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

AWARDS:

1) Poster Award.
Spring Research Festival 2008, NCI-Frederick, Frederick, MD.
Kasprzak, W., Bindewald, E., and Shapiro, B.A.:
"Characterization of Building Blocks for RNA-based Nanostructure Design"

2) Publication Award.
Winner of 2007 STFC Publication Competition for the category of Information & Communications Technology (SAIC-wide competition).
(RNA Junction database paper: see Publications)

3) Poster Award.
Spring Research Festival 2007, NCI-Frederick, Frederick, MD.
Kasprzak, W., Linstaedt, S.D., Casey, J.L., and Shapiro, B.A.:
"Determination of Hepatitis Delta Virus Type III Functional Conformations."

4) Poster Award.
Spring Research Festival 2005, NCI-Frederick, Frederick, MD.
Kasprzak, W., Bindewald, E., and Shapiro, B.A.:
"Computational Exploration of the Structural Polymorphism of the HIV-1 Leader Region."

5) First Place Poster prize.
SAIC's Basic Research Program (BRP) Retreat 2003, St. Michaels, MD.
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."

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

SKILLS:

Platforms: SGI and SUN workstations, PCs, SGI and Other Linux clusters MIMD platforms, (Past experience: CRAY supercomputers, CONVEX mini-supercomputer, MasPar SIMD massively parallel machine, VAX mainframes, PDP11 mainframe)

Operating Systems: UNIX/Linux, MS Windows, Apple OS

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

Scientific Software:GCG package, Clustal sequence alignment, RNAmot sequence and structure alignment, Genetic Algorithm for RNA secondary structure prediction MPGAfold, MFOLD/RNAstructure/Vienna Package - as well as other RNA/DNA secondary structure prediction packages, Amber Molecular Dynamics package, RNA2D3D, Accelrys Discovery Studio, UCSF Chimera, PyMOL, RasMol and Midas - 3D RNA modeling and visualization software

Other: GNU Emacs environment, MS Office, WordPerfect, Latex

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

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Science Applications International Corporation, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., Frederick, MD.
Basic Research Program (SAIC-Frederick, Inc., 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 Centers for Cancer Research Nanobiology Program (CCRNP) (and previously the Laboratory of Experimental and Computational Biology) at the National Cancer Institute in Frederick, Maryland.

Assisting in research projects with local and remote collaborators, with the emphasis on the multiple alternative functional structures of RNA sequences (such as the Hepatitis Delta Virus Type III). Performing 2D to 3D RNA modeling and analysis of stability of the 3D structures utilizing Molecular Dynamics approach, with the ultimate goal of designing RNA nanoparticles with predictable characteristics. Co-authoring publications and preparing presentations, posters and system demos featuring software and research projects. (see Publications)

Developing new methodology for RNA secondary structure data visualization, phylogenetic analysis, and common structural motif elucidation.
Working on an integrated RNA structure analysis workbench called StructureLab; a message passing, client-server architecture, taking advantage of the heterogeneous LAN environment, including Unix and Linux workstations and servers, as well as mainframe multiprocessor machines (in the past also MasPar MP-2 massively parallel SIMD computer and VAX mainframes (VMS OS), phased out of use.)
Constantly expanding and adjusting the system configuration to the changing hardware environment and available remote applications.
Exploring use of an object-oriented database system as part of the system.

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.
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 (now ABCC) 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.)

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

REFERENCES: Available upon request

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

PUBLICATIONS

Last revision date: 2008/06/23