0. Teaching interests

   My teaching interests relate to immunology and inflammatory mechanisms in a variety of disease states as well as molecular genetics of cancer diseases.

   My research interests

   For the last five years I have been working on development of smart novel hybrid nanomaterials for biosensors, cancer applications and diagnostics. My research involves aptamer selection (DNA, RNA and cell based selection) for target proteins and receptors on the surface of cancer cells.
   Our research group focuses on the:

   • Development of an aptamer platform technology for imaging, disease diagnostic and curing.

   • Development of Specific target drug delivery (through bio-conjugation of aptamers to nanomaterials and

     drugs)

   • Construction of novel nucleic acid aptamer-conjugated nanostructures for rare protein capturing,

     biosensor development and targeted cancer therapy.

   • Development of rapid detection of Mild Brain Trauma (TBI)

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• Development of detection methods for atherosclerotic plaque by magnetic resonance imaging using biomarker-targeting contrast agents

• Development of drug discovery platform based on natural products.

• We are looking at how cancer cells are able to affect the immune cell's DNA and RNA. !

  Because of the experience that I have been able to acquire in the past three years, I believe I would be able to initiate a multidisciplinary research group with physicists, chemists, biologists and biotechnologist. In addition I can teach courses in more than one department such as Biology and Biotechnology, Physics, Chemistry and Medicine such as biotechnology, nanotechnology, nanobiosciences, instrumentation and other biology and molecular biology, biochemistry, molecular and nanomedicine medicine etc....

  Media coverage of my research

  http://www.uncg.edu/cha/new-format/chancellor_report/2011/JSNN.html http://sports.espn.go.com/action/freeskiing/news/story?id=5985987 http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22475988/27696073 http://www.news-record.com/content/2011/01/17/article/joint_center_plans_tool_to_detect_concussions

  Teaching

• Medical and Molecular genetics, Advanced Molecular biology (For Master students), Selected Topics in Immunology & Nanomedicine (Allied medical department) at An Najah national university

• Various Immunology, Advanced molecular biology-focused, Molecular basis of diseases (Cancer, Inflammatory and allergy), Cancer Biology, Molecular genetics, Epigenetic, Advance molecular biology and molecular techniques, Nanotechnology and Nanobiosciences lectures for Nanotechnology Ph.D students, Joint School of nanosciences and nanoengineering, NC 27412, USA

• Nanolaboratory lab rotation. Coordinate and supervise lab rotation for 5-6 students per semester

• Nanoimmunology, Allergy, Asthma, Cancer Cell Inflammatory Responses, Clinical Immunology

• Participated in the Nano-biology and Nano-medicine courses for Ph.D students.

• General Biology, Animal biology, Plant Physiology, Arab American University of Jenin, Palestine

• Cell culture and Tissue engineering, Nanotechnology instrumentation courses for Ph.D students (include training students on using sophisticated instruments (Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X- ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP), Confocal laser scanning microscopy, Zeta potential, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Thermogravimetric Analysis (DSE and TGA), Flow Cytometry (FCM), Cellometer Automated Cell Counters and other instruments.

• Biotechnology I&II, Applied Biotechnology , Recombenent DNA technology

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