Vanitha Nithianandam Ph.D.
Brookline,MA
Summary
Molecular and cell biologist with extensive experience in the field of neuroscience, specializing in iPSC-derived models, single-cell RNA sequencing, and proteomics data analysis.
Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in multidisciplinary environments.
Excellent communication and teamwork skills, as evidenced by high-impact peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and awards.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Postdoctoral researcher
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
2019.03 - Current
- Conceptualized and led several multidisciplinary studies to conclusion using human iPSC-derived neurons, mouse, and Drosophila models for an in-depth understanding of the function of disease-related proteins
- Discovered novel pathways involved in neurodegeneration using CRISPR technology and integrative analysis of multiple omics studies such as single-cell RNA sequencing, proteomics, and ubiquitinomics
- Published in high-impact peer-reviewed journals, namely Nature Communications, Scientific Reports, and Human Molecular Genetics.
Graduate Researcher
Academia Sinica, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology
2011.09 - 2018.06
- Discovered and provided the first evidence for the existence of a dynamic form of neuronal actin in an in-vivo model system and published in the Journal of Cell Biology
- Received multiple national and international awards for finding the dendrite branching mechanism
- Performed a key role in a project that received ~$1.5 million in funding from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan.
Education
Ph.D. - Molecular & Cell Biology
Academia Sinica
06.2018
M.Sc. - Microbial Gene Technology
Madurai Kamaraj University
06.2009
B.Sc. - Biotechnology
Bharathiar University
06.2007
Skills
- Induced pluripotent stem cell culture and differentiation
- Single-Cell RNA sequencing
- Proteomics
- Ubiquitinomics
- Confocal microscopy
- Immunofluorescence/ immunohistochemistry
- Advanced Molecular Biology skills
- Mouse stereotactic surgery
- Seahorse cell metabolic analysis
- Western, Northern, and Southern blotting
- RNA and DNA purification
- Real-Time-PCR
- RNAscope
- Drosophila melanogaster Genetics
- Immunoprecipitation
Professional Activities
- Reviewer, Medicine, October 2020, Present
- Reviewer, Frontiers in Immunology, October 2021, Present
- Reviewer, Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, November 2022, Present
- Reviewer, Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, November 2022, Present
Awards
- Poster Presentation Award, EMBO Meeting, 2018
- Travel Award, 18th International Congress of Developmental Biology, 2017
- Oral Presentation Award, Developmental Biology Conference, 2017
- Taiwan International Graduate Program PhD Scholarship (TIGP-MCB), 2011
- Qualified national level competitive exams, including the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering and CSIR-UGC test for Junior research fellowship, 2011
- Indian Academy of Science - Summer Research Fellowship, National Brain Research Centre, 2008
- Qualified national competitive test for Master of Science in Microbial Gene Technology, 2007
- Indian Academy of Science - Summer Research Fellowship, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India, 2006
Publications
- Nithianandam, V., Bukhari, H., Leventhal, M. J., Battaglia, R. A., Dong, X., Fraenkel, E., & Feany, M. B., Integrative analysis reveals a conserved role for the amyloid precursor protein in proteostasis during aging, Nat Commun, 14, 1, 7034, 2023
- Bukhari, H., Nithianandam, V., Battaglia, R. A., Cicalo, A., Sarkar, S., Comjean, A., Hu, Y., Leventhal, M. J., Dong, X., & Feany, M. B., Transcriptional programs mediating neuronal toxicity and altered glial-neuronal signaling in a Drosophila knock-in tauopathy model, bioRxiv, 2024
- Nithianandam, V., Sarkar, S., & Feany, M. B., Pathways controlling neurotoxicity and proteostasis in mitochondrial complex I deficiency, Hum Mol Genet, 2024
- Torre, M., Bukhari, H., Nithianandam, V., Zanella, C. A., Mata, D. A., & Feany, M. B., A Drosophila model relevant to chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment, Sci Rep, 13, 1, 19290, 2023
- Thamban, T., Sowpati, D. T., Pai, V., Nithianandam, V., Abe, T., Shioi, G., Mishra, R. K., & Khosla, S., The putative Neuronatin imprint control region is an enhancer that also regulates the Blcap gene, Epigenomics, 11, 3, 251-266, 2019
- Nithianandam, V., & Chien, C. T., Actin blobs prefigure dendrite branching sites, J Cell Biol, 217, 10, 3731-3746, 2018
Timeline
Postdoctoral researcher
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
2019.03 - Current
Graduate Researcher
Academia Sinica, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology
2011.09 - 2018.06
Ph.D. - Molecular & Cell Biology
Academia Sinica
M.Sc. - Microbial Gene Technology
Madurai Kamaraj University
B.Sc. - Biotechnology
Bharathiar University
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