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Hire Christopher D.

Canada

USD 90 /hr

PhD biochemist | 17+ yrs research & science comms | Expert in life sciences, metabolism, toxicology, and biomarker work

Profile Summary

I’m a PhD-trained metabolic biochemist with 18+ years of experience across academic and industry settings, specializing in therapeutic discovery, biomarker validation, and assay development. My work spans early-stage evaluation of nutraceuticals, probiotics, and antimicrobial technologies, with a focus on translational outcomes and decision-informing data. I’ve led or co-led projects investigating disease mechanisms and therapeutic interventions using cellular models, animal systems, and a range of biochemical and molecular assays. I bring particular strength in experimental design, method optimization, and scientific communication — especially within resource-constrained or startup-like environments where adaptability and cross-functionality are essential. Technical Expertise • Mammalian cell culture (e.g. insulin-resistant HepG2 models) • Microbial fermentation and probiotic screening (including live-cell enzyme activities) • Microplate-based assays (e.g. kinetic enzyme assays & inhibitor screening, ELISA, ligand-binding assays) • Electrophoresis & immunoblotting (including phosphorylation-specific blots) • Protein extraction & purification (focused on endogenous proteins) Select Research Contributions • Vanilloid-based nutraceuticals: Developed HepG2-based bioassays for insulin resistance; used phospho-blotting to probe MOA; screened vanilloids for enzyme inhibition; presented QSAR data at Canadian Society for Chemistry 2024 annual meeting. • Nitric oxide (NO)-releasing wound dressings: Optimized and validated antimicrobial and anti-biofilm assays; co-authored publication 𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘺. • Nanotoxicology: Led 𝘪𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘳𝘰 and animal model studies on oxidative stress and biomarker disruption from engineered nanomaterials; resulting in 6 papers, a review, and a book chapter. • Probiotic therapeutics: Supported preclinical assessment of 𝘓𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴 strains in rat models of hypertension, hyperammonemia, and hyperglycemia — with direct impact on go/no-go decisions. What I Offer I’m available for freelance projects in life sciences, biotech, and translational research — including assay development, literature review, data interpretation, and science communication. I especially welcome opportunities to support early-stage R&D strategy and cross-functional innovation teams.

Subject Matter Expertise

• ★ Biochemistry
• ☆ Immunoassay
• ☆ Biochemical Assays
• ☆ Oxidative Stress & Mitochondrial Function
• ☆ Antioxidants
• ☆ Enzyme Activity Assays
• ☆ Binding Assays
• ☆ Molecular Biology
• ☆ Biomarkers
• ☆ Epigenetics
• ☆ Kinases
• ☆ Cell Biology
• ☆ Cell-Based Assays
• ☆ Cell Signaling Pathways
• ☆ Comparative Physiology
• ☆ Biotechnology & Bioengineering
• ☆ Recombinant Protein Expression
• ☆ Microbial Biotechnology
• ☆ Biomarker Discovery
• ☆ Cell Culture
• ☆ Cell Surface Receptors
• ☆ Microbial Fermentation
• ☆ Blotting
• ☆ Drug Discovery
• ☆ High Throughput Screening (HTS)
• ☆ Drug Target Identification
• ☆ Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) Studies
• ☆ Drug Development
• ☆ Preclinical ADME/PK/PD
• ☆ Preclinical Research
• ☆ Preclinical Pharmacology
• ☆ In vitro Preclinical Toxciology
• ☆ In vivo Preclinical Toxicology
• ☆ Medical Devices
• ☆ Medical Device Development
• ☆ Medical Device Prototyping
• ☆ In vitro Diagnostics
• ☆ In vitro Diagnostic Design
• ☆ Biomarker Analysis
• ☆ Human Biology
• ☆ Endocrinology
• ☆ Diabetes
• ☆ Inflammation
• ☆ Metabolism & Metabolic Disease
• ☆ Hypothesis
• ☆ Peer Review
• ☆ Research Methodology
• ☆ Literature Search
• ☆ Instructional Webinars
• ☆ Technical & Scientific Writing
• ☆ Manuscript & Journal Article Writing
• ☆ Experimental Protocols
• ☆ SOP & Protocol Writing
• ☆ Science Communication
• ☆ Literature Review
• ☆ Traditional/Narrative Literature Review
• ☆ Systematic Literature Review
• ☆ Copywriting
• ☆ User Guides & Handbooks
• ☆ Scientific Proofreading & Editing
• ☆ Grant Writing

Services

• Writing
• Consulting
• Data & AI
• Product Development

Writing Technical Writing

Consulting Scientific and Technical Consulting

Data & AI Statistical Analysis, Data Visualization, Data Cleaning, Data Processing, Data Insights

Product Development Prototyping

Work Experience

Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Saint Michael's College

August 2022 - June 2024

Education

Doctor of Philosophy (Chemistry)

Carleton University

2004 - 2008

Bachelor of Science (Chemistry & Biochemistry)

Concordia University

2001 - 2004

Certifications

• Certification details not provided.

Publications

PREPRINT

Christopher Dieni, Brett Spiess (2025). Catechol chemistry unleashed: Spontaneous reactions in physiologically-relevant media . ChemRxiv.

Christopher A. Dieni and Kenneth B. Storey(2014). Protein kinase C in the wood frog, <i>Rana sylvatica</i>: reassessing the tissue-specific regulation of PKC isozymes during freezing . []. {PeerJ}

OTHER

Christopher A. Dieni and Tyson J. MacCormack(2022). Cardiorespiratory Toxicity of Nanoparticles in Aquatic Environments . Toxicology of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials in Human, Terrestrial and Aquatic Systems. p. 213--235. Wiley

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Sara Knezevic and Asma Ghafoor and Samaneh Mehri and Ali Barazi and Maksymilian Dziura and John F. Trant and Christopher A. Dieni(2021). Catechin and other catechol-containing secondary metabolites: Bacterial biotransformation and regulation of carbohydrate metabolism . PharmaNutrition. 17. p. 100273. Elsevier {BV}

T.J. MacCormack and M.-V. Meli and J.D. Ede and K.J. Ong and J.L. Rourke and C.A. Dieni(2021). Commentary: Revisiting nanoparticle-assay interference: There's plenty of room at the bottom for misinterpretation . Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 255. p. 110601. Elsevier {BV}

Patrick Thomas Gormley and Neal Ingraham Callaghan and Tyson James MacCormack and Christopher Anthony Dieni(2016). Assessment of the toxic potential of engineered metal oxide nanomaterials using an acellular model: citrated rat blood plasma . Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods. 26. (8). p. 601--610. Informa {UK} Limited

Neal Ingraham Callaghan and Garett Joseph Patrick Allen and Tess Eliza Robart and Christopher Anthony Dieni and Tyson James MacCormack(2016). Zinc oxide nanoparticles trigger cardiorespiratory stress and reduce aerobic scope in the white sucker, Catostomus commersonii . NanoImpact. 2. p. 29--37. Elsevier {BV}

Amanda Rundle and Anne B. Robertson and Alexandra M. Blay and Kathryn M.A. Butler and Neal I. Callaghan and Christopher A. Dieni and Tyson J. MacCormack(2016). Cerium oxide nanoparticles exhibit minimal cardiac and cytotoxicity in the freshwater fish Catostomus commersonii . Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology &amp; Pharmacology. 181-182. p. 19--26. Elsevier {BV}

Robin Anne Bessemer and Kathryn Marie Alison Butler and Louise Tunnah and Neal Ingraham Callaghan and Amanda Rundle and Suzanne Currie and Christopher Anthony Dieni and Tyson James MacCormack(2015). Cardiorespiratory toxicity of environmentally relevant zinc oxide nanoparticles in the freshwater fish<i>Catostomus commersonii</i> . Nanotoxicology. 9. (7). p. 861--870. Informa {UK} Limited

Christopher A. Dieni and Kenneth B. Storey(2014). Protein kinase C in the wood frog,<i>Rana sylvatica</i>: reassessing the tissue-specific regulation of PKC isozymes during freezing . PeerJ. 2. p. e558. {PeerJ}

Christopher Anthony Dieni and Neal Ingraham Callaghan and Patrick Thomas Gormley and Kathryn Marie Alison Butler and Tyson James MacCormack(2014). Physiological hepatic response to zinc oxide nanoparticle exposure in the white sucker, Catostomus commersonii . Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology &amp; Pharmacology. 162. p. 51--61. Elsevier {BV}

Maxwell Luke Armstrong(2013). Spherical Gold Nanoparticles Impede the Function of Bovine Serum Albumin In vitro: A New Consideration for Studies in Nanotoxicology . Journal of Nanomaterials &amp; Molecular Nanotechnology. 02. (06). {OMICS} Publishing Group

Khalil Abnous and Christopher A. Dieni and Kenneth B. Storey(2012). Suppression of MAPKAPK2 during mammalian hibernation . Cryobiology. 65. (3). p. 235--241. Elsevier {BV}

Imran Sulemankhil and Jorge Gabriel Ganopolsky and Christopher Anthony Dieni and Andrei Florin Dan and Mitchell Lawrence Jones and Satya Prakash(2012). Prevention and Treatment of Virulent Bacterial Biofilms with an Enzymatic Nitric Oxide-Releasing Dressing . Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 56. (12). p. 6095--6103. American Society for Microbiology

Christopher A. Dieni and Melanie C. Bouffard and Kenneth B. Storey(2012). Glycogen synthase kinase-3: cryoprotection and glycogen metabolism in the freeze-tolerant wood frog . Journal of Experimental Biology. 215. (3). p. 543--551. The Company of Biologists

Christopher A. Dieni and Kenneth B. Storey(2011). Regulation of hexokinase by reversible phosphorylation in skeletal muscle of a freeze-tolerant frog . Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 159. (4). p. 236--243. Elsevier {BV}

Christopher A. Dieni and Kenneth B. Storey(2010). Regulation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase by reversible phosphorylation in liver of a freeze tolerant frog . Journal of Comparative Physiology B. 180. (8). p. 1133--1142. Springer Science and Business Media {LLC}

Christopher A. Dieni and Kenneth B. Storey(2009). Creatine kinase regulation by reversible phosphorylation in frog muscle . Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 152. (4). p. 405--412. Elsevier {BV}

Khalil Abnous and Christopher A. Dieni and Kenneth B. Storey(2008). Regulation of Akt during hibernation in Richardson's ground squirrels . Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects. 1780. (2). p. 185--193. Elsevier {BV}

Christopher A Dieni and Kenneth B Storey(2008). Regulation of 5'-adenosine monophosphate deaminase in the freeze tolerant wood frog, Rana sylvatica . BMC Biochemistry. 9. (1). p. 12. Springer Science and Business Media {LLC}

Khalil Abnous and Christopher A. Dieni and Kenneth B. Storey(2007). 163. Regulation of AKT in Richardson’s ground squirrels during hibernation . Cryobiology. 55. (3). p. 377. Elsevier {BV}

Khalil Abnous and Christopher A Dieni and Kenneth B Storey(2007). Regulation of AKT in Richardson’s ground squirrels during hibernation . The FASEB Journal. 21. (6). Wiley