Kaitlyn Barrett

Kaitlyn Barrett began their professional experience in 2018 as a Research and Development Intern at Western Oncolytics Ltd., where they conducted PCR and gel electrophoresis for different assays, purified DNA via gel extraction, executed plasmid minipreps, and transfected and infected multiple cell lines. Kaitlyn also presented to the company about the theory behind the assays conducted in the Research and Development department and how the assays were adjusted and optimized over the course of the summer. In 2019, they returned to Western Oncolytics Ltd. as a Discovery Intern, where they cultured and passaged multiple cell lines that were used in many flow cytometry experiments. Kaitlyn also helped create flow cytometry protocols unique to each cell line and antibody used in every individual experiment, then executed and collected data for each experiment. In 2020, they moved to KaliVir Immunotherapeutics as a Research and Development Intern, where they conducted experiments that utilized the CRISPR/Cas9 system for editing several cell lines. Kaitlyn also became proficient in utilizing ApE (A plasmid editor), transformation, and transfecting cells, and maintained transfected cell cultures and partook in the cloning selection process after transfection occurred. That same year, they also worked as a Research and Development Intern at the U.S. Army CCDC Army Research Laboratory, where they conducted extensive experiments on candidate textiles for their antimicrobial activity against certain species of bacteria. In 2021, they returned to KaliVir Immunotherapeutics as a Junior Scientist for Research and Development, and also served as a Laboratory Technician for Research and Development, responsible for constructing and cloning plasmids that are inserted into viral vectors, as well as expanding and purifying oncolytic viruses. Kaitlyn also assisted in multiple internal projects that are in discovery phases.

Kaitlyn Barrett graduated from Endicott College in May 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Biotechnology. Kaitlyn attended Endicott College from 2017 to 2021.