SADIA KANWAL

• Leveraging interpersonal and communication skills to mentor PhD, graduate and undergraduate students.
• Contributing to and actively participating in research conception, design and execution to address defined problems.
• Liaising with supervisor to design projects, review grants and manuscripts to develop potential publications.
• Publishing research articles in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at seminars/meetings.
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary team members to accomplish research goals.

Current Projects:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma; Molecular dysregulation underlying racial disparity and its prevention through dietary modulation
• Effect of nutritional ingredients on endothelial cell function.
• Antidiabetic activity of green and yellow papaya (Carica papaya) in Liver and Muscle Cells
• Evaluation of bioactive compounds (Phytochemicals) in quinoa leaves
• Anti-obesity effect of ginger extract on High Fat Diet (HFD) induced obesity in a mouse model through changes in gut microbiome

• Developed new fermentation methods/techniques to enhance the biological functionality, flavor, nutritional value, and shelf life of various food products.
• Isolated lactic acid bacterial strains with of highest biological activity and metabolic traits.
• Implemented selected starter strains-assisted fermentation on various food matrices including vegetables, fruits, milk, cheese and baked goods.
• Mentored PhD, graduate and undergraduate students.
• Designed research projects and alternative approaches and discussed results with professor.
• Contributed to and actively participated in research
• conception, design and execution to address defined problems.
• Published research results in peer-reviewed journals and presented at seminars and meetings.

Main Projects:

• Processing for sustainable and healthy sauerkraut: A traditional South Tyrol fermented food.
• Genetic determinants and environmental drivers of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) metabolism in Lactobacillus plantarum.
• Microbiome profiling of Cheeses collected across various regions of Italy.
• The next generation of smart protein food.
• Production of yogurt like drinks made of a mixture of oat and legumes.

• Led microbiological and molecular experiments in multiple research projects.
• Mentored master’s and PhD students in experimental design, scientific procedures and data analysis.
• Assisted administrative work and projects management.
• Directed, guided and delegated tasks to teams and developed project schedules, resource requirements and timelines to maintain productivity on goals and objectives.
• Contributed to scientific discussions with peers and management personnel.

Main Projects:

• Determination of antibiotic-resistant genes and microbiome profiling of organic vs. locally grown vegetables.
• Identification of multidrug resistance genes in sepsis patient samples using nanopore sequencing technique.

• Conducted multiple research projects studying the association of gut microbiome with inflammatory diseases and metabolic disorders.
• Established different methods to extract and purify bioactive compounds from mushrooms and sea weed.
• Conducted in-vivo (mice models) experiments to study to the gut microbiome community.
• Established mouse model to study the antibiotic driven intestinal dysbiosis and gut microbiome restoration.
• Developed DSS induced ulcerative colitis ( UC) and HFD induced obesity mice model(s) to study the disease mechanism at immunological, molecular, histological and biochemical levels.
• Analyzed inflammatory biomarkers/enzymes including MPO, NO, T-SOD, MCP-1, LPS, ALT, AST, TG, FFA, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, INF-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 in ulcerative colitis and obese mice model using ELISA assay.
• Determined the expression of PPAR- γ, C/EBP- α, SREBP-1c, ACC-1, and FAS in obesogenic mice model using qPCR.
• Evaluated the expression of p65, P-p65, IkB, p- IkB, ERK, p-ERK, STAT3, p-STAT3, iNOS, and COX-2 in ulcerative colitis mice by western blotting.
• Assessed the intestinal epithelial integrity by determining the expression of major tight junction proteins (claudin-1, occludin, ZO-1, ZO-2, mucin-2) using immunoblotting, H&E, IF and IHC.
• Worked both independently and collaboratively in fast-paced laboratory environment.
• Attended seminars and symposiums to improve overall knowledge and understanding.
• Assisted bachelor’s and master’s students in research projects.
• Authored/co-authored five publications in reputable peer-review journals.
• Prepared and applied for HEC (higher education commission) collaborative research grant between China and Pakistan.

• Responsible for conducting laboratory experiments in multiple discipline’s including Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Physiology.
• Supported senior management with creation and enhancement of continuous improvement of research procedures.
• Assisted with training junior team members in laboratory techniques and operation of equipment.
• Worked on multiple research projects including “Antidiabetic effect of poly herbal formulations (POL4) in rodents” and “Cardiac biomarkers of diastolic dysfunction/heart failure”.

• Developed logical techniques to resolve process problems and improve research work.
• Qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses of specimens such as urine, blood, and other body fluid.
• Preparation of solutions and reagents used in chemical analysis.
• Trained and mentored new trainee technologists on multiple lab instruments including: Chromatography, HPLC, Bio-LC systems, Atomic absorption spectroscopy, Coulter DU 730 UV /Vis spectrophotometer, ELISA microplate reader, and other equipment used in the quantitative and qualitative analysis.

Main Projects:

• MAL-ED (Malnutrition and Enteric Diseases),
• MCCP (Maternal Child Care Program),
• NNS (National Nutrition Survey)
• EE (Environmental Enteropathy)
• MANISA (Maternal Aetiology of Neonatal in South Asia).

• Followed laboratory protocols for specimen processing, analysis, and results reporting.
• Learned and implemented research based biological techniques (mentioned below) in Nutrition research lab, Infectious disease research lab and Molecular research lab.

Nutrition Research Lab (Biochemistry):

• High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Atomic absorption spectroscopy, Diasorin Liaison analyzer, Hitachi analyzer 902 (micronutrients detection), Elecys (e411) Vitamin D, B12)), Urinary iodine estimation, ELISA, Beckman coulter for complete blood count (CBC).

Infectious Disease Research Lab (Microbiology):

• Aseptic preparation of culture media, Microscopy (direct and indirect Method), Culturing techniques (blood, urine, stool), Staining techniques, Streaking techniques, ELISA (viral, bacterial, protozoal and others).

Molecular Research Lab (Molecular):

• Processing of samples, Extraction of TNA (Total Nucleic Acid) using Magna Pure Compact Instrument, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), Real-time PCR (Taqman Low-Density Array), Gel Electrophoresis, DNA/RNA quantification by nanodrop, Samples archiving and bio-banking.