Susan works for Franck Dayan as a support chemist.

SUSAN BLACKMON WATSON


EDUCATION

Hardaway High School
diploma granted June 1978
Columbus, Georgia 31906

Converse College
Fall 1978-Spring 1980
Chemistry Major
Spartanburg, S.C. 29301

B.S. Biochemistry, May 1982
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina 29634

M.S. Biochemistry, June 1986
Medical College of Georgia
Augusta, Georgia

My thesis work involved the isolation of mitochondrial and cytosolic isozymes of malic enzyme from pig heart, and development of rabbit antibodies to both forms. The mitochondrial isozyme had been linked to Freidrich's Ataxia (one of many forms of muscular dystrophy), and loss of this enzyme activity was believed involved in loss of muscle function in these patients. I developed a very crude qualitative colorimetric assay for malic enzyme activity which involved paper electrophoresis to separate the isozymes followed by activity staining with an agar overlay. My crude assay did demonstrate a marked decrease in activity of the mitochondrial enzyme in leukocytes from Freidrich's patients compared with control samples. The ultimate goal was to use antibodies specific to each of the two forms of the human enzyme to develop a quantitative assay for mitochondrial activity.

WORK EXPERIENCE

August 1991-May 1997

Director of Undergraduate Labs
Chemistry Department
University of Mississippi
University, Mississippi 38677

I oversee all aspects of the freshman and sophomore level teaching labs (Survey of Chemistry, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry) including management and training of teaching assistants, chemical ordering, coordinating with stockroom to see that labs are prepared, maintenance of equipment and facilities, safety training and enforcement, first aid, integration of lab content with various sections of lecture courses, keeping grade records, creating quizzes and exams, etc.

I attended the ACS Laboratory Safety and Health short course in August of 1994, and a Safety in the Science Laboratory workshop sponsored by The Laboratory Safety Workshop in March 1996. I am currently certified in First Aid and CPR through the American Red Cross. I use word processing and spreadsheet software. I am rusty, but used to be capable of reading French fairly well. I was selected as the Mortar Board Outstanding Faculty Woman in 1992.


August 1989-August 1991

Research Assistant (for Dr. David Graves)/Instructor
Chemistry Department
University of Mississippi
University, Mississippi 38677

I had a half time appointment in Dr. Graves's lab working on a project to isolate topoisomerase, and study the binding of the enzyme to DNA. The other half of my appointment was as an instructor in the department. I taught one section of Survey of Chemistry ( a non-major's course) and one section of Biochemistry 371 (which at the time was the pre-medical requirement).



October 1986-July 1989

Technical Assistant
The Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142

I was responsible for running and maintaining an automated DNA synthesizer, and a protein sequencer which were operated as a core facility. I maintained billing records and ordered supplies. In addition I participated in a project in which the protein fimbrin was purified, and sequenced, used to screen a genetic library, the gene cloned, and sequenced.



August 1984-October 1986

Lab Technician
G.D. Searle/NutraSweet Company
Augusta, Georgia

I was an on line quality control technician. Types of analyses included HPLC, G.C., Karl Fisher water analysis, I.R., Heavy metal analysis etc.



PUBLICATION


Fimbrin Is a Homologue of the Cytoplasmic Phosphoprotein Plastin and Has Domains Homologous with Calmodulin and Actin Galation Proteins, Monika V. de Arruda, Susan Watson, Ching-Shwun Lin, John Leavitt, and Paul Matsudaira; The Journal of Cell Biology, Volume 111, September 1990 1069-1079.

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