Natasha Hardcastle

Accomplished biomedical chemistry researcher with background is in bioengineering with therapeutic applications. Extensive experience in the women‘s health arena exploring endometriosis, triple negative breast cancer, hormones and neuronal interactions. I have a broad and robust range of skills including confocal imaging and analysis, conducting studies in vitro and in vivo with a Doctorate that explored the generation of fusion proteins and their purification to target biomarkers for triple negative breast cancer.

I have spent over a year as part of the Griffith group exploring controlling concentrations of sex hormones in cell culture models of endometriosis for the integration of tissue Engineering and systems Biology. I have contributed towards the development of the “Human Physiome on a Chip”, focusing on endometriosis in the reproductive system. I have experience with basic lab assays such as RNA isolation, limited RNAseq experience, flow cytometry, cell sorting and tissue culture with some organoid experience in addition to being familiar with the 3D hydrogel models for disease and some microfluidic device experience. 

I’ve gained skills in research, teamwork, and problem solving all. As a part of the lab, I collaborated closely with graduate students, technicians, to discuss project directions and goals. By presenting in a lab, data, and subgroup meetings I have learned to effectively communicate at a scientific level. 

I have great technical abilities, as PhD candidate at the Health Science Faculty of the University of Cape Town exploring triple negative breast cancer, I have great background knowledge of cancer biology and chemistry in addition to extensive research experience. I explored targeting several cancer biomarkers using fusion proteins and SNAP-tag labels with multiplex confocal imaging analysis.