2021 - 2023
Master of Chemical Sciences, Biological Chemistry (student profile)
University of Pennsylvania, School of Arts & Sciences, College of Liberal & Professional Studies, Department of Chemistry
Thesis Title: Highly conserved residues of coronavirus nsp1 skew translational equilibrium toward viral protein production
Vaccinology & Immune Therapy
RNA-Protein Complexes
DiY Transcriptomics
Cryo-EM
NMR Spectroscopy
Mass Spectrometry
Drug Discovery & Development
Immunobiology
Inorganic Chemistry II
2022 - Present
University of Pennsylvania, Carey Law School
Selected Coursework:
Entrepreneurship & Start-up Law
Contracts & Negotiations
Patent Law
US Law & Legal Methods
2015 - 2018
Bachelor of Science, Major: Pre-Medical Studies, Minors: Chemistry, Psychology
Thomas Jefferson University (formerly Philadelphia University), College of Life Sciences
Honors: Magna Cum Laude, Philadelphia University Honors Institute
Physical Sciences:
Physical Chemistry I & II
Biochemistry I & II
Analytical Chemistry
Health Sciences:
Psychology:
Industrial Organizational Psychology
Learning Theory
Abnormal Psychology
Humanities:
Bioethics
Cultures of Health & Wellness
Debating Global Issues
Spanish II
2010 - 2014
High School Diploma
St. Joseph's Preparatory School
Latin I, II, III
French I, II, III
AP US Government
AP English III, IV
AP Calculus AB
Human Anatomy
Chemistry, Physics, Biology
2024 - Present
Senior Fellow & Mentor
Trained & mentored three (3) incoming junior fellows to perform invention & marketing assessments.
2023 - Present
Assessed Penn technologies for patentability & wrote succinct descriptions for marketing distribution.
2020 - Present
Research Specialist C
University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Susan Weiss, PhD
Synthesized recombinant coronaviruses (MHV, SARS-CoV-2) through the use of multiple reverse genetic systems (cDNA, BAC)
Generated engineered cell lines via CRISPR-Cas9 (lentiCRISPR system) from scratch (sgRNA design to screening of single cell clones)
Execution and optimization of siRNA knock-down
Conducted basic virology research of various coronaviruses and flaviviruses in BSL2 & BSL3 settings
Performed all laboratory management tasks including ordering supplies, cataloguing inventory, shipping & receiving, interfacing with vendors, authoring and archiving protocols, maintenance of all laboratory instruments & equipment, maintenance and handling of liquid nitrogen (LN2) and CO2 tanks
Expertise: Reverse genetic systems, CRISPR-Cas9 genome engineering, siRNA knock-downs, in vitro and in vivo infections, growing viral stocks, plaque assay (titer assay), tissue culture, Western blot, RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence, myriad sample preparation and biomolecular extractions, ex vivo primary cell isolation, dissection
2019 - 2020
Research Technician II
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Department of Fetal Surgery, Alan Flake, MD, FACS, FAAP
Conducted translational large animal (sheep) research developing an artificial womb system (spinout company: Vitara Biomedical, Inc)
CHOP News article found here
2019 - 2020
Clinical Research Assistant
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Anna-Marie Change, MD, MSCE
Recruited ER patients to participate in various clinical research projects, processed samples, and stored according to study protocol
2018
Physical Chemistry Internship
FMC Corp, R&D, Formulations, Sergiy Peleshanko, PhD, MBA
Developed a database of physical properties for over 100 chemical adjuvants according to their surface elasticity & surface tension to optimize droplet-leaf interaction of argichemical products
Results presented in department-wide podium presentation & company-wide poster presentation (both confidential)
2017 - 2018
Research Assistant
Thomas Jefferson University, College of Life Sciences, Department of Physics, Brian Yust, PhD
Developed a nanoparticle-based peroxide detection system for use in microbiological & biochemical studies of sucralose in yeast
Results presented in podium presentation at regional APS conference, abstract found here
2016 - 2017
Research Assistant
Thomas Jefferson University, College of Life Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Megan Fuller, PhD
Quantitatively investigated the caffeine content of cold-brewed coffee by HPLC
Results presented in ACS National poster presentation & published in Nature Scientific Reports
Jefferson "The Nexus" article found here
2010 - 201
Previous and concurrent part-time jobs
Bar back at The Grape Room Music, bar & music venue (2016 - 2019)
Server at Sultan Indian Cuisine (2012 - 2014) & Bertucci's Brick Oven Pizza and Pasta (2015 - 2016)
Lifeguard at Flourtown Swim Club (2010 - 2016)
2023 - Present
Fellow, Penn Center for Innovation
Researcher, Penn Institute for RNA Innovation
2022 - Present
Member, Penn Biotech Group
Publications
Otter CJ#, Bracci N#, Parenti NA#*, Ye C, Asthana A, Blomqvist EK, Tan LH, Pfannenstiel JJ, Jackson N, Fehr AR, Silverman RH, Burke JM, Cohen NA, Martinez-Sobrido L, Weiss SR. SARS-CoV-2 nsp15 endoribonuclease antagonizes dsRNA-induced antiviral signaling. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Apr 9;121(15):e2320194121. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2320194121. Epub 2024 Apr 3. PMID: 38568967; PMCID: PMC11009620.
Nguyen LC, Renner DM, Silva D, Yang D, Parenti NA*, Medina KM, Nicolaescu V, Gonzalez A, Stock L, Cao M, Qiao Z, Moellering RE, Tay S, Randall G, Beers MF. 2022. SARS-CoV-2 Diverges from Other Betacoronaviruses in Only Partially Activating the IRE1 a / XBP1 Endoplasmic Reticulum. MBio. doi: https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.02415-22
Price AM, Steinbock RT, Di C, Hayer KE, Li Y, Herrmann C, Parenti NA*, Whelan JN, Weiss SR, Weitzman MD. (2021). Adenovirus prevents dsRNA formation by promoting efficient splicing of viral RNA. NAR. 49(18). doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkab896
Whelan JN, Parenti NA*, Hatterschide J, et al. (2021). Zika virus employs the host antiviral RNase L protein to support replication factory assembly. PNAS. 118(22). doi: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2101713118
Podium Presentations
Parenti, NA*, Renner, DM, et al. (2023). Betavcoronavirus subgenera differentially control phosphorylation of eIF2a and protein synthesis. American Society for Virology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA. Jun 24-28.
Parenti, NA*, Renner, DM, et al. (2023). Highly conserved residues of coronavirus nsp1 skew translational equilibrium toward viral protein production. Chemistry-Biology Interface 2023 Summer Symposium, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Jun 9.
Parenti, NA*, Yust, B., Wagner-Graham, M. (2017). Selective Glucose Detection by Various Nanoparticle Species. American Physical Society Mid-Atlantic Section, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ. Nov. 4-6
National Poster Presentation
Rao, NZ, Fuller, M, Parenti, NA*, et al. (2017). An Investigation of the Kinetics & Equilibrium Chemistry of Cold-Brew Coffee: Caffeine & Chlorogenic Acid Concentrations as a Function of Roasting Temperature & Grind Size. 253rd ACS National Meeting, Division of Agricultural & Food Chemistry, Poster #42, San Francisco, CA. April 2
Grants
RNA Pilot Grant, $50,000, University of Pennsylvania Institute for RNA Innovation, 2023
RNA Travel Grant, $1,000, University of Pennsylvania Institute for RNA Innovation, 2023
American Society for Virology (ASV) 2023 Travel Award, $500, ASV, 2023
Awards
Master of Chemical Science (MCS) Capstone Award - Biological Chemistry, $100, University of Pennsylvania Chemistry Dept, 2023
Award for Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, Thomas Jefferson University - East Falls campus, Chemistry Department, 2018
2019 - 2020
Emergency Medical Technician
Goodfellowship Ambulance Company, West Chester, PA
Certifications: EMT, EVOC
Responded to 911 calls
Assisted paramedics & EMT's in providing basic & advanced levels of care
2019 - 2020
Hospice Volunteer
Visiting Nurse Association, East Falls, PA
Provided companionship for hospice patient & relief for primary caregiver
2012-2014
St. Joseph's Prep Ignatian Service Program
Oglala, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
St. Benedictine School, Ridgley, MD
Fuller Center for Housing, New Orleans, LA
Program description found here
Fall 2018
Adjunct Laboratory Instructor
Thomas Jefferson University, College of Life Sciences, Department of Chemistry
Course: Chemistry I Lab - CHEM 103L
Sections: 2
Students: approx 20 per section
2015 - 2018
Teaching Assistant & Laboratory Preparer
Thomas Jefferson University, College of Life Sciences, Departments of Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Gross Anatomy
Prepared all chemicals & reagents for:
Organic Chemistry Lab I & II
Chemistry Lab I & II
Microbiology
Prepared cadavers for gross anatomy lab for the Physian Assistant Program
Gross Anatomy