Manasa Venkataramani
New York,USA
Summary
Experienced cell biologist with a strong background in cancer biology, molecular biology, and genetics. Proficient in handling various mammalian, bacterial, and viral systems. Skilled in developing and troubleshooting complex assays. Adaptable team member with excellent written and oral communication skills, supported by a solid teaching record. Demonstrated leadership and supervisory abilities through mentoring graduate students and coordinating teaching assistants. Reliable and driven, bringing a proactive approach to all tasks and responsibilities.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Graduate Student
Fordham University
06.2019 - Current
I. Dissecting the molecular signals regulating MYOGEF-mediated actin cytoskeleton remodeling
- Used biochemical assays and time-lapse fluorescence microscopy to study MYOGEF localization and actin dynamics influenced by distinct signals during cell invasion and migration.
- Mentored junior researchers including 3 graduate students and 4 undergraduate students, enhancing team capabilities and fostering culture of continuous learning.
- Managed multiple research projects simultaneously, ensuring timely completion within budget constraints.
- Utilized statistical packages to analyze data and create visualizations.
Undergraduate Student Researcher
Shafiee Laboratory, Harvard Medical School
01.2017 - 12.2017
I. Electrical sensing of Zika Viral lysate using Paper- plastic microchip modified using silver- graphene nano-composite electrodes
- Captured Zika Virus from biological samples on Streptavidin-coated magnetic beads using Biotinylated antibodies
- Used laser cutter and screen printing to design and fabricate microchips which were used to detect the Zika Virus
II. Flexible microchip for electric detection and genotyping of Human Papilloma Virus
- Designed and screen-printed microchips to detect different HPV strains amplified using LAMP
- Collaborated with 3 academic colleagues on microchip fabrication and screen printing.
Summer Internship, Undergraduate Researcher
Government Veterinary College
01.2015 - 12.2015
- Assisted graduate students in In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
Education
Ph.D. - Biological Sciences (Cell and Molecular Biology)
Fordham University
New York, NY05.2025
Master of Science - Biological Sciences
Fordham University
New York01.2020
Bachelor of Technology - Bioengineering
SASTRA University
India01.2017
Skills
- Mammalian cell culture and transfection
- Genome editing using CRISPR-Cas9 system
- Protein silencing using shRNA and siRNA
- Generation of stable cell lines
- Fluorescence microscopy
- Time-lapse microscopy
- Protein expression and purification (E coli system)
- GST pull-down and immunoprecipitation assays
- Western Blotting
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Gateway cloning
- Microchip fabrication
- Project coordination
Teaching and training experience
Coordinator for Introductory Biology Labs at Fordham University, New York for 3 semesters.
o Directed teams of 5+ instructors and 20+ graduate students to collaborate and strategize curricula and experiments.
o Designed and adapted experiments to a flexible, hybrid environment with digital communication platforms.
o Trained new graduate teaching assistants in teaching effectively for 200+ students during the pandemic.
Instructor for General Genetics lecture for 1 semester.
o Developed curricula and taught General Genetics lecture for pre-med undergraduates.
Graduate teaching fellow for Genetics Laboratory for 2 semesters.
o Developed the curriculum for teaching 100+ pre-med sophomores and an efficient hybrid teaching mode during the pandemic.
Graduate teaching assistant for Introductory Biology Labs and Genetics Lab for 3 semesters.
Publications
- Draz MS, Venkataramani M, Lakshminarayanan H, Saygili E, Moazeni M, Vasan A, Li Y, Sun X, Hua S, Xu GY, Nanoparticle-enhanced electrical detection of Zika virus on paper microchips, Nanoscale, 2018, 10, 25, 11841-9
- Draz MS, Moazeni M, Venkataramani M, Lakshminarayanan H, Saygili E, Lakshminaraasimulu NK, Kochehbyoki KM, Kanakasabapathy MK, Shabahang S, Vasan A, Hybrid Paper–Plastic Microchip for Flexible and High‐Performance Point‐of‐Care Diagnostics, Advanced functional materials, 2018, 28, 26, 1707161
- Manasa Venkataramani, Meng Jiao, Xia Fu, Anna King, Samantha Milano, Genna Marcin, Dougan McGrath, Di Wu, and Qize Wei, Differential roles of LIMK1 and Ezrin in modulating MYOGEF-mediated actin cytoskeletal reorganization, Molecular Biology of the cell (in preparation)
Scholastic achievements
- Research Fellowship, 2024-2025
- Senior teaching Fellowship, 2023-2024, Fordham University
- The Robert Hawthorne and Edward Benedict Scholarship, 2019-2020, Fordham University
- Best outgoing student, 2017, Bioengineering Department of SASTRA University
Timeline
Graduate Student
Fordham University
06.2019 - Current
Undergraduate Student Researcher
Shafiee Laboratory, Harvard Medical School
01.2017 - 12.2017
Summer Internship, Undergraduate Researcher
Government Veterinary College
01.2015 - 12.2015
Ph.D. - Biological Sciences (Cell and Molecular Biology)
Fordham University
Master of Science - Biological Sciences
Fordham University
Bachelor of Technology - Bioengineering
SASTRA University
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