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
03.2019 - 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
09.2011 - 06.2018
- 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
03.2019 - Current
Graduate Researcher
Academia Sinica, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology
09.2011 - 06.2018
Ph.D. - Molecular & Cell Biology
Academia Sinica
M.Sc. - Microbial Gene Technology
Madurai Kamaraj University
B.Sc. - Biotechnology
Bharathiar University
Similar Profiles
Jieun JeonJieun Jeon
Research Scholar at Brigham And Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolResearch Scholar at Brigham And Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Handson BotaHandson Bota
Teaching Assistant at Harvard Medical School - Brigham and Women's HospitalTeaching Assistant at Harvard Medical School - Brigham and Women's Hospital
Jhanvi Sai KrishnaJhanvi Sai Krishna
Research Assistant at Harvard Medical School - Brigham And Women's HospitalResearch Assistant at Harvard Medical School - Brigham And Women's Hospital