RAKSHITHA KIRAN

Driven and analytical M.S. Bioinformatics graduate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), I have experience working with students and a strong enthusiasm for environmental sustainability. As a Teaching Assistant for "Introduction to Database Concepts and Applications" from Fall 2024 to Spring 2025, I gained practical experience in student engagement and developed my expertise in databases, communication, and informatics during my graduate study. As I directed lab sessions and assisted students in their study, I gained excellent presenting and coordination abilities. My approach is ethical and collaborative, and I am dedicated to academic success, inclusiveness, and transparent communication with a variety of student demographics.

1) Project Title: Low Carbon Steel Shelving Unit (Oct 2024- Dec 2024)

Role: Sustainability Analyst and Team member

• Designed a low-carbon steel shelving unit using recyclable materials and energy-efficient components, emphasizing modularity, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability through improved recycling and disassembly methods

2) Project Title: Sustainable Product Development and Marketing in the Age of Climate Change: Trends and Roadmap (Oct 2024- Dec 2024)

Role: Sustainability and Research Analyst

• Designed a roadmap for sustainable product development and marketing, emphasizing the adoption of eco-friendly materials, circular economy practices, and transparent communication strategies, highlighting the integration of LCA to optimize resource usage, reduce emissions, and align business practices with environmental sustainability goals.

3) Project Title: Data Analytics and Business Strategy for Starbucks (Aug 2024- Dec 2024)

Role: Data Analyst

• Designed a comprehensive business plan analyzing Starbucks customer feedback, product data, and store locations using SQL queries and database modeling (conceptual, logical, and physical). Delivered actionable insights on customer satisfaction and operational strategies to support revenue growth and strategic decision-making.

4) Project Title: Uncovering Business Success through Yelp Review Analysis (Aug 2024- Dec 2024)

Role: Data Scientist and Team member

• Analyzed Yelp reviews using Aspect-Based Sentiment Analysis (ABSA) and machine learning models, including Logistic Regression, Random Forest, Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs), and BERT, to predict star ratings and extract customer sentiment trends.

5) Project Title: Assessing Cotton Manufacturing’s Effects on the Environment (Jan 2024- May 2024)

Role: Sustainability Consultant

• Conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) of cotton manufacturing, focusing on water consumption, CO2 emissions, and the environmental impact of raw materials and production processes. Delivered actionable strategies to reduce the carbon footprint, including adopting sustainable dyeing techniques, renewable energy sources, and water recycling systems, contributing to more sustainable textile production.

6) Project Title: Analysis of oil pipeline accidents in the United States from 2010 to 2017 (August 2023 – Dec 2023)

Role: Data Analyst and Research Team member

• Analyzed 2,795 U.S. oil pipeline accidents (2010–2017) using statistical and geospatial methods to identify causes, economic impacts, and regional hotspots, offering insights to enhance pipeline safety and sustainability.

7) Project Title: Assessing the Accuracy of Six Protein Structure Prediction Software through RMSD Comparison (Jan 2023 – May 2023)

Role: Bioinformatics Researcher and Team member

• Assessed six tools (AlphaFold2, RoseTTAFold, trRosetta, I-TASSER, ESMFold, and Phyre2) for predicting globular and fibrillar protein structures using RMSD in ChimeraX and evaluated fold bias and tool-specific performance for amyloid-forming proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease, analyzing experimental data from the AmyPro database.

8) Project Title: In-vitro biosynthesis of nanoparticles and its antibacterial activity against the odonto-pathogen Streptococcus mutans (Mar 2022- Jul 2022)

Role: Research Analyst & Team Leader

• Synthesized nanoparticles for antibacterial applications against Streptococcus mutans and developed a varnish.

9) Project Title: Anti Melanogenic effects of Kojic acid enriched Bio-Soap (Sep 2021- Feb 2022)

Role: Research Analyst & Team Leader

• Developed bio soap with antimicrobial and anti-melanogenic properties using kojic acid.

• Active member of Student Sustainability Committee, UIUC.
• Active member and contributor to animal welfare organizations (PETA, Humane Society, Pet Adoption Bangalore, Kartavya Animal Welfare Society)

• Teaching Assistantship, UIUC: Supervised undergraduate students from a variety of backgrounds while facilitating lab support and training in SQL and database fundamentals, Fall 2024-Spring 2025.
• Research Training in NGS Data Analysis, RASA Life Science Informatics, India, 2023
• Food Science Technology Internship, BioLim Bangalore, 2022
• Spearheaded and engaged in diverse leadership, communication, and outreach programs at DSCE, including science awareness fests, personal development, effective communication and team work workshops, 2019-2022.
• Educated underprivileged kids at a government school in Bidar District about the value of education through online workshops during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020-2021.
• Led a two-day program to educate girls at Bangalore's Sarraki School on menstrual health and global warming in underprivileged regions, 2019-2021.
• Held the position of Student Vice President at Bangalore's NMKRV Pre-University College for Women from 2017 to 2018.

• 2025 Python Data Analysis & Visualization
• Molecular Docking
• Food Microbiology
• Blockchain in Food Safety
• ISO- 22000 Food Safety
• Fundamentals of Wine Tasting

• Coordinated Science fest events at Dayananda Sagar College.
• Conducted workshops on education and global warming for economically weaker students.
• Awards in athletics, essay competitions, and cultural events during schooling years.

In addition to my Master’s program, I am acquiring knowledge thru additional online training courses provided by institutions in India;

• RASA – Genomics, Proteomics & Bio-Python
• BioTechnika – AIML Training program in Bioinformatics
• Edureka – Mastering AI & Machine, Deep Learning algorithms