APPOINTMENTS

August 2004-present. Research Scientist.

Insect Pathology Laboratory, Department of Entomology & Nematology, University of Florida.

· Molecular biology research on insect pathogens

July 2001-June 2004. Molecular Biologist .

Molecular Biology laboratory, Entomology Department, Purdue University.

· Caste- and development-associated gene expression in a lower termite.

· Characterized two flavin-containing monooxygenases in Drosophila.

June 2000-May 2001. Molecular Biologist (1/2 time).

Molecular genetics laboratory, Entomology Department, New York State Agriculture Experimental Station, Cornell University.

· Cloned and sequenced nine chloride channel genes from Drosophila.

June 2000-May 2001. Research Scientist in Plant Transformation (1/2 time) .

Sanford Scientific Inc. (a Subsidiary of Scotts Co.), Waterloo, NY.

· Plasmid construction and development of transgenic flowers.

November 1997-June 2000. Molecular Biology Research Technician.

Biological Science Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

· Molecular basis of epigenetic transcriptional silencing in eukaryotic organisms.

August 1995-November 1997. Graduate Research Assistant.

Department of Entomology, Purdue University

· Conducted toxicological and biochemical studies of insecticide resistance in insects.

July 1990-August 1995. Laboratory Technician .

Toxicology Laboratory, Entomology Department, Purdue University.

· Studies of the inhibition of insect cytochrome P450 detoxification enzymes.

· Studies of amino acid transport across insect brush border membranes.

May 1983-May 1989. Research Scientist and Research Virologist.

National Vaccine and Serum Institute, Beijing, China.

· Conducted biochemical and molecular research in support of hepatitis B virus vaccine development program.

SKILLS and WORKING EXPERIENCE

DNA and RNA isolation, plasmid DNA isolation, determination of DNA concentration, agarose gel electrophoresis, restriction endonuclease analysis, ligation, gene cloning, PCR, RT-PCR, real-time PCR, probe labeling and hybridization, library screening, cDNA library construction, plasmid construction, southern and northern blotting, DNA sequence analyses, primer design and synthesis, data base searching and bioinformatics.

Recombinant protein expression, protein purification, protein extraction and solubilization, protein concentration determination, SDS-PAGE and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, enzyme activity analyses, spectrophotometry, western blotting, buffer preparation.

Excel, Microsoft word, Powerpoint, Sigmaplot, DNA and protein data analyses using public domain (internet-based) or commercial software.

PUBLICATIONS (in USA)

Effects of Juvenile Hormone III on Reticulitermes flavipes: Changes in Hemolymph Protein Composition and Gene Expression. Insect biochem. Mol. Biol. In press. Michael E Scharf, Dancia Wu-Scharf, Catina Radavich, Barry R Pittendrigh, and Gary W Bennett.

Gene expression profiles among immature and adult reproductive castes of the termite Reticulitermes flavipes. Insect Molecular biology. (2004) 13(6). Michael E Scharf, Dancia Wu-Scharf, Xuguo Zhou, Barry R Pittendrigh, and Gary W Bennett.

Caste and development-associated gene expression in a lower termite. Genome Biology, (2003) 4:R62 (http://genomebiology.com/2003/4/10/R62). Michael E Scharf, Dancia Wu-Scharf, Barry R Pittendrigh, and Gary W Bennett.

Expressed Sequence Tags from a Polyphenic Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) cDNA Library. Sociobiology, (2003) 41, No.2, 479-489. Dancia Wu-Scharf, Michael E Scharf, Barry R Pittendrigh, and Gary W Bennett.

Catalytic Activity and Expression of Two Flavin-Containing Monooxygenases from Drosophila melanogaster. Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology . (2004) 57:28-29. Michael E. Scharf, Dancia Wu-Scharf, Gary W Bennet, Barry R Pittendrigh.

Transgene and Transposon Silencing in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by a DEAH-box RNA helicase. Science, (2000) 290, November 10th, 1159-1162. Dancia Wu-Scharf, Byeong –Ryool Jeong, Chaomei Zhang, and Heriberto Cerutti.

Suppressors of transgene silencing in Chlamydomonas are sensitive to DNA damaging agents and reactivate transposable element. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (2002) 99, January 22^nd, 1076-1081 Byeong-ryool Jeong, Dancia Wu-Scharf, Chaomei Zhang and Heriberto Cerutti.

A WD40-repeat containing protein, similar to a fungal co-repressor, is required for transcriptional gene silencing in Chlamydomonas. Plant Journal (2002) 3, 25-36. Chaomei Zhang, Dancia Wu-Scharf, Byong-Ryool Jeong and Heriberto Cerutti.

Mechanisms of Fenvalerate Resistance in the German Cockroach, Blattella germanica. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology. (1998) 61, 53-62. D. Wu, M. E. Scharf, J. J. Neal, D. R. Suiter, G. W. Bennett.

High Affinity Transport of Histidine and Methionine Across Leptinotarsa decemlineata Midgut Brush Border Membrane. Insect Physiol. (1995) 42, 329-335. J. J. Neal, D. Wu, Y. S. Hong, M. Reuveni.

Inhibition of Insect Cytochromes P450 by Furanocoumarins. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology (1994) 50, 43-50. J.J. Neal and D. Wu.