EDUCATION:

1994 Master of Science degree in Computer Science,
The Johns Hopkins University, Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21218.

1989 Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering,
University of Maryland at College Park, College Park, MD 20742.

Additional Courses:

1994  The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD  Design and Analysis of Algorithms
1991  Hood College, Frederick, MD                  Systems Analysis
1991  FAES Graduate School, NIH, Bethesda, MD      Concepts in Object-Oriented Programming
                                                   Programming in C Language

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Science Applications International Corporation, SAIC-Frederick, Frederick, MD.
Basic Research Program (SAIC, BRP from March 1997 to present) and
National Cancer Institute's Advanced Biomedical Computing Center ( ABCC from August 1996 to March 1997)

(Scientific Applications) Analyst, Programmer

Supporting the Laboratory of Experimental and Computational Biology (NCI, LECB).
Assisting in research projects with local and remote collaborators.
Preparing system demos, presentations, and co-authoring publications and posters describing STRUCTURELAB and research projects utilizing its tools. (see Publications)

Working on an integrated RNA structure analysis workbench called STRUCTURELAB; a message passing, client-server architecture, taking advantage of the heterogeneous LAN environment, including SGI, SUN, Alpha (Unix), and PC/Linux workstations and servers, as well as mainframe machines, such as multiprocessor CRAYs and SGI Origins. (Included MasPar MP-2 massively parallel SIMD computer and VAX mainframes (VMS OS), which have been phased out of use.)
Constantly expanding and adjusting the system configuration to the changing ABCC hardware and available remote applications.
Working on a STRUCTURELAB Web server using a generic (platform- independent) Internet interface to be available to the scientific community at large (a minor Java-based project).
Exploring use of an object-oriented database system as part of the system.

Developing new methodology for RNA secondary structure data visualization, phylogenetic analysis, and common structural motif elucidation.
Analyzing user needs for new tools and desired interfaces, interacting with other automation professionals to best incorporate existing software into the system, and programming the solutions.
Serving user base and maintaining and debugging the system on a variety of platforms at the ABCC (SGI, SUN, Alpha, and PC/Linux).
Training students in use of the system and supervising their work on research projects.

Science Applications International Corporation, Frederick, MD.
National Cancer Institute's Biomedical Supercomputing Center
(August 1992 - August 1996)

Jr. Scientific Applications Analyst.

Worked on restructuring the RNA analysis workbench for use on any internally redefinable LAN and invocation from a World Wide Web front page under Unix OS environment. Worked on design, implementation, and performance optimization of new STRUCTURELAB modules, and developing Graphical User Interface. Assisted users of STRUCTURELAB and expanded the system to meet their needs. Assisted in research collaborations. Prepared system demos and presentations. Responsible for installing, upgrading, and tuning the Allegro Common Lisp development environment. Maintained the RNA research software system versions on SUN Sparc and SGI platforms.

DynCorp/Program Resources Inc., Frederick, MD
National Cancer Institute's Biomedical Supercomputing Center
(August 1990 - August 1992)

Research Associate.

Worked on an inter-system (UNIX-UNIX, UNIX-VMS) communications software module for the SUN/UNIX-based RNA structure analysis software utilizing heterogeneous computing environment of the FBSC network of machines and the NIH's computing center in Bethesda, MD. (DCRT). Development done in the Common Lisp environment (Lucid and Allegro CL).

Program Resources Inc., Frederick, MD.
National Cancer Institute's Biomedical Supercomputing Center
(1987 - 1989, summer full-time, part-time during the school year.)

Laboratory Assistant.

Developed inter-computer communications system consisting of a device driver module and the user interface for a PDP11/44 mainframe and two COMTAL image processors (in Fortran). Provided assistance to COMTAL users. Installed and debugged Ethernet software on the PDP-11 node. Maintained, and upgraded the RSX operating system on the PDP-11. (1987 - 1989, summer full-time, part-time during the school year.)

SKILLS:

Platforms: SUN, SGI, Alpha workstations, PCs, CRAY supercomputers, SGI MIMD platforms, CONVEX mini-supercomputer, MasPar SIMD massively parallel machine, VAX mainframes, PDP11 mainframe

Operating Systems: UNIX, Linux, Win9x and newer, NT, DOS, VMS, RSX

Programming Languages: Lisp and its development environment, C++, C, Fortran, BASIC, PASCAL, Unix shell scripts, awk, HTML, Java (limited)

Scientific Software:GCG package, Genetic Algorithm for RNA secondary structure prediction, MFOLD/RNAstructure RNA/DNA secondary structure prediction packages, MPSRCH - Massively Parallel Sequence search on MasPar, Clustalw sequence alignment, RNAmot sequence and structure alignment, RNA_2D3D, RasMol and Midas visualization software

Word Processors: GNU Emacs, MS Word, WordPerfect, Latex

Databases: SQL (Sybase, dBASEIV), AllegroStore - an Object-Oriented Database System

AWARDS:

1) First Place Poster prize.
SAIC's Basic Research Program (BRP) Retreat 2003, St. Michaels, MD., May 11-13, 2003.
Kasprzak, W., and Shapiro, B.A.: "Alternate Conformations of the HIV-1 Dimer Initiation Site Explored by the Massively Parallel Genetic Algorithm and the Structurelab Computer Workbench."

2) SAIC's Science Achievement Award, December 2000.

PERSONAL: Born May 19, 1964. U.S. citizen.

REFERENCES: Available upon request

OTHER INTERESTS: SCUBA, Tennis, Photography, and Composing Music.

PUBLICATIONS:

Last revision date: 2003/8/27