Saina Sanjay Prabhu
Morgantown,WV
Summary
Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Scientist (Ph.D. candidate) with hands-on expertise in biochemical and cell-based assay development for neurodegenerative disease research. Proficient in ELISA, enzyme activity assays, RT-qPCR, and bioanalytical methods, with a strong track record in experimental design and optimization. Skilled in cross-functional collaboration and meticulous project documentation. Available for full-time roles starting May 2026.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Graduate Research Assistant – Chantler Lab
Department of Exercise Physiology, West Virginia U
Morgantown, WV
01.2021 - Current
- Spearheaded NIH-funded research on stress-induced Alzheimer’s disease progression, identifying a novel role of xanthine oxidoreductase–driven oxidative stress in neurovascular dysfunction.
- Designed and executed studies integrating biochemical assays, molecular assays, and cell-based assays to evaluate oxidative stress pathways, inflammatory signaling, and transcript-level changes.
- Generated reproducible datasets using ELISA, enzyme activity assays, RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and cell viability assays; analyzed data with GraphPad Prism to create figures for manuscripts and presentations, enhancing data clarity.
- Authored and co-authored peer-reviewed manuscripts, contributing to experimental design, methods development, and data summaries for grant and fellowship applications, supporting funding efforts.
- Mentored and supervised undergraduate and graduate trainees in assay execution, data analysis, and laboratory best practices, coordinating experimental workflows across projects to foster skill development.
Graduate Research Assistant – Dash Lab
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Creighton U
Omaha, Nebraska
08.2018 - 07.2020
- Led Master’s thesis research on nanoparticle-based combination therapy for cutaneous melanoma, resulting in insights for improved treatment strategies.
- Performed cell-based cytotoxicity and viability assays to assess dose-dependent therapeutic response in melanoma cell lines, contributing to understanding of therapeutic efficacy.
- Developed and optimized bioanalytical assays for drug quantification, stability testing, and release profiling, enhancing assay reliability and accuracy.
Led Master’s thesis research on nanoparticle-based
Institute of Chemical Technology
Mumbai, Maharashtra
05.2015 - 03.2018
- Applied molecular dynamics simulations and experimental methods to enhance extraction performance and elucidate solvent–solute interactions.
- Designed and conducted a research study on ionic liquid–based biphasic extraction of sulfur compounds, aimed at improving desulfurization efficiency.
- Analyzed computational and experimental data to validate and refine process optimization strategies.
- Co-authored a peer-reviewed publication in the Journal of Molecular Liquids reporting advances in green chemistry–based separation approaches.
Education
Ph.D. - Biomedical Sciences
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV05-2026
Master of Science - Pharmaceutical Sciences
Creighton University
Omaha, NE07-2020
Bachelor of Science - Pharmacy
Institute of Chemical Technology
Mumbai05-2018
Skills
Bioassays & Molecular Techniques:
Bioassay development, cell-based assays, ELISA, enzyme activity assays, oxidative stress assays, RT-qPCR, Western blotting, mammalian cell culture, cell viability and cytotoxicity assays, oxidative stress assays, RT-qPCR, Western blotting, mammalian cell culture, cell viability and cytotoxicity assays
Analytical & Bioanalytical:
HPLC, LC-MS, UV–Vis spectroscopy, stability testing, method development
In Vivo & Imaging:
Rodent handling, tissue collection, behavioral assays, confocal and multiphoton microscopy
Data Analysis & Documentation:
GraphPad Prism, ImageJ/FIJI, BioRender, electronic lab notebooks (ELN), Microsoft Office
Accomplishments
APS Best Poster Abstract & Oral Presentation Selection (2025)
Professional Memberships
AHA | APS | SfRBM | AAPS | SFN | Rho Chi Honor Society
Publications (Selected)
- Prabhu, S. S., et al. (2025). Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. Editor’s Choice.
- Burrage, E. N., Prabhu, S. S., et al. (2023). Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism.
- Burrage, E. N., Prabhu, S. S., et al. (2025). Experimental Physiology.
- Singh, M. B., Harmalkar, A. U., Prabhu, S. S., et al. (2018). Journal of Molecular Liquids.
(Full publication list available on LinkedIn and Research Gate)
Conferences and Published Abstracts (Selected)
- Oral and poster presentations at major national and international scientific meetings, including the American Physiological Society (APS), Society for Redox Biology & Medicine (SfRBM), Society for Neuroscience (SfN), American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), and the Midwest Student Biomedical Research Forum.
(Full list available on LinkedIn and Research Gate)
Websites
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Saina-Prabhu?ev=hdr_xprf&_sg=cCqxVXlRUN5LcMA8gQQcC5D3qbzEfbOd6K4C3Dz0e7eC6f1RD-vOLn4buAHCrhdm90lHP57xT_o9eexwxN0vw6q9&_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InByb2ZpbGUiLCJwYWdlIjoicHJvZmlsZSIsInBvc2l0aW9uIjoiZ2xvYmFsSGVhZGVyIn19
- https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=zKe6L3MAAAAJ&hl=en
Timeline
Graduate Research Assistant – Chantler Lab
Department of Exercise Physiology, West Virginia U
01.2021 - Current
Graduate Research Assistant – Dash Lab
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Creighton U
08.2018 - 07.2020
Led Master’s thesis research on nanoparticle-based
Institute of Chemical Technology
05.2015 - 03.2018
Ph.D. - Biomedical Sciences
West Virginia University
Master of Science - Pharmaceutical Sciences
Creighton University
Bachelor of Science - Pharmacy
Institute of Chemical Technology