Di (Ann) Gao
Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan
930 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Email: digao@umich.edu
Cell phone: 734-277-7944
EDUCATION
Ph.D. of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA GPA: 6.08/8.00 Spring 2013
B.S. of Chemistry, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China GPA: 3.73/4.00 June 2008
QUALIFICATIONS
• Chemistry: six journal publications (or in manuscript) and sixteen poster/oral presentations
• Pharmaceutical: R&D intern in a top pharmaceutical company and equity research intern in an investment company; coursework (principles of drug design, legal and regulatory); US Food and Drug Administration CDERLearn certificates
• Coursework in Science and Technology Public Policy
• Native speaker of Chinese, fluent in oral and written English, beginner in German
EXPERIENCES
1. Internships
R&D intern, Genentech, South San Francisco, USA 2012
• Invented a Genentech in-house assay ahead of time with no previous research experience
• Presented in the department meeting and impressed senior scientists and the department director
Equity research intern, Zhiying Investment Company, Wuxi, China 2011
• Did equity research on two pharmaceutical companies in China
• Finished assignment within half of the requested time and was recognized by the CEO
2. Research
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI Advisor: Dr. Kristina Håkansson 2008-present
• Novel mass spectrometry based techniques for structural analysis of glycans on cancer stem cells
Nanjing University, Nanjing, China Advisor: Dr. Jun-Jie Zhu 2006-2008
• Synthesis and characterization of CdTe quantum dots and Fe3O4 nanocompositions, with applications in electrochemical and optical immunoassay
3. Activities
Chair, University of Michigan Chemistry Professional Development Organization (CPDO)
• Elected as Vice-Chair and the Chair within six months after joining the committee
• American Chemical Society seminar “Preparing for Life After Graduate School” committee: budget estimation; writing application for P&G Higher Education Grant; event planning and coordinating
Co-Chair (2011) and Chair (Elect for 2012), University of Michigan Vaughan Symposium
• Served on committee three months for event planning
• Assisted the Chair (2011) in charge of all kinds of issues on day of event
Participant, Intercultural Leadership Seminar, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 2009
• Developed skills of working effectively in a multicultural environment by engaging in intensive dialogues and teamwork with people from diverse backgrounds
• Gave several presentations on international topics to a group of 50 people
Ambassador, University of Michigan International Connect Program 2010-present
• Supported Rackham Graduate School to organize various social events for international students
Student assistant, BASF Kids’ Lab, Nanjing, China 2007
• Teamwork in event planning: advertising, purchasing, arranging shifts, etc
• Taught German and Chinese children to do chemistry experiments in Chinese and English
• Highly appreciated by BASF Chief Representative in Nanjing and got recommendation letter
Participant, United Nations University — Korean National Commission for UNESCO Global Seminar, Pohang, Korea 2007
• As the first successful applicant from Nanjing University and the only successful applicant who majored in chemistry among a large number of qualified applicants all around the world
• Teamwork project and final presentation about carbon tax in front of more than one hundred people (student participants, and experts from industry, academia, and government)
AWARDS
• The Third Prize for Oral Presentation, Chinese American Chemical Society The Great Lakes Chapter Annual Conference 2011
• American Society for Mass Spectrometry Fall Workshop Student Award 2011 & 2010
• Outstanding Oral Presentation Award, 6th Midwest Carbohydrate and Glycobiology Symposium 2010
• The Society for Glycobiology Annual Conference Travel Award 2010
