Alexis Jaramillo Cartagena, PhD
About Alexis Jaramillo Cartagena, PhD
Alexis Jaramillo Cartagena, PhD, is a Senior Research Fellow at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, specializing in bacterial resistance mechanisms and protein characterization. With a strong academic background in Chemical Biology, he has contributed to significant research on antibiotic resistance and protein purification techniques.
Current Role at Broad Institute
Alexis Jaramillo Cartagena serves as a Senior Research Fellow at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard since 2022. In this role, he focuses on advanced research in the field of chemical biology. His work involves investigating complex biological systems and developing innovative diagnostic approaches to combat antibiotic resistance.
Previous Experience at Scripps Research
In 2013, Alexis Jaramillo Cartagena worked as a NASA Planetary Biology Summer Intern at Scripps Research for two months. This internship provided him with valuable experience in planetary biology, contributing to his understanding of biological processes in various environments.
Educational Background
Alexis Jaramillo Cartagena earned his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemical Biology from The Rockefeller University, where he studied from 2015 to 2019. He also holds a Master of Science (MS) in Chemical Biology from Joan & Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University, obtained between 2012 and 2014. His undergraduate studies include a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology from Amherst College, completed from 2009 to 2012, and an Associate's degree in Engineering Science from Quinsigamond Community College, achieved from 2007 to 2009.
Research Contributions
During his research career, Alexis Jaramillo Cartagena has made significant contributions to the understanding of antibiotic resistance. He investigated carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), focusing on the cloning, expression, and characterization of enzymes and proteins that contribute to resistance. He developed transcriptomic-based diagnostic approaches to identify effective antibiotics for bacterial infections.
Technical Skills and Methodologies
Alexis Jaramillo Cartagena has developed expertise in various biochemical and biophysical techniques. He optimized protocols for purifying challenging proteins during his PhD, leading to high-resolution Cryo-EM structures that elucidate activation mechanisms of bacterial transcription factors. Additionally, he purified cyclic-nucleotide gated potassium channels and reconstituted them into lipid-bilayer nanodiscs, employing methods such as isothermal titration calorimetry.