Dr. Srilahari Namani, Ph.D.
Summary
- Micro/Nanofabrication Leadership: Extensive cleanroom experience in photolithography, EBL, DRIE, and deposition methods (PVD, CVD, electrodeposition) for advanced sensor and device development.
- Electrochemistry : CV, LSV, EIS, CA, and CP techniques; led electrochemical device characterization for implantable oxygenators and biosensors.
- Developed advanced nanopore and electrochemical biosensors for detecting DNA, RNA, mRNA-LNPs, and protein biomarkers, with demonstrated success in surface functionalization and signal processing for high-sensitivity diagnostics.
- Surface Engineering & Material Characterization: Skilled in AFM, XPS, SEM, TEM, HIM, and surface functionalization with aptamers for selective biomolecule detection.
- Project Management & Technical Communication: Managed multi-million-dollar NIH/JDRF/NSF-funded projects, led cross-functional teams, and authored SOPs, reports, and patents.
- Passion for Advanced Process Innovation: Strong interest to apply interdisciplinary expertise to advanced process development in wafer-level packaging and semiconductor deposition systems.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Postdoctoral Researcher
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA
02.2025 - Current
- Project Lead (Design and fabrication): Led JDRF-funded project on implantable flexible oxygenators for cell therapy in Type 1 Diabetes; designed and fabricated microfluidic oxygenation devices for in vivo use.
- Electrochemistry: Conducted electrochemical characterization (CV, EIS, LSV, CA, CP) to assess oxygen generation performance.
- CAD Layouts: Designed custom CAD layouts (AutoCAD, KLayout) and utilized 3D printing for device prototyping.
- COMSOL: Tested different MEA designs of oxygenator devices in COMSOL to finalize best design in terms of oxygen diffusion
- Cell culture: Including isolation, expansion/ passaging and characterization of MIN 6 & INS cells under GMP-compliant conditions.
Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
04.2023 - 12.2024
- Project Lead: Fabrication and Biosensor Development: Led fabrication and cleanroom-based development of silicon-nitride nanopore biosensors for detection of MELAS tRNA mutations, mRNA apping efficiency, mRNA Lipid nanoparticles, DNA, and proteins
- Data Analysis/Bioinformatics: Developed custom signal processing pipelines (Python, MATLAB) to extract current blockade, dwell time, and translocation dynamics from nanopore sequencing data; enabled accurate detection of DNA/RNA/protein variants.
- Project Planning & Grant Management: Managed $1.6M NIH/NHGRI/NSF/JDRF grants, ensuring timely milestones, reporting, and resource optimization.
- Leadership & Collaboration: Collaborated with cross-functional teams (physicians, researchers, industry) to interpret variants with clinical significance.
- Technical Documentation & Communication: Delivered regular reports to NIH and collaborators; first authored technical publications and SOPs.
- Mentorship & Training: Supervised a 10-member team; mentored students; resolved technical issues and optimized fabrication workflows.
PhD Scholar/Research Assistant
National University of Singapore
Singapore
08.2018 - 03.2023
- Project Lead: Nanopore Biosensor Fabrication, Imaging, Material Characterization & Deposition techniques: Led cleanroom fabrication and imaging of solid-state nanopores (TEM, FIB, HIM) and performed material characterization (AFM, XPS, SEM). Oversaw thin-film deposition (thermal, e-beam, sputtering).
- Biosensing, Surface Functionalization & DNA translocation: Developed NGS nanopore biosensors through aptamer-functionalization of nanopores for selective protein biomarker detection; performed DNA translocation studies.
- Patent Acquisition & Innovation: Awarded a PCT patent for novel nanopore-based diagnostic technology.
- Project Management Skills: Managed multi-year, 2-million dollar grants; led 20-member interdisciplinary teams to execute complex biosensing projects from design through validation.
Intern, Research and Development
SMT Technologies
Malaysia
11.2017 - 04.2018
- Circuit Design and Quality Assurance: Surface mount technology, IoT devices, GSM, GPS, Bluetooth modules, and tools like Altium Designer, with experience in ESD testing, soldering, and SMT manufacturing processes.
Intern, Research Development
Kontron Asian Pacific Sdn.Bhd
Malaysia
06.2014 - 08.2014
- Smart Hospital: Circuit and firmware design, debugged firmware, integrated sensors for medical device applications and ECAD tool usage, including component creation and library management with Mentor Library Manager.
Education
PhD - Biomedical Engineering
National University of Singapore
Singapore02.2023
B.Eng (Hons) - Electrical and Electronics Engineering
AIMST University
Malaysia01.2018
Skills
- Micro/nanofabrication in cleanroom
- Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)
- Electrochemistry: CV, LSV, EIS, CA, CP
- Nanopore biosensing and sequencing (DNA, tRNA, mRNA, proteins etc)
- Material characterization: AFM, XPS, Raman, XRD, ellipsometry, profilometry, contact angle, DLS, UV-Vis spectrometry, LC-MS, HPLC
- Deposition and Surface functionalization: PVD, CVD, Electrodeposition, aptamer coatings
- Lithography and microscopy techniques: photolithography, electron beam lithography (EBL), deep reactive ion etching (DRIE), FIB, SEM, TEM, and helium ion microscope (HIM)
- Implantable Bioelectronics Medical device development
- Cell culture
- CAD layouts & 3D printing
- Bioinformatic genomic data analysis: Matlab, R, Python
- Statistical data analysis: SPSS
- Proposal evaluation, grant management, and scientific writing
- Project management: MS Project, Planisware, Smart sheet, JIRA
- Mentorship, training, and cross-functional collaboration
- Electronics: Circuit and firmware design, PCB layout, Sensor integration
Visa Sponsorship
NO VISA sponsorship needed (H4, EAD)
Patents And Publications
- Nanopore sensor for Biomarkers, International Patent Application No: PCT/SG2023/050750, 05/16/24, https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=WO2024102081cid=P10−LWUXYQ−53020−1
- Unraveling RNA Conformation Dynamics in MELAS Syndrome with Solid State Nanopores, ACS Nano, 15.88, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.4c04625
- Decorated Nanopores for Specific Detection of Biomarkers, To be submitted to Nature Biomedical Engineering
- DNA translocation through nanochannel-nanopore devices, In Preparation, to be submitted to Acs Nano
Fellowships And Awards
- 2018-2021, NUS Research Scholarship, National University of Singapore
- 2018, Institute of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Gold Medalist, Malaysia
- 2018, University Gold Medalist 2018, AIMST University, Malaysia
- 2018, Outstanding Student of the faculty award, AIMST University, Malaysia
- 2017, Young Innovator of the Year 2017, Falling Walls Lab Berlin, Germany
- 2017, Second place at Falling walls Lab Malaysia 2017
- 2016, Best Poster Award (3rd prize), 3rdRC4Bs-2016 Biosensors, Biodiagnostics, Biochips and Biotechnology, Malaysia
- 2016, 2nd Prize in 'SMTT Challenge Trophy', SMT Technologies and AIMST University, Malaysia
- 2012-2018, Dean's List Award, AIMST University, Malaysia
Certifications And Courses
- Getting Started as a Project Manager (Linkedin Learning)
- Aha! Product Management Professional Certificate (Linkedin learning)
- Technical Product Management (Linkedin learning)
- Introduction to Genomic Technologies (Courseera)
- Biomedical Quality and Regulatory systems (FDA & HSA) (NUS PhD)
- Biostatistics for Basic Research (NUS PhD)
Extracurricular Activities And Interests
- Guest Speaker at Falling Walls Lab Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, 2018
- Top 10 Finalists in 'The Rising Star Season 3, 2019', NUS, Singapore
- Trained Bharatanatyam dancer, Bollywood & Tollywood Dance, Active badminton and futsal player, photographer and Emcee
- Hosted Falling Walls Lab 2019 at CREATE, National University of Singapore
- Life Member, Indian Red cross Society
Timeline
Postdoctoral Researcher
Carnegie Mellon University
02.2025 - Current
Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Pennsylvania
04.2023 - 12.2024
PhD Scholar/Research Assistant
National University of Singapore
08.2018 - 03.2023
Intern, Research and Development
SMT Technologies
11.2017 - 04.2018
Intern, Research Development
Kontron Asian Pacific Sdn.Bhd
06.2014 - 08.2014
PhD - Biomedical Engineering
National University of Singapore
B.Eng (Hons) - Electrical and Electronics Engineering
AIMST University
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