007). Bupivacaine injection of eye muscles to treat strabismus. Br J Ophthalmol, vol 91, isu 2, pgs 146-148.
- L. Ai, O. Gallo, D.E. Alexander, and J.M. Miller. 3-D Video Oculography in Monkeys. January 2007 poster presented at Bay Area Neuroscience Gathering.
- L. Ai, O. Gallo, D.E. Alexander, and J.M. Miller. 3-D Video Oculography in Monkeys. In preparation, 2007.
- J.M. Miller, E.A. Rossi, M. Wiesmair, D.E. Alexander, O.Gallo. Stability of Gold Bead Tissue Markers. Journal of Vision, 2006.
- D.E. Alexander, E.A. Rossi. Neural Control of a Complex Oculomotor Plant; an overview. June 2004 presentation at Smith-Kettlewell.
- D.E. Alexander. Briefing On HIPAA Privacy Rule Implementation. July 2003, Joint Economic Committee Takes a Look at Health Technology Costs, July 14, (etc.) HIAA Federal News.
Community Service
- Visitor to Elderly in community without strong social networks, New Leaf Group (2005-present).
- President Chi Omega Fraternity UCB (2003-2004)
- Legal Advocate to SSDI applicants, Homeless Action Center (2003).
- Mentor to teen, YWCA youth program (2001-2003).
- Disabled Living Attendant to quadriplegic college student, UCB Disabled Student Program (2002).
- In Home Medical Assistant to 9-year-old with severe Treacher Collins Syndrome (Summer 2001).
Awards & Honors
- East Bay Panhellenic Scholarship (2004)
- Ada Tallman Award, for superior contribution to Chi Omega Fraternity (2004)
- UCB Chancellor Community Service Award, honorable mention (2003)
- Larry Byrd Scholarship (2000)
