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).

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).

 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.

 
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
Boston University, Boston Medical Center, Center for Regenerative Medicine

  • Formulated novel projects, focusing on airway tissue immunity and thereby discovered a novel, population of myeloid cells associated with the tracheal epithelium.

  • Designed, executed and interpreted in vivo and in vitro data from mouse, macaque and human, including human blood and tissue processing in BSL2 settings.

  • Led four projects (2 personal, 2 collaborative) in teams of four to six, encompassing health care professionals, life sciences experts and computational biologists.

  • Maintained in-house Nikon Eclipse Li2 microscope and trained new users

  • Trained and mentored 2 medical fellows, 2 PhDs, 3 undergrads and 2 junior colleagues

  • Selected Peer Reviewer for MDPI Journals (Cells, JCM), reviewing ~2 papers/month.

  • Awarded one competitive grant (>80’000 USD, top 20%), one outstanding presentation prize (top 5%), published two, peer-reviewed papers and one manuscript in preparation.

 

 
2012-2016

Research Assistant (Doctorate studies)
University Basel, Department Biomedizin

Notch Signaling Balances Neural Stem Cell Quiescence and Heterogeneity
Summary: In the adult, neural stem cells reside in specific brain regions. The main focus of my PhD studies is to address the contribution of Notch signaling in the regulation of neural stem cell maintenance and activation during physiological and pathological conditions.

Manager Cytometry Facility

  • Managed high-tech service provider in a team of four
  • Allocated external funding and led prizing discussion with main users
  • Responsible for user training, equipment maintenance and chemical inventory

 

 
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
University of Basel, Molecular Biology

Internships
July 2008: Patent Clerk Internship; Oerlikon Balzers, R&D Semiconductor Wafers;
August 2010: Biozentrum University of Basel, Structural Biology, Actin Assembly; Introduction to working in BSL2; Purification and testing of polyclonal antibodies;

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
Methods Protocol

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
3rd Annual NHLBI PCTC

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
Podiums Conversation

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
diss:kurs University Basel

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
The Notch Meeting Athens

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
PhD Retreat Department Biomedizin

Engler A., Rolando C., Taylor V., Identification of a remnant niche in the adult brain; Selected oral presentation, Presentation Award