Moses New-Aaron

My career began over a decade ago when I took a medical laboratory science job at the Clinical Laboratory Department of State Specialist Hospital, Ondo State, Nigeria. The job involved the analysis of human specimens for the purpose of diagnosis. 

While my major at the University was Chemical pathology, the job allowed me access to all aspects of diagnostic medicine. After one year of starting the job, I was transferred to the newly established molecular diagnostic laboratory. This laboratory was established by the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This laboratory was established as part of the global effort to monitor the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa where HIV is relatively endemic. Therefore, the laboratory was saddled with the basic responsibility of performing Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction on Cobas Ampliprep and TaqMan 48. The aim of this assay was for HIV detection and quantification in neonatal dried blood spots and maternal serum respectively.  

In addition to the assay performed, I was heavily involved in data entry and analysis. This would have been enough but the innate desire to contribute immensely to the field of virology got me to the next phase of my career.  My work at the molecular diagnostic did not only uncover the burden of HIV but it unveiled the role of data in understanding HIV epidemiology. So, I pursued a master’s degree in public health (Biostatistics) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). My time at UNMC as a master’s student engendered some research works focused on comorbidities among people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. I found liver disease and alcohol were among the important determinants of quality of life among HIV-infected individuals. Hence, this informed my next step of enrolling for a doctorate degree in Toxicology at UNMC. 

Since I was interested in exploring a laboratory-based Ph.D., I worked briefly in the hematopathology laboratory of Nebraska Medicine where I honed my laboratory skills after years of departing from the laboratory. 

My current doctoral degree which is funded by the National Institute of Health predoctoral fellowship (NIH F31) is focused on exploring the hepatotoxic effects of HIV and alcohol. 

To answer my research questions, I currently use in vitro and in vivo study designs. I have gained several molecular skills which include gel preparation, immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, SDS-PAGE, mammalian cell culture, Western Blot polymerase chain reaction, image analysis, flow cytometry, RNA isolation, enzyme activity assay, ELISA, transfection technique, basic molecular techniques, and mice manipulation to study the human virus. 

I recently became an Adjunct Professor of public health at Stetson University, where I teach public health. I am also a lead pastor of Winners Chapel International. In my free time, I enjoy watching movies with my wife who is also a scientist. 

08/2021-Till date, Adjunct Professor in Public Health Program, Stetson University, DeLand, Florida 

• Teaching college-level public health 

01/2019- Till date, Graduate Research Assistant, Research Services Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Omaha, NE.                                                                                  

• Working under minimal supervision on the hepatotoxic effects of both HIV and alcohol on hepatocytes using in vitro and in vivo study designs
• Providing statistical support for my team and experimental designs
• Preparing manuscripts for publication 
• Presenting experimental outcomes in scientific meetings 
• Providing technical and statistical support during NIH grant applications

05/2016 to 12/2018     Research Assistant, School of Natural Resources, UNL, Lincoln, NE

• Data analysis and presentation of results
• Designed experimental studies 
• Prepared manuscripts
• Presented at conferences

09/2018 to 12/2018              Teaching Assistant and Data Analyst, Department of Biostatistics, UNMC, Omaha, NE

• Taught graduate-level statistics Biostatistics (BIOS1), grading and providing guidance for student projects
• Analyzing the United State Renal Data System (USRDS)

02/2018 to 08/2018   Medical Laboratory Scientist, Department of Hematopathology, Nebraska Medicine, Omaha, NE

• Assisted physicians to make bone marrow slides by the patient’s bedside during bone marrow collection.
• Processed bone marrow samples for microscopy 
• Stained bone marrow slides for microscopy
• Performed peripheral and bone marrow morphology study and differential count
• Analyzed bone marrow specimens by flow cytometry

08/2016 to 12/2017 Graduate Research Assistant, Primary Care Clinics, Nebraska Medicine, Omaha NE

• Assisted the practice transformation advisor in transforming the practice into a Patient-Centered Medical Home
• Collected and prepared data for NCQA credentialing of the 14 Primary Care Clinics in Nebraska Medicine.
• Helped with the implementation of programs for practice transformation in the 14 Primary Care Clinics to improve patients’ experience.
• Helped with Obtaining NCQA PCMH 2014 level 3 Recognition for Nebraska Medicine
• Analyzed and presented data reports for NCQA accreditation purposes

05/2016 to 08/2016   Temporary Data analyst and Manager, Department of Biostatistics, UNMC, Omaha, NE

• Suggested how to develop and implement a data collection system and other strategies that optimized statistical efficiency and data quality.
• Developed datasets by data entry from the data sheets into excel spreadsheets and SPSS.
• Identified, analyzed 20+ years of database, and interpreted trends or patterns in results.
• Analyzed data and reported results of poster presentation.
• Presented research outcomes at national conferences.

02/2016 to 12/2017   Tutor, Department of Biostatistics, UNMC, Omaha, NE

• Coached students in the biostatistics program in areas of their academic difficulty

05/2016 to 12/2017   Data analyst, Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, UNMC, Omaha, NE

• Analyzed 5+ years’ worth of Media Monitoring database of agricultural injuries in the Midwest States
• Presented research outcomes at State conferences
• Wrote of Manuscript on Agricultural injuries and fatalities in the Midwest

03/2014 to 12/2014 Adjunct Faculty, School of Health Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria 

• Taught clinical biochemistry and chemical pathology to second-year students
• Supervised Board Exams 
• Graded students 
• Organized practical classes 

03/2014 to 12/2015 Equipment Officer, Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, State Specialist Hospital, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria 

• Handled molecular diagnostic equipment (Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Ampliprep and Taqman 48)
• Conducted viral DNA/RNA assay runs
• Results entry and correspondence with CDC on the data generated

12/2012 to 12/2013 Medical Laboratory Intern, Virology Department, State Specialist Hospital, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

Laboratory Rotations in the following units: Clinical Chemistry, Hematology, Blood Transfusion Science, Histopathology, and Medical Microbiology