Center for Regenerative Medicine (CReM)
Boston University and Boston University Medical Center
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Hands-on scientist and mentor with 5+ years of international work experience in a variety of disease associated fields.
Creative and dynamic problem solver with ambition and strong interest in the life sciences industry.
Center for Regenerative Medicine (CReM)
Boston University and Boston University Medical Center
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Hands-on scientist and mentor with 5+ years of international work experience in a variety of disease associated fields.
Creative and dynamic problem solver with ambition and strong interest in the life sciences industry.
Scientific Interest and Strength
Airway Associated Myeloid Cells in Homeostasis and Repair Characterization of airway immune cells, using state-of-the art techniques including single-cell sequencing and multicolor FACS analysis, under steady-state conditions and after injury to identify novel targets for repair and regeneration. Aiming to develop novel, pharmaceutical interventions to foster tissue repair (Preprint). |
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Isolation, Maintenance and Differentiation of Primary Tracheal Basal Cells from Adult Rhesus Macaque Rhesus macaque are a close human relative and their airways strongly resemble human airways. We here provide a robust, reproducible isolation and maintenance protocol for rhesus macaque basal cells and their differentiation into airway lineages (Publication). |
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Macaque Lung Progenitor Cells as Therapeutic Agents after Lung Injury We aim to transplant macaque induce pluripotent stem cell derived progenitors after lung injury as cell-based therapy. The projects lays the ground stones for cell-base engraftment therapy, as alternative for lung transplantation. |
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Technical Skills | |
Innate Tissue Immunity | Single-Cell RNA Sequencing (10x Genomics) ● Immunophenotyping by FACS and Microscopy ● FACS Analysis by FlowJo, Cytobank and OMIQ ● (Co-)culturing various myeloid populations |
Pulmonary Biology | Novel establishment of macaque basal cell cultures and differentiation ● In vivo models of tracheal and lung injury ● In vitro culturing of tracheal basal cells and lung Type-II cells |
Stem Cell Biology | Maintenance and differentiation of human and macaque induced pluripotent stem cells ● maintenance and differentiaion mouse embryonic stem cells ● in vivo analysis of various adult, tissue stem cells |
Cell Biology | Targeted in vivo manipulation of various cell types and genes ● in vitro manipulation of primary cultures and stem cell cultures |
Molecular Biology | Classic laboratory biochemistry (Western, Southern, IHC, IF) ● in vivo genetic manipulation (viral and transgenic) |
Extracurricular Activities
Extracurricular Activities | |
2020 - current | Cofounder Boston University Biotech Consulting Club: weekly peer mentorship and case practice |
2020 | Covid-19 Crisis Management; volunteer testing at BUMC |
2018 - current | Scientific Outreach at Mother Caroline Academy: fostering young women and introducing them to STEM |
2013 - 2016 | PhD Club, Department Biomedicine Basel: organization of two scientific retreats from planning, to funding acquisition to execution |
2009 - 2011 | Student Representative Dormitory Mittlere Strasse 33:meetings on budget and property management, student spokesperson |
Certified Courses | |
ongoing | Business Foundations: University of Pennsylvania, Wharton, Coursera; 6 courses focused on Marketing, Accounting, Commercialization |
Jan. 2020 | Introduction to Corporate Sustainability, Social Innovation and Ethics: MOOC, edX, |
Sep. 2016 | First Steps with R; Introduction to R-Studio, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Basel |
Jan. 2016 | Presentation Training; diss:kurs Training "Mündliche Präsentationen", course for selected participants, University of Basel |
Dec. 2015 | Proposal Writing; Scientific Writing, Advanced Courses University of Basel |
Sep. 2015 | Academic Writing Conventions and Styles: Writing to be Published; Scientific Writing, Advanced Courses University of Basel |
Nov. 2014 | Articles in the Life Sciences: Structure and Clarity, Scientific Writing, Advanced Courses University of Basel |
Jun. 2014 | BD FACSAria III Cell Sorter, Operator Course, European Training Center, Erembodegem, Belgium |
Oct. 2012 | LTK Module 1E: Introductory course in laboratory animal science |
Teaching Activity | |
Trainees | 4 undergraduates ● 2 PhD students ● 2 medical fellows |
Fall 2013 | Teaching assistance “Einführung in die Biologie”, Semester Course at the University of Basel, 12 teaching units for Bachelor Students |
May 2012 | Laboratory assistance block course “Cell and Neurobiology” at the Universtiy of Basel, 5 days practical teaching for Bachelor Students |
Language Skills | German - native, English - fluent, French - basic command |
Education and Experience
2017 - 2021 |
Postdoctoral Scholar
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2012-2016 |
Research Assistant (Doctorate studies) Manager Cytometry Facility
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2011-2012 | Master of Science in Molecular Biology University of Basel, Biozentrum MSK1 as mediator of BDNF in GABAergic neurons Summary: We found that BDNF signaling via TrkB and MAPK pathway, specifically via MSK1, induces morphological changes in neurons and affects GABAergic neuron differentiation. |
2007-2011 |
Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology Internships |
Peer-reviewed Publications
Engler AE, Ysasi AB, Pihl RMF, Villacorta-Martin C, Heston HM, Richardson HMK, Moniz NR, Belkina AC, Mazzilli SA, Rock JR; Airway-associated macrophages in homeostasis and repair; Pre-Print |
Basil MC, Katzen J, Engler AE (…) Kotton DN, Rock JR, Snoeck HW Vunjak-Novakovic G, Whitsett JA, Morrisey EE; The Cellular and Physiological Basis for Lung Repairand Regeneration: Past, Present, and Future; Cell Stem Cell Review (2020); Review |
Engler AE., Mostoslavsky G., Miller L., Rock JR., Isolation, Maintenance and Differentiation of Primary Tracheal Basal Cells from Adult Rhesus Macaque. MDPI Methods and Protocols, October 2019 |
Engler A.*, Zhang R.*, Taylor V., Molecular Mechanisms of Notch Signaling - Notch and Neurogenesis, Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology Book Series published by Tilman Borggrefe and Benedetto Daniele Giaimo, Springer; Book Chapter |
Zhang R.*, Boareto M., Engler A., Louvi A., Giachino C., Iber D., Taylor V., Id4 Downstream of Notch2 Maintains Neural Stem Cell Quiescence in the Adult Hippocampus, Cell Reports, Article |
Engler A., Rolando C., Giachino C., Erni A., Zhang R., Zimber-Strobl U., Radtke F., Taylor V., Differential roles of Notch1 and Notch2 signaling in adult neural stem cells of the subventricular zone, Cell Reports, Article |
Zhang R.*, Engler A.*, Taylor V., Notch: an interactive player in neurogenesis and disease, Cell Tissue Res (2017). Review |
Additional Work and Honors
Grants and Awards | |
2017-09 to 2019-01 |
Swiss National Foundation, "Multifactorial Interplay of Trp63, Notch and BMP in Lung Basal Cell Maintenance"; SNF: P2BSP3_172221; 18-months salary |
2016-07-22 |
Swiss Society Neuroscience, Travel Fellowship to the Gordon Research Seminar and Conference - Notch Signaling in Development, Regeneration & Disease |
2016-04-26 |
Nachwuchsförderung Klinische Forschung (Promotion of Young Scientists); "Distinct Targets of Notch Signaling in Active and Quiescent Neural Stem Cells"; 6-month salary + consumables |
2015-05-29 |
Scientific PhD Retreat - Outstanding Presentation Award; "Neurogenic stem cells in a dormant vestigial niche are suppressed by Notch2 signaling" |
Abstracts with Honors | |
2019-09-23 |
Engler A., Ysasi A., Villacorta-Marin C., Pihl R., Mazzilli S., Belkina A., Rock J.; Airway Associated Myeloid Cells in Homeostasis and Repair; Outstanding Poster Presentation Award |
2016-08 Gordon Research Conference |
Engler A., Rolando C., Giachino C., Junghans D., Taylor V., Differential roles of Notch1 and Notch2 signaling in the adult murine brain, Selected Poster Teaser |
2016-04-21 |
Irkhof P., Engler A., Spalinger M., Richter H., Grüniger S., Warum wir mit Tieren forschen - Vier Forschende über ihre Erfahrungen mit Tierversuchen; "Why we Use Animal Experimentations - Four Researchers Talk about Their Experience with Animal Experimentation"; Selected Speaker |
2016-02-03 |
Engler A., Rolando C., Giachino C, Junghans D., Taylor V., Untangling Adult Neurogenesis, Notch by Notch; Selected course participant and selected podiums speaker |
2015-10 |
Engler A., Rolando C., Giachino C, Junghans D., Taylor V., Differential roles of Notch1 or Notch2 signaling in the adult murine brain; Selected oral presentation |
2015-05 |
Engler A., Rolando C., Taylor V., Identification of a remnant niche in the adult brain; Selected oral presentation, Presentation Award |