Soni Kaundal
Post-Doctoral Associate
Houston,Texas
Summary
Accomplished Post-Doctoral Associate with expertise in studying liquid-liquid phase separation, RNA-remodeling proteins, and toxin/immunity protein systems using structural and biochemical methods. Demonstrated dedication and significant contributions to the field of scientific research. Obtained a Ph.D. in Structural Biology and Biophysics from the esteemed CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology in Chandigarh, India. Continued research as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and later as a Postdoctoral Associate at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Research interests include liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and investigating the structure and function of RNA remodeling proteins. Additionally, experienced in high-throughput screening of small molecules against viral pathogens.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
11
11
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Postdoctoral Associate
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
9 2018 - Current
- As a Postdoctoral Associate, my research interests have spanned a diverse range of topics, from liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) to the exploration of RNA remodeling proteins involved in critical viral pathogens.
- We showed for first time that RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of human norovirus undergoes LLPS and forms platforms for viral replication .
- This finding is accepted in Science Advances and in press now.
- My work on the NS4 (p22) protein of human norovirus highlighted its role as RNA chaperone for the first time and provides a structural basis for its functioning.
- Notably, my work on the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and NS4 of human norovirus has advanced our understanding of viral replication and pathogenesis.
- Apart from this, I am also involved in the screening of small molecule inhibitors against RdRp and protease of human norovirus by invitro enzymatic assays.
- One of my collaborative works involves the neutralization of human norovirus by nanobody.
- Also, I contributed to an industry project involving antiviral fibrils.
- I was involved in the enzymatic characterization of a RNA chaperone from orthoreovirus.
- The findings from these three projects were recently published in Nature Communications in different issues.
Postdoctoral Associate
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
02.2018 - 09.2018
- Expression, purification and structural studies of human proteins relevant to cancer.
- Protein small molecules interactions with SPR. These findings were published in RNA Biology.
Senior Research Fellow
CSIR-IMTech
Chandigarh, Chandigarh, India
01.2013 - 01.2018
- My doctoral training focused on using multidisciplinary molecular, biochemical, biophysical, and structural biology approaches to understand a relatively unexplored field of bacterial Contact Dependent growth Inhibition (CDI), a phenomenon involved in inter-bacterial competition in E. coli and B.subtilis.
- Using a combination of different biophysical techniques I discovered that CysK, a biosynthetic enzyme, acts as a modulator of toxin/immunity protein complex and may play a crucial role in preventing autoinhibition in E. coli UPEC536.
- We also determined the structure of the ternary complex (toxin/immunity protein/activator) at 3.1Å resolution at the home source.
- Additionally, I was able to purify and enzymatically characterize a toxin/immunity protein complex from B. subtilis, which was very difficult to express and purify.
- Apart from these main projects I was also involved in many collaborative projects and were able to publish my research in many high impact journals including Frontiers in Microbiology, Nucleic Acids Research, Scientific Reports etc.
Junior Research Fellow
CSIR-IMTech
Chandigarh, Chandigarh, India
01.2011 - 12.2013
- Expression and purifications of toxic proteins.
Education
Ph.D. - Structural Biology and Biophysics
CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh And Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi
Chandigarh, India 08.2011 - 01.2018
Master of Science - Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
Tezpur University
Assam, India 08.2008 - 06.2010
Bachelor of Science - Medical Technology (X-Ray)
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education And Research
Chandigarh, India 08.2004 - 08.2007
Skills
Cloning
Professionalmemberships
- 2018-present, Baylor College of Medicine Postdoctoral Association
- 2019-present, American Society of Virology
- 2019-present, Texas Medical Center Postdoctoral Association
- 2020-present, American Crystallography Association
- 2020-present, Electron Microscopy Society of India
Researchinterests
- Liquid-liquid phase separation of biomolecules
- RNA remodeling proteins
- Virology
- Toxin-Antitoxin systems
- Protein-protein/ligand interactions
- Structural Biology
- Drug Discovery
Accomplishments
- 2004, Fellowship for B.Sc. Medical Technology (X-Ray) by P.G.I.M.E.R. Chandigarh
- 2008, Fellowship for M.Sc. Molecular Biology and Biotechnology by MHRD
- 2010, Qualified CSIR-NET JRF
- 2011-2013, Junior Research Fellowship by UGC
- 2013-2018, Senior Research Fellowship by UGC
- 2016, Travel grant by the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) to attend the Global Exchange Lecture Course held in Korea
- 2024, Postdoctoral Scholar Travel Award to attend the 43rd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Virology (ASV 2024) held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio
Contributions to science
- Early Career, Investigated the modulatory effects of the root extracts of Phlogacanthus tubiflorus on the activity of Glutathione-S-transferase.
- Graduate Career, Focused on using multidisciplinary molecular, biochemical, biophysical, and structural biology approaches to understand bacterial Contact Dependent growth Inhibition (CDI).
- Postdoctoral Career, Provided evidence that the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of predominant human norovirus forms liquid-liquid phase condensates as platforms for viral replication.
Accomplishments
2024, Attended the 43rd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Virology (ASV 2024) held at Columbus, Ohio., 2023, Attended the 8th International Calicivirus Conference 2023 at Rotterdam, The Netherlands., 2022, Attended 72nd Annual American Crystallographic Association Meeting in Portland, Oregon., 2022, Attended 41st Annual meeting of American Society for Virology at Madison, USA., 2022, Attended 32nd Annual Keck Research Conference., 2020, S2C2Cryo-EM Image Processing Workshop: cryoSPARC, US., 2019, Attended Emerging trends in Cellular and Molecular Biophysics Conference, Bioscience Research Collaborative, Houston., 2019, 2019 Annual MBM retreat at The San Luis Resort, Galveston, Texas., 2018, Attended 15th Annual UltraScan Analytical Ultracentrifugation Workshop in San Antonio Texas., 2017, Attended International Workshop and Conference on Drug Design, India., 2016, Attended Advanced Techniques in Protein Design and Engineering, India., 2016, Attended European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Global Exchange Lecture Course, Korea., 2018-2024, Supervised and mentored summer undergraduates in the lab at Baylor College of Medicine., 2012-2018, Trained new Ph.D. students in the lab to use a range of instruments and helped them with complicated experiments and data analysis.
Positionsandappointments
- Junior Research Fellow, CSIR-IMTech, India, 2011, 2013
- Senior Research Fellow, CSIR-IMTech, India, 2013, 2018
- Postdoctoral Fellow, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA, 2018, 2018
- Postdoctoral Associate, Baylor College of Medicine, USA, 2018, Present
Timeline
Postdoctoral Associate
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
02.2018 - 09.2018
Senior Research Fellow
CSIR-IMTech
01.2013 - 01.2018
Ph.D. - Structural Biology and Biophysics
CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh And Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi
08.2011 - 01.2018
Junior Research Fellow
CSIR-IMTech
01.2011 - 12.2013
Master of Science - Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
Tezpur University
08.2008 - 06.2010
Bachelor of Science - Medical Technology (X-Ray)
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education And Research
08.2004 - 08.2007
Postdoctoral Associate
Baylor College of Medicine
9 2018 - Current
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