Our Team: DORA YEAROUT
Research Technician 2
1660 S. Columbian Way, MS-127, Seattle, WA 98108

Education
Western Washington University, B.S. 2000
Major-Cellular Biology; Minor-Chemistry

Publications
Poorkaj P, Nutt JG, James D, Gancher S, Bird TD, Steinbart E, Schellenberg GD, Payami H. parkin Mutation Analysis in Clinic Patients with Early Onset Idiopathic Parkinsonism. AJMG. In Press.

Payami H, Zareparsi S, James D, Nutt J. (2002) Familial aggregation of Parkinson disease: a comparative study of early-onset and late-onset disease. Arch Neurol 59(5):848-50.

Zareparsi S, James DM, Kaye JA, Bird TD, Schellenberg GD, Payami H. HLA-A2 homozygosity but not heterozygosity is associated with Alzheimer disease. Neurology. 2002 Mar 26;58(6):973-5.

Awards
Dec. 1999: NSF REU Award
This award was granted to work on isolating developmental regulatory genes from Nasonia vitripennis, a parasitoid wasp.

Employment
Research Lab of Dr. Haydeh Payami
Oct. 2002-March 2004: Wadsworth Center NYSDOH
June 2000-Sept. 2002: Oregon Health Sciences University
Sr. Lab Technician
  • Sequencing of the DJ-1 gene using ABI 3100 and 3700 genetic analyzers
  • Sequence analysis using Sequencher
  • Genotyping of the SCA genes by PCR and fluorescence based fragment analysis using ABI 3100 genetic analyzer and GenoTyper
  • Genotyping of the HLA-A gene by PCR
  • Working with genomics core lab to develop genotyping methods
  • Statistical data analysis using SPSS: t-test, ANOVA, Kaplain Meier Survival Analysis, and Chi Square
  • Taking and updating family histories and administering Mini Mental State Examinations on Parkinson’s disease patients
  • Responsible for maintaining genetic and clinical data on over 2,000 Parkinson’s patients and relatives in a 4th Dimension database
  • Assistance in grant writing.

May 1999-June 2000: Research Lab of Dr. David Leaf, Western Washington University
Research Assistant

  • PCR
  • Cloning DNA
  • DNA isolation
  • Screening clones from cDNA libraries
  • Southern blot analysis
  • Total nucleic acid screens
  • DNA sequencing
  • Restriction digests
  • Gel electrophoresis
  • Gel documentation.

Sept. 1998-June 2000: Research Lab of Dr. Maryanne Pultz, Western Washington University
Research Assistant

  • Maintenance of mutant Nasonia and Drosophila stocks
  • Genetic mapping in Nasonia
  • Antibody stains, and cuticle preparations to characterize mutant embryonic phenotypes in Nasonia
  • Video microscopy, Dark Field, Phase Contrast, and DIC microscopy as well as NIH image.

Sept 1995-June 1999: Cell and Tissue Culture Lab, Western Washington University
Lab Assistant and Manager

  • Supervisor: Dr. Hubertus Kohn
  • Protoplast isolations
  • Maintenance of cell suspension cultures
  • Initiation, maintenance and induction of morphogenesis in callus of cabbage, mustard, and chickpea plants
  • Media preparation, extensive use of autoclaves, pH meters, analytical balances and osmomometers
  • Supervision of work-study students.

Teaching Experience
Undergraduate Laboratory Teaching Assistant

Biology Department Western Washington University

  • Biology 470: Cell and Tissue Culture, Jan. 1999-April 1999 & Jan 1998-April 1998
  • Biology 201: Introductory Cell & Molecular Biology for majors, Sept. 1999-Dec. 1999
  • Biology 203: Botany, Sept. 1998-Dec. 1998