Radu

			Biological Physics Supramolecular Structures Lab Lösche/Heinrich Group
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			Radu Moldovan Contact: Carnegie Mellon University Department of Physics 5000 Forbes Ave Wean Hall room 6315 Pittsburgh, PA 15213 tel: 412-268-2729 cell: 412-320-1579 fax: 412-681-0648 email: rmoldova@cmu.edu Education Doctor of Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh (2006) Department of Physics and Astronomy, May 2006 Thesis: The interactions between lambda phage and its bacterial host This dissertation describes the adsorption of lambda phages onto their host cell experiment along with its kinetics model, which allows calculation of adsorption, desorption and irreversible binding rates from a single measurement. An elaborate study on population dynamics of E.coli-lambda phage systems is also part of the thesis. Bachelor of Science, University of Bucharest, Romania (1997) Department of Physics, June 1997 Interests Many believe that Biomimetic membranes are the best models for the biological cell membranes. Understanding of membrane interaction with proteins is an important element for finding cures to lethal diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson diseases. Knowledge of the virus infection mechanism along with the persistence to infection can lead to efficient means of drug delivery in the pharmaceutical industry. The arm race dynamics of interactive species along with understanding the mobility of microorganisms is of great importance for developing new ways of combating viral and bacterial diseases. Research Experience 2007-present Research Scientist, Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Physics: Constructing biomimetic membranes, characterizing their physical properties and studying their interactions with neurodegenerative disease causing peptides by using multi-photon and confocal microscopy, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and neutron techniques. Mentoring and supervising graduate students. 2006-2007 Postdoctoral Fellow, Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Physics: Building Prof. Loesche’s lab from scratch within Department of Physics at Carnegie Mellon University, which involved designing and assembling instrumentation (i.e. fluorescence correlation spectroscopy setup consisting of high power femtosecond laser and microscope, and also two custom-built Langmuir film trough). 1999-2005 Research Assistant, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Physics and Astronomy: Conceived and optimized experimental procedure and mathematical model to obtain the three constant rates: adsorption, desorption and irreversible binding rates in the multiple stage infection process of E.coli by lambda phages. Population dynamics mathematical modeling and experimental procedure optimization for the bacteria-phages system. Built an optical tweezers for studying swimming efficiency of individual bacterial cells. Teaching Experience 2006-2007 Course Assistant, Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Physics Introduction to Biological Physics (Course IDs: 33-441/03-439). 1999-2005 Teaching Assistant, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Physics and Astronomy Physics 0212 Introduction to Laboratory Physics: Experiments from many areas of physics. Physics 0219 Basic Laboratory Physics for Science and Engineering: Experiments from many areas of physics. Physics 0111 Introduction to Physics: An introduction to classical and modern physics. Physics 0175 Basic Physics for Science and Engineering: An introduction to classical and modern physics. Astronomy 0089 Stars, Galaxies and the Cosmos: An introduction to astronomy for non-physics major students. Publications P. Cizas, R. Budvytyte, R. Morkuniene, R.G. Moldovan, M. Broccio, M. Lösche, G. Niaura, G. Valincius, and V. Borutaite, “Size-dependent neurotoxicity of β-amyloid oligomers“, Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 496, 84-92 (2010) S. Shenoy, R.G. Moldovan, J. Fitzpatrick, D.J. Vanderah, M. Deserno, and M. Lösche, “In-plane homogeneity and lipid dynamics in tethered Bilayer Lipid Membranes (tBLMs)”, Softmatter 6, 1263-74 (2010) P. Cizas, R. Budvytyte, R. Morkuniene, R.G. Moldovan, M. Broccio, M. Lösche, G. Niaura, G. Valincius, and V. Borutaite, “Size-dependent neurotoxicity of β-amyloid oligomers”, in press Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics (2010) R.G. Moldovan and X.L. Wu, "On Population Heterogeneity and Coexistence of Bacteria and Phages", manuscript for submission to Physical Review Letters R.G. Moldovan, E. Chapman-McQuiston, and X.L. Wu, “On Kinetics of Phage Adsorption”, Biophysical Journal 93 (1), 303-15 (2007) S. Chattopadhyay, R.G. Moldovan, C. Yeung, and X.L. Wu, “Swimming efficiency of bacterium Escherichia coli“, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 103 (37), 13712-17 (2006) Presentations S. Shenoy, R.G. Moldovan, S. Rauhala, D. Vanderah, M. Lösche “Lipid diffusion in tethered bilayer lipid membranes (tBLM)” Biophysical Society Meeting, San Francisco, CA, US, February 2010 R.E. Redfern, S. Shenoy, R.G. Moldovan, F. Heinrich, M. Lösche, M.C. Daou, A.H. Ross, A. Gericke “The autism-related H93R PTEN mutant shows enhanced plasma membrane binding but reduced activity“ Biophysical Society Meeting, San Francisco, CA, US, February 2010 M. Broccio, R. Budvytyte, G. Valincius, R.G. Moldovan , M. Lösche “Tethered lipid bilayers that mimic neuronal membranes” Biophysical Society Meeting, San Francisco, CA, US, February 2010 R.G. Moldovan, S. Shenoy, P. Shekhar, A. Kalinowski, A. Gericke, F. Heinrich, and M. Lösche, “PTEN interaction with the tethered bilayer membranes containing PI(4,5)P2”, American Physical Society March Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, US, March 2009 S. Shenoy, R.G. Moldovan, M. Deserno, and M. Lösche, “Diffusion in Tethered Bilayer Lipid Membranes (tBLMs) as observed by z-scan FCS”, American Physical Society March Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, US, March 2009 Luxmi, R.G. Moldovan, and M. Loesche, “Fluorescence Microscopy for Membrane Studies”, Nanoscale Engineering of the Biointerface - Max Plank / NSF Graduate Research School, Playa del Aro, Spain, June 2007 S. Shenoy, R.G. Moldovan, and M. Loesche, “Two-Photon Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy for Membrane Study”, Nanoscale Engineering of the Biointerface - Max Plank / NSF Graduate Research School, Playa del Aro, Spain, June 2007 R.G. Moldovan and X.L. Wu, “Interaction between lambda phage and lamB membrane receptor”, Nanoscale Engineering of the Biointerface - Max Plank / NSF Graduate Research School, Playa del Aro, Spain, June 2007 R.G. Moldovan and X.L. Wu, “Is Bacteriophage Adsorption Anomalous?”, American Physical Society March Meeting, Montreal, Canada, March 2004 P. Grugan and R.G. Moldovan, “Adsorption rates for Ur lambda on Ymel”, Summer Research Symposium, Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences – Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, US, July 2004 Awards and Professional Affiliations Member of Biophysical Society since 2007. Member reviewer for IEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology since 2007. Member of American Physical Society since 2004. Recipient of Graduate Research Assistantship from University of Pittsburgh, 2001-2006. Recipient of the National Merit Scholarship for excellent performance throughout the undergraduate study at University of Bucharest, 1992-1997.		webpage http://www.cmu.edu/smsl/people/radu.html
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