Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Division of Basic Sciences.
Cancer Research Institute postdoctoral fellow, 2001-2003.
Advisor: Roland K. Strong.
Research topic: Structural analysis of innate immunity and receptor-ligand interaction kinetics.

University of Washington, Biomolecular Structure and Design Program, Department of Chemistry.
Ph.D., 1996-2001.
Thesis advisor: Craig C. Beeson.
Research topic: The role of hydrogen bonds in MHC-peptide dissociation kinetics.

University of Florida, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and College of Journalism.
Dual B.S. degree, 1992-1996, with honors in Chemistry, with highest honors in Public Relations, specializing in Technical Communications.

Teaching Assistant, ENGL 199 technical writing section for third-quarter freshman chemistry, University of Washington (2001). Developed all course materials and taught technical writing to freshman chemistry students in a course linked to their laboratory assignments. Course topics included basic grammar and style, the scientific method, writing for different audiences, and ethics, culminating in a mock grant proposal.

Teaching Assistant, BIOC 462 and 429 biochemistry laboratory and lecture courses, University of Washington (1997-1998). Lectured and taught biotechnology techniques to seniors. Laboratory exercises focused on spectroscopic techniques for studying enzyme kinetics. Also taught technical writing technique and graded lab reports for writing.

Teacher, Bethany Community Church adult education courses (2000-2003). Developed and taught four quarter-long weekly courses on the Psalms, the ethics of the New Testament, Christian responses to violence, and church and state before the 20th century.

Bible Study Leader, “Poiema” Gathering, Bethany Community Church (1999-present). Developed and taught exegesis of passages ranging from Genesis to 1 John. Also led college-group discussions of books by Eugene Peterson, Sheldon Vanauken, and David Needham. Additional experience teaching 1st-6th grade children.

Editorial Assistant, Reviews of Modern Physics (1999-2001). Copyedited physics manuscripts and corresponded with authors regarding publication.

Education Volunteer, Seattle Opera (1999-2003). Assisted with pre-opera lectures.

Assistant to the Director, Florida Museum of Natural History (1994-1996). Published research on science history in 1840s Philadelphia, prepared a proposal for an exhibit on naturalist Mark Catesby, and wrote articles for the museum.

Research Assistant, University of Florida Department of Chemistry (1994). Synthesized organic compounds for physical chemistry studies.

Software Systems Intern, McDonnell Douglas Space Systems (1992). Assembled relational database for procurement and wrote documentation.

American Association of Immunology Member (2004-present)

Cancer Research Institute Postdoctoral Fellow (2001-2003)

NIH Molecular Biophysics Training Grant Trainee (1997-2000)

American Chemical Society Member (1999-present)

Seven undergraduate scholarships (1992-1996)

University of Florida Speech and Debate Team, advanced to national tournament (1994)

Celebration! Anthology, first place poetry (1992)

Strong, R.K., and B.J. McFarland, in press, “NKG2D and related receptors.” Adv. Prot. Chem.

McFarland, B.J., and R.K. Strong, 2003, “Thermodynamic analysis of degenerate recognition by the NKG2D immunoreceptor: Not induced fit but rigid adaptation.” Immunity 19: 803-812.

McFarland, B.J., T. Kortemme, D.A. Baker, and R.K. Strong, 2003, “Symmetry recognizing asymmetry: Analysis of the interactions between the C-type lectin-like immunoreceptor NKG2D and MHC class I-like ligands.” Structure 11: 411-422.

McFarland, B.J., and C. Beeson, 2002, “ Binding interactions between peptides and proteins of the class II Major Histocompatibility Complex,” Med. Res. Rev . 22:168-203.

McFarland, B.J., J.F. Katz, C. Beeson, and A.J. Sant, 2001, "Energetic asymmetry among hydrogen bonds in MHC Class II:peptide complexes," Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (US) 98: 9231-6.

Sant, A.J., C. Beeson, B. McFarland, J. Cao, S. Ceman, P.W. Bryant, and S. Wu, 1999, “Individual hydrogen bonds play a critical role in MHC Class II:peptide interactions: implications for the dynamic aspects of class II trafficking and DM-mediated peptide exchange ,” Immun. Rev. 172: 239-253.

McFarland, B.J., A.J. Sant, T.P. Lybrand, and C. Beeson, 1999, “Ovalbumin(323-339) peptide binds to the Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II I-A d protein using two functionally distinct registers,” Biochemistry 38: 16663-16670.

McFarland, B.J., A.J. Sant, and C. Beeson, 1999, “Identification of two distinct structural transitions in the dissociation of peptides from Class II proteins of the Major Histocompatibility Complex,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 121: 11225-11226.

McFarland, B.J., C. Beeson, and A.J. Sant, 1999, “Cutting edge: a single, essential hydrogen bond controls the stability of peptide-MHC Class II complexes,” J. Immunol. 163: 3567-3571.

McFarland, B.J., and T.P. Bennett, 1997, "The Image of Edgar Allan Poe: A Daguerreotype Linked to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia ,” Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil. 147: 1-32.

Weimer, H.A., B.J. McFarland, S. Li, and W. Weltner, Jr., 1995, “Infrared Observation of 2,3-Didehydrogenated Naphthalene (2,3-Naphthyne) in Inert Gas Matrices at 4K,” J. Phys. Chem. 99: 1824-1825.

(Plus 15 articles for general audiences published in newspapers, newsletters, and trade journals.)

“The Role of Conformational Flexibility and Energetic ‘Hot Spots' in the Interaction of the NKG2D Immunoreceptor with its Ligands.” Lecture, June 2002 7th Annual Northwest Crystallography Workshop, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

“The MHC II mystery revealed: How to bind thousands of different peptides with sub-nanomolar affinities.” Lecture, February 2001 Volcano Conference, Pack Forest, WA.

“Individual hydrogen bonds play a critical role in MHC Class II: peptide interactions: Implications for the dynamic aspects of Class II:peptide interactions and DM-mediated peptide exchange.” Poster, May 2000 AAI national meeting, Seattle, WA.

“Disparate apparent strengths for structurally equivalent hydrogen bonds in a peptide-MHC complex.” Poster, Spring 2000 ACS national meeting, San Francisco, CA.

“Two distinct structural transitions in peptide dissociation from MHC Class II proteins.” Poster, Spring 1999 FASEB Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; San Francisco, CA.

“The structural basis for kinetic stability of peptides ... .” Lecture, 53rd ACS Northwest Regional Meeting (NORM '98); Pasco, WA.

Standard molecular biology techniques (e.g., PCR, agarose gels, DNA manipulation), mammalian tissue culture (TC) techniques, standard protein analysis techniques (e.g., silver-stained SDS-PAGE, His-tag purification, BCA assay, antibody binding analysis), surface plasmon resonance measurement of protein interaction kinetics (two levels of BIAcore training), X-ray crystallography, size-exclusion/reverse-phase/ion-exchange HPLC/FPLC, electrospray mass spectrometry, bacterial protein expression systems, protein purification, molecular modeling, peptide synthesis, chemical labeling of peptides and proteins, site-directed mutagenesis, technical writing, copyediting, and proofreading.