SRIJANI SARKAR

Accomplished researcher specializing in organic synthesis, analytical methods, and biochemical assays with 9 years of experience in therapeutic research, including lipid nanoparticle-based mRNA delivery, peptides, and oligonucleotides. Expert in leading and managing multiple projects within dynamic laboratory settings. Proven track record of consistently achieving high productivity. Committed to advancing multidisciplinary research aimed at developing safer and more effective vaccines and therapeutics for different genetic diseases.

• Sarkar, S.; Murthy, M.; Recent developments in the delivery of peptide nucleic acid (PNA), RSC Chemical Biology 2026, manuscript under revision.
• Sarkar, S.; Anderson, C.; Xie, Y.; Lockett, S.; Schneider, J.; Aliphatic and Aromatic Dialdehydes as Chemical Crosslinkers for Self-Assembled Peptide Gels, Chemistry of Materials 2024, 36 (20), 10216-10226.
• Sarkar, S.; Anderson, C.; Schneider, J.; The Design of a Participatory Peptide Nucleic Acid Duplex Crosslinker to Enhance the Stiffness of Self-Assembled Peptide Gels, Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2024, 63, e202313507.
• Sarkar, S.; Recent Advancements in Biomaterial Applications of Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) Assemblies, Biopolymers 2024, 115(2), e23567.
• Sarkar, S.; Roura, G.; Pearse, A.; Armitage, B. Targeting KRAS I-Motif Forming Sequence by Unmodified and Gamma-Modified Peptide Nucleic Acid Oligomers, Biopolymers 2023, e23529.
• Sarkar, S.; Armitage, B. A. Targeting a Potential G-Quadruplex Forming Sequence Found in the West Nile Virus Genome by Complementary Gamma-Peptide Nucleic Acid Oligomers, ACS Infectious Diseases 2021, 7(6), 1445-1456.
• #Choudhary,H.; # Sharma, R.; # Sarkar, S.; Zhao,S.; Chowdhury, D.; Lawanprasert, A.; Gunawan, A.; Stahl, A.; Materum, R.; Widyono, S.; Murthy, N.; Random Copolymers of Cholesterol and Hydrophilic Monomers Can Replace the Peg in Lipid Nanoparticles, manuscript under preparation [# authors contributed equally]
• Sarkar, S.; Sharma, R.; Lawanprasert, A.; Murthy, N.; Spleen Targeting Lipid Nanoparticles Lowers Toxicity by Escaping Liver, manuscript under preparation.

• 28th and 27th American Peptide Symposium (APS), 2022 and 2023 (Poster Presentation)
• 11th PeptoidSummit, 2022 (Virtual Talk)
• Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Nucleosides, Nucleotides, and Oligonucleotides, 2019 (Poster Presentation)
• Pittsburgh Area Nucleic Acids Club, Carnegie Mellon University, November 2018 (Invited Talk)

• Laboratory teaching assistant for analytical and organic chemistry courses (2016-2021)
• Mentored high school students, undergraduates and trained fellow graduate students.
• Served as advisory panelists at multiple career workshops for undergraduates and high school students
• Certified by NIH for completing Scientists Teaching Science 9-week Pedagogy Course (2022).

• Reviewer of RSC Advances, Advanced Materials
• Best poster award at 28th American Peptide Symposium (APS), 2023
• Co-chair in the Women in Chemistry group; organized networking events among research fellows and hosted seminars
• Student Activity Committee member (SAC) in American Peptide Symposium (APS)
• Graduate Student Advisory Committee (GSAC) member, Carnegie Mellon University
• Lab Manager with responsibilities of waste management, safety inspection, instrument maintenance