RAHUL GAUTTAM

Highly motivated scientist with extensive expertise in metabolic engineering, microbial strain improvement, and high-throughput screening. Strong foundation in molecular biology, biotechnology, and microbiology. Proven track record of leading research projects, designing and executing experiments, and delivering impactful, data-driven solutions. Skilled in optimizing microbial systems for industrial applications, utilizing cutting-edge automation and statistical analysis. Thrives in dynamic, fast-paced environments, demonstrating a commitment to collaborative teamwork and achieving measurable results.

Microbial Strain Engineering and Pathway Modulation

• Transformation, electroporation, conjugation, microscopy, Gram staining and phenotypic characterization.
• Bacteria: E. coli, B. subtilis, B. pumilus, Pseudomonas sp., C. glutamicum, H. seropedicae, Lactobacillus, Paenibacillus
• Yeast: S. cerevisiae, P. pastoris, Y. lipolytica, K. marxianus, K. lactis, A. adeninivorans

Molecular Biology Techniques

• Cloning (Gibson, Golden Gate assembly), PCR, DNA/RNA isolation and quantification
• High-throughput protein expression, purification, SDS-PAGE, Western Blotting, enzyme assays.
• Promoter screening, reporter assays, biosensor development, HiBit assay, NGS analysis.

Genetic Engineering & CRISPR Technologies

• Site-directed mutagenesis, CRISPR-Cas9-Mad7-CpfI, Cre-Lox, CRAGE, X-cutter and TAR assembly.
• Engineered novel CRISPR systems for industrial strain development for model as well as non-model microbial hosts.

Automation & High-Throughput Assay Development

• Expertise with Ginkgo’s automation platform, including LIMS, Echo technology, Hamilton Liquid handling robot, Colony pick system, Liquidator, Growth profiler, Tempest nanoliter multi channel liquid handler, Combi dispenser system.

Computational skills

• LIMS | Geneious | Tableau | Spotfire | JMP | Confluence | Slack | JGI Portals | Python basics | ORGANICK | Clone manager | SnapGene | Endnote | GraphPad Prism 5 | NCBI BLAST | MS Office suite etc.
• Experience with RNA-Seq, genome-Seq and multi-omics data interpretation.

• DAAD Fellowship, Early-stage Researcher
• Doctoral Fellowship, LGFG, Baden-Wurttemberg
• Department of Biotechnology Fellowship, Academic Excellence
• Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology

• Gauttam, R., Eng, T., Zhao, Z., Ul Ain Rana, Q., Simmons, B.A., Yoshikuni, Y., Mukhopadhyay, A. and Singer, S.W., 2023. Development of genetic tools for heterologous protein expression in a pentose‐utilizing environmental isolate of Pseudomonas putida. Microbial biotechnology, 16(3), pp.645-661.
• Gauttam, R., Desiderato, C.K., Radoš, D., Link, H., Seibold, G.M. and Eikmanns, B.J., 2021. Metabolic Engineering of Corynebacterium glutamicum for Production of UDP-N-Acetylglucosamine. Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology, p.879.
• Gauttam, R., Seibold, G.M., Mueller, P., Weil, T., Weiss, T., Handrick, R. and Eikmanns, B.J., 2019. A simple dual-inducible CRISPR interference system for multiple gene targeting in Corynebacterium glutamicum. Plasmid, 103, pp.25-35.
• Gauttam, R., Mukhopadhyay, A., Simmons, B.A. and Singer, S.W., 2021. Development of dual‐inducible duet‐expression vectors for tunable gene expression control and CRISPR interference‐based gene repression in Pseudomonas putida KT2440. Microbial Biotechnology.