Dr. Hassan Kanso

2019 — 2023

Protein Biochemistry & Molecular Biology: Engineered bioactive self-assembled protein nanosheets for stem cell biotechnologies. Developed high-yield recombinant protein pipelines in E. coli & P. pastoris achieving >75 mg/batch with >95% purity through systematic optimization.
Advanced Biophysical Characterization: Conducted comprehensive analysis using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), ELISA development, interfacial shear rheology, and mass spectrometry. Applied AlphaFold 2 modeling for structural assessment of 12 chimeric proteins.
Stem Cell & Organoid Culture: Maintained 4+ years contamination-free track record with human iPSCs, MSCs, and fibroblasts. Engineered cerebral organoids with biofunctionalized microdroplets for enhanced neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Biointerface Engineering: Developed nanoscale protein-stabilized emulsions using biotinylated BSA at oil-water interfaces. Created bioactive microdroplet platforms serving as informative scaffolds within cerebral organoids.
Computational Biology: Developed automated image analysis pipelines reducing processing time by 60%. Built high-throughput imaging and analysis systems using PyImageJ and MATLAB for quantitative organoid analysis.

2016 — Present

Undergraduate Demonstrator @ QMUL: Provided in-laboratory instruction in molecular biology and biochemistry modules, guiding students through recombinant protein expression, enzyme kinetics, chromatographic methods, and cell culture protocols.
A-Level Chemistry & Biology Tutor: Delivered targeted tutoring for Edexcel, AQA, OCR, and Cambridge International examinations. Helped students surpass predicted grades with several securing places at Russell Group universities.
Remote E-Teacher @ Cambridge International Biology: Delivered structured online A-Level Biology instruction to underprivileged international students (2024-2025), achieving average two-grade-level improvements over six-month programme.
Mentorship: Established structured mentorship programs for graduate and undergraduate researchers, conducting regular training sessions on advanced laboratory techniques and data analysis.

2021 — Present

Laboratory Toolkit Development (2025): Built cross-platform all-in-one lab application integrating 10+ interactive scientific tools including primer designer, buffer/pH calculator, serial dilution planners, and plasmid visualization. Integrated Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) system with rich text editing and OCR capabilities.
Automated Image Analysis Pipelines: Developed high-throughput analysis pipelines using PyImageJ for fluorescent and confocal microscopy images. Implemented cell/nuclei segmentation and phenotypic quantification workflows for cerebral organoid datasets.
Data Processing & Visualization: Created MATLAB-based pipelines for interfacial rheology data analysis with batch processing capabilities. Built automated kinetic data fitting workflows for SPR analysis and rheological property extraction.
Programming Expertise: Python for data science, AI development, and laboratory automation. Flutter/Dart for cross-platform laboratory applications. Applied computational modeling during pandemic restrictions to maintain project momentum.

2019 — Present

Molecular Biology & Protein Biochemistry: Plasmid design, molecular cloning, recombinant protein expression in E. coli & P. pastoris, chromatographic purification using ÄKTA Pure systems, SDS-PAGE, Western blot, and circular dichroism spectroscopy.
Advanced Analytical Techniques: Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), ELISA development, interfacial shear rheology, mass spectrometry, and enzymatic assays. Expertise in protein-ligand interaction kinetics and biophysical characterization.
Stem Cell & Organoid Culture: Human iPSC, MSC, and fibroblast culture with 4+ years contamination-free record. Cerebral organoid generation, 3D culture systems, cryosectioning, and immunohistochemistry (SOX2, PAX6, TUJ1, FOXG1, N-cadherin, E-cadherin, Ki67).
Microscopy & Imaging: Confocal microscopy (CSU-W1 SoRa), SEM/TEM, time-lapse live-cell imaging, and high-throughput quantitative image analysis using ImageJ/Fiji, PyImageJ, and custom Python/MATLAB pipelines.
Computational & Data Analysis: PyMOL for protein structure visualization, SnapGene for molecular cloning, OriginPro for statistical analysis, AlphaFold 2 modeling, and automated data processing workflows for kinetic modeling and batch analysis.

2019 — Present

Team Leadership: Led interdisciplinary research teams spanning molecular biology, materials science, and stem cell biology. Established structured mentorship programs and conducted regular training sessions for junior researchers.
Scientific Collaboration: Collaborated with specialists in mass spectrometry (Dr. Roberto Buccafusca) and advanced microscopy (Giulia Mastroianni) for comprehensive method validation. Coordinated joint research activities across disciplines.
Technical Communication: Communicated complex technical concepts to diverse audiences across academic and industry settings. Delivered scientific presentations covering protein-ligand interactions, structural analysis, and stem cell differentiation studies.
Publications & Impact: Co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications on protein nanosheets and stem cell culture systems. Authored comprehensive SOPs, technical documentation, and research reports suitable for peer-reviewed publication standards.

/about me