Francis Virtucio
About Francis Virtucio
Francis Virtucio is a Research Technician at Integral Molecular, where he focuses on the development of COVID-19 Reporter Virus Particles. He has a background in biology and pathology from Drexel University and has held various research positions since 2016.
Work at Integral Molecular
Francis Virtucio has been employed at Integral Molecular as a Research Technician since 2021. In this role, he focuses on the development and production of COVID-19 Reporter Virus Particles (RVP). His responsibilities include performing various quality control assays and contributing to the production of pseudoviruses, which are essential for safer COVID-19 research and antibody testing. Additionally, he engages in culturing and maintaining cells specifically for RVP production and is involved in general lab management practices.
Education and Expertise
Francis Virtucio is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Pathology at Drexel University, with an expected graduation in 2025. His academic journey began at Vineland Senior High School, where he studied from 2015 to 2019. His educational background provides a strong foundation for his research work, particularly in virology and related fields.
Background
Before joining Integral Molecular, Francis Virtucio worked at Drexel University as an Undergraduate Student Researcher in the Office of Undergraduate Research from 2020. He also gained experience in bacteriophage research as part of the SEA-Phages program at Drexel University from 2019 to 2020. Earlier, he participated in cognitive psychology research at the New Jersey Governor's School in the Sciences in 2018 and completed a radiology apprenticeship at the Center for Diagnostic Imaging in 2016.
Research Contributions
In his current position at Integral Molecular, Francis Virtucio contributes to significant research efforts aimed at understanding and combating COVID-19. His work on the Virology team involves the production of COVID-19 Reporter Virus Particles, which are crucial for advancing research in virology and developing effective testing methods. His involvement in quality control and lab management further supports the integrity of the research conducted at Integral Molecular.