Yara Radi Al Tall
Phone:
(+962)2-7201000 Ext: 23535
Address: P.O.Box: 3030
Department of Pharmaceutical
Technology
Jordan University of Science and
Technology
Irbid 22110,Jordan
Email: yraltall@just.edu.jo
Personal Information
Date of Birth: 14/04/1979
Gender: Female
Nationality: Jordanian
Work Experience
Assistant professor
02/2011-present
Jordan University of Science and Technology
Irbid – Jordan
Part time lecturer
02/2005- 07/2005
Jordan University of Science and Technology
Irbid – Jordan
Worked closely with senior lecturers to convene and deliver lectures to undergraduate students at
different levels.
Medical Representative
01/2003 – 09/2003 Advanced Pharmaceutical Industries Co. Ltd
Amman – Jordan
This professional experience allowed me to gain some expertise in working with team as well as
communicating with different levels of people.
Other Experience
Replacement Tutor at Broadgate Park Hall of Residence
01/2006- 08/2009
the University of Nottingham - Nottingham
Worked closely with the Broadgate Warden and the other tutors where we looked after the
welfare and the discipline of the students.
Education
09/2005-09/2010
the Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology department – the School
of Pharmacy – the University of Nottingham - Nottingham – UK
PhD pharmacy
Thesis title: Structural Studies on a Novel Bacterial Nitroreductase: Activating the Anti-Cancer
Prodrug CB1954.
My studies centered on the Protein Biochemistry and Protein Crystallography. The protein I
studied was an anti-cancer activating enzyme. It is a novel bacterial nitroreductase that has an
improved activity against an anti-cancer prodrug called CB1954. The aim of my PhD was to
solve the structure of this novel protein using X-ray crystallography and investigate the structurefunction relationship in order to be able to use it efficiently in targeted therapy and future cancer
research. I succeeded to determine the structure of two complexes of this protein and investigated
the structural differences upon binding with different ligands. In addition, I did structural analysis
for homologous enzymes and performed a comprehensive study for the differences and the
similarities with this novel protein. During my PhD, I did a lot of work on protein expression,
purification (using affinity chromatography), analysis (using SDS-polyacrylamide gel
electrophoresis) and handling (dialysis, concentration, storage etc). I have also gained a wide
experience in protein crystallography techniques; protein crystallization, protein-ligand
crystallization (soaking and co-crystallization), data collection using Synchrotrons (such as
Diamond Light Source-Oxford/UK, Soleil Synchrotron-Paris/France), data processing (using
CCP4 software), determination of the structures (using MR, NCS averaging, solvent flattening
etc), interpretation of the models, model refinement and validation. In addition, I am
supplemented with skills in mass spectroscopy and NMR spectroscopy as I used them to study
the stability and the purity of my substances.
09/2003 –09/2004
Kingston University – Surrey – UK
MSc Pharmaceutical Analysis (ranked second in the year)
Thesis title: Quantification of Cisplatin-Albumin Conjugates using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES)
This course gave me a wide and a specialized knowledge in the analytical techniques used to
detect, identify and quantitatively determine drugs and related substances.
My master project aimed to bind cisplatin to albumin to be quantified or measured by Inductively
Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES). A Cisplatin-albumin conjugate is a
new approach in anti-cancer drug delivery in order to inject it intra-tumourally depending upon
the Enhanced Permeability and Retention Effect (EPR effect). The aim was to validate
sophisticated ICP-AES methods to determine cisplatin-albumin conjugates in
biological/mammalian tissues.
09/1997 – 06/2002
BSc. Pharmacy
Jordan University of Science and Technology – Irbid – Jordan
Professional Scientific Activities
14-21, Sep 2008
EMBO practical course on X-ray crystal structure determination– Soleil
Synchrotron near Paris – France
This prestigious course provided intensive detailed studies on various aspects on X-ray
crystallography. The lectures focused on the theory behind crystallography starting from protein
purification and crystallization, data collection and diffraction, model refinement using REFMAC
and PHENIX and finally validation of the data. All these lectures were associated with strong
practical courses.
3-5, Jan 2008
CCP4 Study Weekend on Low Resolution Structure Determination and
Validation – Leeds University, UK
The course included sessions on how to deal with low resolution data, and introduced a
comprehensive discussion on the importance of validation at any resolution in general and low
resolution in particular.
6-7, Jan 2006
CCP4 Crystallography Study Weekend on Crystallography of Complexes –
Leeds – UK
The course covered a wide range of topics associated with structural studies of complexes
between proteins, proteins and nucleic acids and proteins and small molecules.
Grants and Scholarships
14-21, Sep 2008
EMBO practical course on X-ray crystal structure determination– Soleil
Synchrotron near Paris – France
2005-2008
The Arab - British Chamber Charitable Foundation Bursary of 1500 pounds/year
2005-2008
50% fees Scholarship from the international office at the University of Nottingham.
Courses
26, Apr and 1, May 2007
the University of Nottingham – Nottingham – UK
How to prepare an effective poster presentation.
3-4, Apr 2006
the University of Nottingham – Nottingham – UK
Skills of spoken and written communication.
22-23, Nov 2005
the University of Nottingham – Nottingham – UK
Computing and molecular biology
29-31, Jul 2003
Future Intl.Group – Amman – Jordan
Communication Skills Workshop.
16-21, Nov 2002
Jordan Pharmaceutical Association – Amman – Jordan.
Applied Pharmaceutical Marketing Seminar.
15-19, May 2001
Yarmouk University – Irbid – Jordan.
Pharmaceutical marketing skills: twelve hours course.
Other Relevant Skills
Excellent skills in using Microsoft Office Word, Excel, Power-point, Adobe software; Linux,
UNIX.
Languages
Arabic: Native language
English: Excellent written and spoken English