BANANI MONDAL, Ph. D.
Boston
Summary
Over ten years of experience in assay development using diverse biochemistry and molecular biology techniques, such as PCR, qPCR, DNA/RNA purification, molecular cloning, Western Blot, and ELISA. Experienced in project management, data processing, and presentation. Skilled in independently leading, designing, executing, documenting, and troubleshooting molecular biology experiments. Track record of producing high-quality publications and collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Georgia
08.2021 - 12.2024
- Designed experiments to identify begomovirus capsid protein-interacting partners in whiteflies using high-throughput yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) cDNA library screening.
- Developed molecular assays to validate virus–insect protein interactions in vitro using co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and GST pull-down assays. This included expressing recombinant viral capsid and insect proteins in various E. coli strains using PCR, In-Fusion cloning, and purifying proteins through affinity chromatography (Ni-NTA, glutathione Sepharose, and magnetic columns), followed by characterization using SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and ELISA.
- Led a quantitative proteomics project to identify differentially expressed proteins in whiteflies upon begomovirus acquisition.
- Performed regular troubleshooting, documented experimental results and analyzed data, contributing to peer-reviewed publications.
- Presented findings at both internal and external meetings, including the Entomological Society of America.
- Participated in the training and mentorship of new lab members, including graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
Doctoral Researcher
Bose Institute
11.2012 - 02.2021
- Identified genes associated with fungal disease resistance in Indian mustard through a comparative transcriptomics study.
- Functionally characterized resistance-associated genes in vivo by developing genetically engineered Indian mustard plants. This involved cloning recombinant plant genes using PCR and restriction digestion into binary vectors, plasmid purification and sequencing, followed by plant transformation and tissue culture under controlled conditions.
- Fine-tuned the expression of resistance-associated genes in Indian mustard by engineering promoters.
- Assisted in developing a custom antibody against the resistance-associated gene product by expressing and purifying recombinant plant protein in E. coli using affinity chromatography (Ni-NTA Sepharose column).
- Documented experimental results and analyzed data, contributing to peer-reviewed publications.
- Presented findings at internal and external meetings, including the American Society of Plant Biologists.
- Managed multiple projects for undergraduate students and interns to support their training and development.
Undergraduate Summer Intern
Bose Institute
05.2010 - 08.2010
- Isolated an unknown upstream DNA sequence of a plant gene from wild mustard through genome walking by PCR.
- Cloned, sequenced, and reconstructed the isolated upstream DNA region.
Education
Ph.D. - Genetics
Bose Institute
India 02.2021
M.Sc. - Genetics
Calcutta University
India06.2011
B.Sc. Hons. - Botany
Calcutta University
India06.2009
Skills
- DNA/RNA extraction, purification
- Primer designing
- PCR
- QPCR
- Molecular cloning
- In-Fusion assembly
- Gibson assembly
- Restriction digestion
- Plasmid isolation
- DNA sequencing
- Sequence analysis
- In vitro RNA synthesis
- Gene silencing by dsRNA
- Gel electrophoresis
- Analysis of NGS data
- Analysis of proteomics data
- Protein extractions, purification
- Affinity chromatography (Ni-NTA)
- SDS-PAGE
- Bradford assay
- Western blot
- ELISA
- Co-IP
- Pull-down assays
Molecular biology skills
- Culture of E coli
- Transformation of E coli
- Yeast cell culture
- Yeast transformation
- Yeast-two-hybrid
- Light microscopy
- Fluorescent microscopy
- Confocal microscopy
- Agrobacterium mediated plant transformation
- Generation of transgenic plants
- Arabidopsis thaliana mutant line screening
- Microsoft Office
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- MEGA
- SnapGene
- Image analysis by ImageJ
- R (basics)
- Project management
- Team coordination
- Scientific editing
- Oral presentation
- Scientific writing
Software skills
Management and communication skills
Visa Sponsorship
not required
Expertise
Experimental design:
- Proficient in designing and executing experiments using molecular biology techniques, analytical and biochemistry techniques, and microbiology techniques.
Science Communication & Team Leadership:
- Coordinated a team of scientists to manage science communication projects for general audiences.
- Served as team coordinator and scientific editor for Bigyan.ORG, a science blog, for five years.
- Delivered oral presentations at various academic and scientific conferences.
Selected Publications
- Ghosh S, Mondal B, Jassar O, Ghanim M, Gautam S, Reddy Netla V, Srinivasan R., Begomovirus capsid proteins interact with cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-specific phosphodiesterase of its whitefly vector and modulate virus retention within its vector., J Virol, 0, e02172-24, https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.02172-2
- Catto, M.A., Ghosh, S., Pandey, S., Mondal B., Simmons A., Hunt B. G., and Srinivasan R., A plant virus differentially alters DNA methylation in two cryptic species of a hemipteran vector., npj Viruses, 2, 35, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1038/s44298-024-00044-2
Professional Service
- Entomology 2024: Graduate student competition judge.
- ESA Southeastern Branch Meeting 2024: Graduate student competition judge.
- Entomology 2023: Graduate student competition judge.
Awards
- Best poster award at ‘Insight To Plant Biology In The Modern Era’, Bose Institute.
- Travel grant from DBT (Department of Biotechnology), India, for attending Plant Biology 2017.
- Certificate for successfully completing the ‘Writing in the sciences’ course authorized by Stanford University.
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Junior Research Fellow, 06/01/12.
- Dr. Chitra Purkayastha Memorial Prize, Lady Brabourne College, Kolkata, 2009.
- Latika Mitra Memorial Prize, 1st rank in marks, Lady Brabourne College, Calcutta University, Kolkata, 2009.
Languages
English
Full Professional
Timeline
Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Georgia
08.2021 - 12.2024
Doctoral Researcher
Bose Institute
11.2012 - 02.2021
Undergraduate Summer Intern
Bose Institute
05.2010 - 08.2010
Ph.D. - Genetics
Bose Institute
M.Sc. - Genetics
Calcutta University
B.Sc. Hons. - Botany
Calcutta University
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