Matt and Andrea Helmets Surfing Hanimaadhoo, Maldives Backpack
Matt Spencer
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
University of California - San Diego
Urey Hall Room 2126
La Jolla, CA 92093-0314
(858) 534-7430
Fax: (858) 534-7042

Education

Bachelor of Science Chemistry		 CSU ramColorado State University, Ft. Collins  

2000

Bachelor of Science Biochemistry  
CSU ram Colorado State University, Ft. Collins
2000

Master of Science Chemistry 
UCSD logoUniversity of California San Diego
2004

Anticipated PhD in Chemistry  
UCSD logo University of California San Diego
2007

Graduate Research Experience
PhD graduate student for Professor Kimberly Prather, UC-San Diego

 2002-Present

•    Research using aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ATOFMS) to study chemistry of particles in the atmosphere.  http://www.atofms.ucsd.edu
•    Used laboratory studies to analyze carbon particles coated with organic carbon using ATOFMS (submitted analytical chemistry 2005).
•    Teaching assistant for advanced biochemistry lab, biochemistry lecture and general chemistry lecture.
•    Participated in particle concentrator chemical characterization experiment.
•    Participated in aerosol characterization study: Cloud Indirect Effect Experiment (CIFEX) in Trinidad Head, CA.
•    Participated in ABC Post Monsoonal Experiment (APMEX), Hanimaadhoo, Republic of Maldives. http://www-abc-asia.ucsd.edu/
  Hanimaadhoo from airplane  Hanimaadhoo observatory   Hanimaadhoo tower instruments   Hanimaadhoo wave   ATOFMS crate   ATOFMS set up in Maldives Holecek and Spencer SCUBA  CIFEX ATOFMS unloading  ATOFMS set up CIFEX
Work Experience                  
  
Amgen, Inc., Pharmaceutics Research Associate 2000-2002

•    Worked in a highly professional, cutting edge, deadline driven, protein formulation group within the world’s largest biotech company.
•    Involved in developing methods for the characterization of protein degradents.
•    Analyze different protein formulations using a variety of techniques to asses the efficacy of a buffer, excipient, different pH, or protein concentration on the             stability of proteins. 
•    Continually worked on a research project involving the H-D exchange of amide protons on proteins.  Developed a method to deuterate the                                   exchangeable amide protons in IL-1ra.  Looked at the back exchange of the deuterons in an aqueous system using LC-MS.
•    Involved in helping to coordinate a departmental move of 50 people from one building to another.
•    Advised new associates and temporary scientific staff on current project issues and use of research equipment.

Undergraduate Research Experience
Undergraduate Research for Professor Debbie C. Crans, Colorado State University 1998-2000

     Awards
      o    Received the Merck Index award for outstanding achievements in chemistry.
1999              
      o    Received the American Institute of Chemists award, for consistently performing at a high level of proficiency within the                                           laboratory.          2000


Presentations
•    Poster presentation at American Chemical Society (ACS) San Diego,
2005
•    Presented poster at American Geophysical Union (AGU), San Francisco
2003
•    Presented poster at American Association for Aerosol Research (AAAR), Anaheim
2003
•    Poster on research involving diabetes and enzyme inhibition studies on phosphatases, using vanadium compounds, undergraduate research              symposium Fort Collins. 1999

ACS 2005 poster

Laboratory Skills
•    Aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ATOFMS)
•    Aerosol characterization using differential mobility analyzer (DMA), condensation particle counter (CPC) and  aerosol particle sizer (APS)
•    (RP, SEC, AEX) HPLC, including method development and instrument maintenance
•    MALDI MS to obtain mass of protein clips seen in a protein formulation
•    LC-MS to analyze Lys-C digests of a protein
•    LC-MS along with cysteine labeling techniques (CDAP, IAA, DTNB) to analyze the disulfide structure of a protein
•    LC-MS to investigate the amount of HD exchange occurring in deuterated protein in an aqueous system
•    CD spectroscopy to examine protein folding
•    Sub-ambient differential scanning calorimetry to study glass transition states of different protein formulations for optimization of lyophilization
•    Particle analysis using HIAC and Accusizer
•    Ultrafiltration/Diafiltration to concentrate and buffer exchange protein formulations.
•    Karl Fischer titration to determine the water content in a lyophilized sample
•    Fluorescence, and IR spectroscopy
•    Ultra centrifugation
•    UV-Vis spectroscopy
•    HPLC method development for reversed phase, size exclusion and ion exchange
•    1H-COSEY, HMQC, HMBC, HSQC, 1d-NOSEY, 13C, and, 1H NMR to determine the stereochemistry and structure of a organic molecule

Software Skills

•    Windows, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Chemdraw, Matlab, Igor, many scientific instrument software packages and various web browsers