John Walker

Background

About John Walker

Specialist in cell biology with a passion for discovery. I have experience working in diverse laboratories within the greater field of clinically-oriented biology, including: immunology, physical chemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, and tissue bioengineering. For my doctoral dissertation, I focused on the extracellular cues that regulate cell recruitment during wound healing, and the intracellular properties that modulate how different subsets of cells respond to those cues. Throughout this work I received prestigious scholarships at the Master’s and Doctoral level, in addition to receiving an award for the quality of this research at an international conference. During my graduate training, I was also afforded the opportunity to gain industry experience through two internships at Tissue Regeneration Therapeutics, a company focusing on the commercial development of human umbilical cord stem cell platforms. In this small team environment I was able to learn and apply new skills to several goal-oriented research projects. Specifically, this work included the collection and analysis of large genomics and proteomics datasets, including filtering into meaningful outcomes for diverse stakeholders. As a postdoctoral fellow, I have expanded upon both my technical proficiency and leadership ability. Managing a collaborative project combining the research expertise of four research groups has provided opportunities to acquire new skills and technical knowledge from disparate fields including immunology, biochemistry, pre-clinical imaging, biomaterials and stem cell biology. Additionally, I have contributed to the success of junior trainees by providing guidance for experimental design, identifying creative solutions for troubleshooting, and providing technical expertise for data collection and analysis. Over the course of my career, I have been involved in the publication of 16 peer-reviewed manuscripts to date. I am highly motivated by scientific discovery and the prospect of translating fundamental research into marketable products to improve clinical outcomes.