Ubeiden Samboni
🎓 Education
💼 Work Experience
Protein Scientist
Biophysical Chemistry and Structural Biochemistry, UNC
2018–2024
- Led establishment of a new research area on transmembrane proteins
- DNA cloning, E. coli transformation, recombinant expression
- Protein purification via SEC, ÄKTA, RP-HPLC (85% purity)
- Produced commercial enzyme, saving $2,000+
- Improved expression methods with 60%+ yield gain
- Analyzed protein-lipid and protein-protein interactions via DSC, CD, FTIR, fluorescence, Langmuir monolayer, BAM
Research Internship
King’s College London | UNCUYO
2022–2024
- Led MD simulation projects with high-performance computing
- Automated data processing with Python
- Delivered reports translating simulation results into insights
Protein Analysis Specialist
LaProBio Transfer Center, UNC
2022–2024
- Protein prep: buffer exchange, dialysis, filtration
- Structural & thermodynamic characterization
- Thermal stability analysis using DSC
- CD and FTIR for secondary structure analysis
Assistant Teacher (Biological Chemistry & Biophysics)
UNC, Argentina
2019–2024
- Designed and conducted lab experiments
- Provided student guidance and feedback
- Helped improve course content and teamwork in teaching
📚 Publications
- Cifuentes Samboni, U.* et al. [Title]. J. Phys. Chem. C. (Resubmitted)
- Cifuentes Samboni, U. et al. [Title]. Langmuir. (Submitted)
- Cifuentes Samboni, U. et al. [Title]. In preparation (MD simulations)
🏅 Scholarships & Awards
Fellowships
| Period |
Award |
| 2021–2024 |
PhD Fellowship – CONICET, Argentina |
| 2021–2023 |
Scholarship – COLFUTURO, Colombia |
| 2018–2021 |
Doctoral Fellowship – FONCYT, Argentina |
Travel Awards
| Year |
Event |
| 2023 |
IUPAB – Physics of Life, Harrogate, UK |
| 2022 |
IUPAB – L Annual Meeting of SAB, Argentina |
| 2018 |
SAB – XLVII Annual Meeting, Argentina |
🧪 Research Skills
- Molecular biology: DNA, RNA, protein extraction from cell lines; interpretation of DNA sequencing chromatographs; bacterial lysis; production of recombinant proteins; SDS-PAGE electrophoresis; silver protein staining
- Biophysics: preparation of multilamellar vesicles and unilamellar vesicles; Brewster angle microscopy; differential scanning calorimetry; Langmuir monolayers; time-correlated single photon counting; dynamic light scattering; fluorescence, UV-Vis and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy
- Analytical chemistry: ÄKTA, size exclusion, and HPLC chromatography; titration; sampling and sample preparation; ability to interpret data and document findings accurately; good laboratory practices
- Bioinformatics: gromacs, VMD, NGL View, CHARMM-GUI, MDAnalysis, Gaussian 16, NBO 6.0, HPC
- Data science: collected, interpreted, organized, and presented complex datasets; conducted PCA for dimensionality reduction and evaluated linear separability of the target feature; developed supervised learning models
🔧 Transferable Skills
- Communication: Presented regular oral lab meetings, departmental seminars and conferences; chaired meetings
- Leadership & Management: as leader of \href{https://secretariayib.wixsite.com/ybiophysics}{\yib} for two years, strategically coordinated international scientific events, cultivated interdisciplinary collaborations; secured crucial national and international funding (e.g. \href{https://iupab.org/sponsorship-policy/}{IUPAB}, \href{https://biofisica.org.ar/}{SAB}); planned, led and managed my own research projects; developed problem solving ability (experiments trouble-shooting)
- Mentoring: Led the recruitment of 12 new team members for the YIB project and mentored them to success; coaching rotation students through effective day-to-day supervision
- Teamwork: Fostered successful internal and external collaborations resulting in publications during PhD; actively contributed to the biophysics teaching team by improving course plans and methodologies; planned, promoted, and executed engaging scientific events with a 20-member board, ensuring high attendee satisfaction and learning outcomes during the conference
- Organisation: organised conference for over 100 delegates, including administrative and logistic tasks together with comprehensive catering arrangements; prioritized tasks and experiments based on urgency and importance
- Time management: successfully balanced PhD research with teaching responsibilities for undergraduate students; efficiently planned and managed YIB’s annual activity calendar, while ensuring timely execution and meeting deadlines
- Independence: full responsibility to lead my research projects; identified new avenues for research, designed the projects and wrote the proposals independently; secured competitive funding to support my own projects; developed experimental assays that were new for the lab
- Networking: developed a robust international network of collaborators and renowned speakers, facilitating future partnerships and knowledge sharing
- Attention to detail: accurate record keeping of experiments; use of checklists to organize my work and make sure that it is completed in a timely manner
🌍 Languages & IT Skills
- Languages: Spanish (native), English (fluent)
- IT Skills:
Python, Bash, Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow
JupyterLab, Conda, GitHub, LaTeX, Linux, ImageJ, Inkscape, Mendeley
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Overleaf
🌐 International Meetings
| Year |
Event |
| 2023 |
LI Annual Meeting – SAB, Córdoba, Argentina |
| 2023 |
VII YIB Meeting – Córdoba, Argentina |
| 2023 |
Physics of Life – Harrogate, UK |
| 2022 |
L SAB Meeting – Rosario, Argentina |
| 2022 |
VI YIB Meeting – Rosario, Argentina |
| 2021 |
IL SAB Meeting (Virtual) – Argentina |
| 2018 |
XLVII SAB Meeting – La Plata, Argentina |
🎓 Selected Courses & Training
- Protein Structure and Dynamics – FCQ-UNC (2021)
- Intro to Python Programming – UNSAM (2020)
- Scientific Writing in English – UNC (2020)
- Quantum Mechanical Methods (DFT) – UNC (2018)
- Molecular Biophysics of Proteins – UNC (2018)