JAMES A. VAN DEVENTER
EDUCATION
2004-2011
2000-2004
California Institute of Technology, M.S., Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering
• Ph.D. thesis title: “Biophysics and protein engineering with noncanonical amino acids.”
Advisor: David A. Tirrell
Stanford University, B.S. in Chemical Engineering with distinction
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2015Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University
• Combining biomolecular engineering and chemical biology to discover new classes of
therapeutics
• Targeting and disrupting enzymatic and signaling processes within the tumor
microenvironment
2011-2015
Postdoctoral Fellow, K. Dane Wittrup Laboratory, The David H. Koch Institute for Integrative
Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Developed anti-cancer therapies based on targeting cancer-associated fibroblasts and
investigated their activities in mouse models of cancer
• Integrated diverse chemical functionality with yeast surface display for the development
of therapeutics
2004-2011
Research Assistant, David A. Tirrell Laboratory, Chemical Engineering, California Institute of
Technology
• Engineered antibody fragments with noncanonical amino acids using flow cytometry and
click chemistry
• Investigated protein-protein and protein-water interactions using hydrophobic and
fluorinated noncanonical amino acids
• Investigated the editing activity of wild-type and mutant leucyl-tRNA synthetases
2002-2004
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Stacey F. Bent Laboratory, Chemical Engineering,
Stanford University
• Researched the organic functionalization of semiconductor surfaces
2003
Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Participant, Agilent Labs, Palo Alto, CA
• Investigated surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) as a potential sensing
technology to enhance DNA array sensitivity and enable rapid detection of biological and
chemical hazards
AWARDS
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• National Institutes of Health Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award
(7/1/12-6/30/15)
• Ludwig Foundation for Cancer Research Postdoctoral Fellowship (1/1/12-6/30/12)
• Future Faculty Workshop Participant, Northeast Bioengineering Conference (NEBEC;
2014)
California Institute of Technology
• National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship
• Keystone Symposia Scholarship
• The Protein Society Young Investigator Travel Grant
• Dow Chemical Company Travel Fellowship
Stanford University
• The Dean’s Award for Academic Accomplishment
• Frederick Emmons Terman Engineering Scholastic Award
• Mason and Marsden Prize in Chemical Engineering
• Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer National Scholarship Award of the American
Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Othmer Sophomore Excellence Award of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers
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American Vacuum Society (AVS) Science and Technology Society Undergraduate
Research Award
The President’s Award for Academic Excellence
PUBLICATIONS
1. Filler, M.A., Van Deventer, J.A., Keung, A.J., and Bent, S.F. "Carboxylic acid chemistry at
the Ge(100)-2x1 interface: bidentate bridging structure formation on a semiconductor
surface." J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, (3), 770-779.
2. Tang, Y., Wang, P., Van Deventer, J.A., Link, A.J., Tirrell, D.A. “Introduction of an aliphatic
ketone into recombinant proteins in a bacterial strain that overexpresses an editing-impaired
leucyl-tRNA synthetase.” ChemBioChem 2009, 10, (13), 2188-2190.
3. Johnson, J.A., Lu, Y.Y., Van Deventer, J.A., Tirrell, D.A. “Residue-specific incorporation of
non-canonical amino acids into proteins: recent developments and applications.” Curr. Opin.
Chem. Biol. 2010, 14, (6), 774-780.
4. Kwon, O.-H., Yoo, T.H., Othon, C.M., Van Deventer, J.A., Tirrell, D.A., and Zewail, A.H.
“Hydration dynamics at fluorinated protein surfaces.” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2010, 107,
(40), 17101-17106.
5. Van Deventer, J.A., Fisk, J.D., and Tirrell, D.A. “Homoisoleucine: a translationally active
leucine surrogate of expanded hydrophobic surface area.” ChemBioChem 2011, 12, 700-702.
6. Van Deventer, J.A., Wittrup, K.D. “Yeast surface display for antibody isolation: library
construction, library screening, and affinity maturation,” Methods Mol. Biol. 2014, 1131, 151181.
7. Van Deventer, J.A., Yuet, K.P., Yoo, T.H., Tirrell, D.A. “Cell surface display yields evolvable,
clickable antibody fragments.” ChemBioChem 2014, 15: 1777–1781.
8. Van Deventer, J.A.*, Le, D.N., Zhao, J., and Kelly, R.L. “Constructing and evaluating
bioconjugates on the yeast surface.” In revision. *Corresponding author.
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9. Van Deventer, J.A. , Kelly, R.L. , Rajan, S., Sidhu, S.S., and Wittrup, K.D. “A switchable
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yeast display/secretion system.” Submitted. Equal contributions.
10. Van Deventer, J.A., Rajan, S. Sidhu, S.S., and Wittrup, K.D. “Exploring the therapeutic
potential of antibodies targeting fibroblast activation protein in mouse models of cancer.” In
Preparation.
PRESENTATIONS
Van Deventer, J.A., Filler, M.A., and Bent, S.F. “Investigation of the adsorption of acetic acid on
Ge(100)-2x1.” Oral Presentation, 2003 AVS Science and Technology Society Annual
Symposium.
Van Deventer, J.A., Link, A.J., Tang, Y., Wang, P., and Tirrell, D.A. “Incorporation and labeling of
an aliphatic ketone in recombinant proteins.” Poster Presentation, 2005 AIChE Annual Meeting.
Van Deventer, J.A., and Tirrell, D.A. “Noncanonical amino acids in protein engineering.” Oral
Presentation, Genencor. June 26, 2007.
Van Deventer, J.A., Yoo, T.H., and Tirrell, D.A. “Cell surface display of antibody fragments
containing noncanonical amino acids.” Oral Presentation, 2007 AIChE Annual Meeting.
Van Deventer, J.A., Yoo, T.H., and Tirrell, D.A. “Affinity maturation of antibody fragments
containing noncanonical amino acids.” Oral Presentation, 2008 AIChE Annual Meeting.
Van Deventer, J.A., Yoo, T.H., and Tirrell, D.A. “Affinity maturation of antibody fragments
containing noncanonical amino acids.” Poster Presentation, 2009 International Conference on
Biomolecular Engineering (ICBE).
Van Deventer, J.A., Yoo, T.H., and Tirrell, D.A. “Affinity maturation of antibody fragments
containing noncanonical amino acids.” Invited Oral Presentation, 2009 Biacore Los Angeles Area
Users Day.
Van Deventer, J.A., Fisk, J.D., and Tirrell, D.A. “Perturbing the hydrophobic cores of coiled coil
peptides with noncanonical amino acids.” Oral Presentation, 2009 AIChE Annual Meeting.
Van Deventer, J.A., Yoo, T.H., Luo, H.Y., and Tirrell, D.A. “Antibody fragment engineering with
noncanonical amino acids.” Poster Presentation, selected for a “Short Talk” at the 2010 Keystone
Symposium on Advances in Biopharmaceuticals.
Van Deventer, J.A., Yoo, T.H., and Tirrell, D.A. “Antibody fragment engineering with noncanonical
th
amino acids.” Poster Presentation, selected for a “Young Investigator Talk” at the 24 Annual
Symposium of the Protein Society in 2010.
Van Deventer, J.A., Pregernig, G., Sidhu, S.S., Wittrup, K.D. “Rapid isolation and production of
antibody-like reagents using a cloning-free yeast surface display approach: recent progress.” Oral
rd
Presentation, 243 American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition in 2012.
Van Deventer, J.A., Sidhu, S.S., Wittrup, K.D. “A rapid approach to the development of affinity
reagents using yeast surface display.” Oral Presentation, 2012 AIChE Annual Meeting.
Van Deventer, J.A., Rajan, S., Sidhu, S.S., Wittrup, K.D. “Targeting cancer-associated fibroblasts
using antibodies recognizing fibroblast activation protein-alpha.” Poster Presentation, 2013 AACR
Annual Meeting.
Van Deventer, J.A., Rajan, S., Sidhu, S.S., Wittrup, K.D. “Targeting cancer-associated fibroblasts
using antibodies recognizing fibroblast activation protein-alpha.” Poster Presentation, 2013 PEGS
Meeting.
Van Deventer, J.A., Rajan, S., Sidhu, S.S., Wittrup, K.D. “A suite of antibodies for targeting
cancer-associated fibroblasts.” Oral Presentation, 2013 BMES Annual Meeting.
Van Deventer, J.A., Rajan, S., Sidhu, S.S., Wittrup, K.D. “A suite of antibodies for targeting
cancer-associated fibroblasts.” Oral Presentation, 2013 AIChE Annual Meeting.
Van Deventer, J.A., Rajan, S., Sidhu, S.S., Wittrup, K.D. “A yeast-based approach to the
development of antibodies targeting cancer-associated fibroblasts.” Poster Presentation, 2014
Northeast Bioengineering Conference.
Van Deventer, J.A., Kelly, R.L., Le, D.L., Zhao, J., Wittrup, K.D. “Enhancing biomolecular
screening by combining yeast surface display and noncanonical amino acids.” Oral Presentation,
2014 BMES Annual Meeting.
Van Deventer, J.A., Kelly, R.L., Le, D.L., Zhao, J., Rajan, S., Sidhu, S.S., Wittrup, K.D.
“Constructing, screening, and evolving therapeutic proteins.” Poster Presentation, 2014 BMES
Annual Meeting.
Van Deventer, J.A., Kelly, R.L., Le, D.L., Zhao, J., Wittrup, K.D. “Enhancing biomolecular
screening by combining yeast surface display and noncanonical amino acids.” Oral Presentation,
2014 AIChE Annual Meeting.
Van Deventer, J.A., Kelly, R.L., Le, D.L., Zhao, J., Rajan, S., Sidhu, S.S., Wittrup, K.D.
“Constructing, screening, and evolving therapeutic proteins.” Poster Presentation, 2014 AIChE
Annual Meeting.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2006, 2008
Teaching Assistant, ChE 63a: Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics with Professor Richard
Flagan, California Institute of Technology
• Designed and led a weekly recitation section, held review sessions, taught lectures, and
graded homeworks and quizzes
2013-2014
Substitute Lecturer, 7.02/10.702: Experimental Biology and Communication,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Taught lectures on probability distributions and confidence limits
MENTORING EXPERIENCE
2006, 2008-2009
Co-Mentor, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program, California Institute of
Technology
• Trained and guided undergraduate chemistry and chemical engineering majors in Tirrell
Lab research projects
2006-2009
Member, Co-Mentor Advisory Council, California Institute of Technology
• Planned and presented seminars on how to effectively mentor undergraduate students
participating in summer research programs
2011-
Mentor, Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology
• Trained and guided undergraduate chemical engineering majors in Wittrup Lab research
projects
PROFESSIONAL AND HONOR SOCIETIES
• American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
• American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Society for Biological Engineering (SBE)
• Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
• American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
• The Protein Society
• Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society
SERVICE
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Session chair, 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Meeting, Division
15c, “Protein Engineering I: Combinatorial Techniques”
2015 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship
evaluation panelist