Oscar Negrete
About Oscar Negrete
Oscar Negrete is a Principal Member of Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories, specializing in viral entry mechanisms and therapeutic development for Nipah and Rift Valley fever viruses.
Title and Role at Sandia National Laboratories
Oscar Negrete serves as the Principal Member of Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories, a position he has held since 2018. Located in Livermore, California, his role involves leading advanced research initiatives and contributing to scientific advancements in the area of virology and viral entry mechanisms.
Previous Roles at Sandia National Laboratories
Prior to his current position, Oscar Negrete was the Senior Member of the Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories from 2013 to 2018. He initially joined Sandia in 2008 as a Post Doc, where he spent five years focusing on virology research. His cumulative experience at Sandia spans multiple roles over a decade, contributing significantly to the institution's research output.
Educational Background in Microbiology
Oscar Negrete earned his Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he studied from 2002 to 2007. He also holds a Bachelor's degree in Microbiology from UCLA, which he completed between 1994 and 1999. His academic background has provided a solid foundation for his research career in virology.
Discoveries and Research Focus
Oscar Negrete has made significant contributions to virology, including the discovery of cell receptors required for Nipah virus entry into cells. His research aims to identify new determinants of viral entry for Nipah virus and Rift Valley fever virus. He employs genome-wide RNA interference screening to discover novel host factors and pathways critical to viral entry mechanisms.
Research Techniques and Contributions
Oscar Negrete utilizes a wide range of techniques, including biochemical, cellular, molecular biology, and immunological methods to study membrane fusion and entry mechanisms of viruses. His research supports the development of new therapeutics, vaccines, and diagnostics for diseases like Nipah virus and Rift Valley fever virus. His work has been funded by Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) grants.