Mike Staake


7310 Calle Granada, Anaheim, CA 92808                                                  Phone: (714) 974-0994

E-mail: mikestaake@adelphia.net

 

 

OBJECTIVE

Research Scientist position in the biotech or pharmaceutical industry

 

SUMMARY

  • Experience in complex, multi-step and asymmetric synthesis of organic compounds, including biologically active antitumor compounds

 

  • Developed two tumor-selective peptide conjugate prodrugs

 

  • Proficient in the use of NMR, IR, UV-VIS, HPLC, GC and x-ray crystallography for compound characterization.

 

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry; University of California, San Diego 2004

M.S. in Organic Chemistry; University of California, San Diego 2001; GPA 3.8
B.S. in Chemistry;
Westmont College; 1998; GPA 3.8

 

Specialization: Synthetic Organic Chemistry

Dissertation Title: Total Asymmetric Synthesis of Irofulven and Peptide Conjugate Prodrugs of Irofulven

Dissertation Advisor: Trevor C. McMorris

 

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Tutor of Undergraduate Students at UC Irvine, 11/2005 – Present

  • Tutored undergraduate students in the subjects of general chemistry and organic chemistry

 

Research Assistant at UC San Diego, 2/2000 – 6/2004

  • Developed a new 11-step asymmetric total synthesis of the anticancer drug Irofulven, utilizing a rhodium catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction to construct the tricyclic core of the molecule

 

  • Discovered a simple 2-step technique to resolve the enantiomers of a cyclopentenone required to have the desired enantiomerically pure starting material for the 11-step Irofulven total synthesis

 

  • Synthesized a number of biologically active analogs of Irofulven, including:

- Two peptide conjugate prodrugs that demonstrated good activity and selectivity against prostate tumor cells in vitro and in vivo

- A hydroxyurea derivivative with high antitumor activity in vivo and in vitro against MV522 lung cancer cells

 

  • Developed a novel method for the preparation of Boc-protected amines directly from alkyl azides using the Staudinger ligation method

 

Research Associate at Metroline Industries (now PVA TePla), 6/1998 – 8/1999

  • Increased adhesion of various adhesives to common polymeric materials through radio frequency plasma surface modification

 

  • Improved the biocompatibility of polymeric materials through plasma surface modification

 

  • Analyzed the surface chemistry of plasma-modified polymeric samples using the XPS/ESCA instrument

 

  • Analyzed gas byproducts produced during the plasma modification of polymer surfaces using a mass spectrometer

 

Research Assistant at Westmont College, 7/1997 – 5/1998

  • Utilized a cyclopentadienyl-iron catalyst to prepare 2-methylbenzofurans from aryl propargyl ethers

 

PUBLICATIONS

Hydroxyurea Deriviatives of Irofulven with High Antitumor Activity”; Trevor C. McMorris, Michael D. Staake, A. Kashinatham, Michael J. Kelner; in progress.

“Synthesis and Biological Activity of Enantiomers of Antitumor Irofulven”; Trevor C. McMorris, Michael D. Staake, Michael J. Kelner; Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2004; 69(3); 619-623.

“Resolution of Both Enantiomers of 5-Chloro-5-methyl-2-cyclopentenone"; Trevor C. McMorris, Michael D. Staake; Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2002; 67(22); 7902-7903.

 

PRESENTATIONS

“Synthesis and Biological Activity of Enantiomers of Antitumor Irofulven”; Trevor C. McMorris, Michael D. Staake, Michael J. Kelner; American Chemical Society-Western Region Conference, Long Beach, CA, 2003.

“Resolution of Both Enantiomers of 5-Chloro-5-methyl-2-cyclopentenone"; Trevor C. McMorris, Michael D. Staake; IUPAC Conference on Physical Organic Chemistry, San Diego, CA, 2002.

 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION

Member of American Chemical Society

 

interests

Skiing, Mountain Biking, Golf