Manush Patel

• Excellence in Biology Education Award, 05/26
• Community Living The Broken Hero Award, 05/26

Archie Gene Characterization Project  — Bacteriophage Research

SUNY Plattsburgh | SEA-GENES Program | 2024

• Conducted independent bacteriophage research through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) SEA-GENES program, investigating previously uncharacterized genes of Mycobacterium smegmatis phage Archie and their potential roles in phage–host interactions.
• Cloned, verified, and expressed phage genes using plasmid-based molecular biology approaches and Mycobacterium smegmatis as a host system.
• Performed PCR, gel electrophoresis, DNA cleanup, Gibson assembly, and electroporation to construct and validate recombinant plasmids, followed by cytotoxicity and defense assays to assess the effects and potential functions of phage gene expression in M. smegmatis.
• Prepared experimental data for HHMI SEA-GENES submission and presented findings at the SUNY Plattsburgh Sigma Xi Research Symposium (Dec. 2024).

SUNY Plattsburgh | 2025

• Investigated C8orf37 gene function and its role in ciliary activity using RNAi-mediated gene depletion in Paramecium tetraurelia.
• Conducted molecular and microscopy-based analyses, including RT-PCR, gel electrophoresis, EVOS imaging, and immunofluorescence, to evaluate gene expression and phenotypic effects.
• Interpreted experimental results, troubleshot laboratory procedures, and presented findings at the University of Vermont Graduate and Undergraduate Research Conference (May 2025); project progressing toward micropublication.

Reba Ojaghi, MD — Orthopedic Surgery 

University of Vermont Health Network, Plattsburgh, NY 

Clinical Shadowing | 2 days

• Observed orthopaedic patient consultations, physical examinations, diagnostic imaging interpretation, and treatment planning in an outpatient clinical setting.
• Gained firsthand exposure to orthopedic surgery in the operating room, including preoperative preparation, intraoperative workflow, surgical technique, and postoperative considerations.

Teaching Assistant, Molecular Biology
SUNY Plattsburgh | Department of Biological Sciences

• Assisted with molecular biology laboratory instruction, guiding students in PCR, cloning, gel electrophoresis, cytotoxicity and defense assays, and other laboratory techniques.
• Supported students in experimental design, data interpretation, scientific reasoning, and troubleshooting, while assisting with laboratory setup, reagents, agarose gels, and maintaining a safe and organized laboratory environment.

• English
• Hindi
• Gujarati