Curriculum Vitae

PhD in Chemistry/Medicinal Chemistry [Aug 2018 - Aug 2023]

University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA

Dissertation: Streptococcus mutans biofilm inhibiting aurones with anticariogenic activity

Integrated B.S. - M.S. in Chemistry/Medicinal Chemistry [Jul 2012 - Aug 2017]

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India

Thesis: Structure - based study, design and synthesis of inhibitors against histidine kinase protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae

Organic Synthesis and its applications in biological problems is my areas of interest which include -

• Computer aided drug design

• Synthesis - Conducting reactions, purification, and characterization

• Microbiology - Drug treatment of bacterial or cancer cells using bioassays

• Nanomaterial-encapsulated biofilm inhibitors for dental caries treatment; US, 63/503,801; May 23, 2023

Industrial Experience - Medicinal Chemist [Sep 2023 - present]

Cerflux Inc, Birmingham, USA

• Performing drug treatment experiments against colorectal cancer cell lines using epMotion robot

• Imaging using microscope and analyzing dose dependent data to produce IC50 and area under the curve

Graduate Research Assistant [Aug 2018 - Aug 2023]

PI: Dr. S. E. Velu, Department of Chemistry, UAB

Developing inhibitors of Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferases for the prevention of dental caries

• A library of small molecules was synthesized and evaluated for their in-vitro/in-vivo biofilm inhibition

• Peer reviewed publications, three-minute thesis competition, and multiple presentations at national conferences

• Skills learned: organic synthesis, high throughput screening and docking, expertise in characterization techniques including NMR, UV, HPLC etc., biofilm assays, handling bacteria, fluorescent microscopy

• Expanding research capabilities of the lab: a unique experience during this job was to think of, design and set up microbiological capabilities for which we used to depend on others; including instrument and supply purchase, experimental design and conducting the experiments

• Awards:

  • • Outstanding Graduate Research Award – 2023,

    • ACS Alabama Section Graduate Student Fellow – 2022

    • Winner, Three Minute Thesis Competition – 2023 

Project Research Assistant [Sep 2027 - Jun 2018]

PI: Dr. N. R. Kumbhakarna, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IITB

• • • Quantum chemical calculations were performed using B3LYP/6-311G++(d,p) level of theory and compound method like CBS-QB3.

    • Thermodynamic, physical and detonation properties of potential rocket propellants were predicted

    • New oxidizers and high energy materials were designed to be synthesized and used as propellants

    • Skills learned: expertise in using Gaussian 09 and NASA-CEA software 

Research Assistant, Masters' Thesis [Jul 2016 – Apr 2017]

PI: Dr. I. N. N. Namboothiri, Department of Chemistry, IITB

Co-PI: Dr. P. Bhaumik, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IITB

Structure-based study, design, and synthesis of inhibitors against histidine kinase protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae

• Sulfonyl pyrazoles were designed and synthesized as competitive inhibitors of histidine kinase proteins

• Protein ligand docking was performed to calculate binding affinity of the inhibitors

• Skills learned: Expertise in using Atodock Vina and Pymol software, organic synthesis, purification and characterization of small molecules, interpreting 1H and 13C NMRs

Instructional Laboratory Coordinator [Sep 2023 - present]

Department of Chemistry, UAB

• Credentialed instructor for ‘CH105 Introductory Chemistry’ for first year undergraduates.

• Teaching CH 117 General Chemistry II as an instructor

• Developing new curriculum for chemistry exposure courses and city as a classroom

• Leading team of TAs, organize meetings, design experiments and evaluations for general chemistry courses

Head Teaching Assistant [May 2023 - Aug 2023]

Department of Chemistry, UAB

• Held weekly meetings to cover experiments, safety and go through possible difficulties and issues

• Advised on the development of a TA training program to train newly hired graduate teaching assistants

• Adapted and implemented changes in experiments for smooth, inquisitive and safe learning experience

• Ensured consistency in grading among different lab sections and meetings with TAs upon requests

• Meetings with the lab coordinator to discuss labs, gradings and other issues and implementing changes

Graduate Teaching Assistant [Aug 2018 – Apr 2023]

Department of Chemistry, UAB

• Taught ‘General Chemistry Lab’ course to undergraduate students

• Taught ‘Introduction to Chemistry’ course to non-chemistry major students

• Lectured, prepped and supervised lab sessions, attended safety meetings, proctored and graded exams

• Award: Outstanding General Chemistry TA Award – 2023

Invited Teacher - Summer Science Camp [Jul 2023]

Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA

• Conducted and coordinated eDNA extraction lab for 8th graders 

Visiting Teacher [Jul 2012 - Jul 2017]

Aadarsh Gyan Lok Middle School Tatam, India

• Taught science, mathematics and history to middle school students

Volunteer Teaching [Jul 2012 – Jul 2017]

Mumbai, India

• Taught science and basic literacy to underprivileged children not receiving school education 

Invited Teaching - Biology [Jul 2010 – Apr 2011]

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Nowgong, India

• Covered biology for 10th grade students in absence of teacher for a year

Excellence in Graduate Research [Apr 2023]

Department of Chemistry, UAB

On the basis of graduate research work and scholastic achievements 

Outstanding General Chemistry Teaching Assistant [Apr 2023]

Department of Chemistry, UAB

On the basis of outstanding teaching and consistent great reviews every year by students in general chemistry lab 

Winner, Three Minute Thesis Competition [Nov 2022]

Department of Chemistry, UAB

For winning the three-minute thesis competition held by department of chemistry at UAB 

Alabama Section ACS Outstanding Graduate Student Fellow [Apr 2022]

Department of Chemistry, UAB

On the basis of exemplary work as a graduate student including research, teaching and contribution to department culture

Best Office Bearer, Hostel 5, IITB [Mar 2014]

Hostel 5, IITB

This is one of the most prestigious awards across the campus given for contribution as a council office bearer

Vigyan Manthan Yatra [Jan 2008 and Jan 2010]

State Government  of Madhya Pradesh, India

Selected as one of the top 1000 students in the state for 10-day science excursions across India

National Talent Search Scholarship [Jul 2007]

Government of India

Selected as top 0.01% out of 1 million participants across the country with two stages of science exams and a final interview 

First Author Peer-Reviewed Publications

• Hydrogel encapsulated biofilm inhibitors for the pH-responsive inhibition of Streptococcus mutans’ cariogenic activity. J. Med. Chem. 2023, 66, 12, 7909–7925 

• Discovery of potent inhibitors of Streptococcus mutans biofilm with antivirulence Activity. ACS Med. Chem. Lett. 2021, 12, 48−55

• Polymersome encapsulated hydroxy aurones for pH sensitive drug release against Streptococcus mutans biofilm (Manuscript to be submitted to ACS Applied Bio Materials)

Co-Author Peer-Reviewed Publications

• • • Prognostic and therapeutic value of the Hippo pathway, RABL6A, and p53-MDM2 axes in sarcomas. Oncotarget. 2021, 12, 740-755

    • Identification of TrkB Binders from Complex Matrices Using a Magnetic Drug Screening Nanoplatform. ACS Appl. Bio Mater. 2021, 4, 8, 6244–6255 

Conferences

• Author, abstract, characterizing differential efficacy and phenotypic response to proteasome and surviving inhibitors in colorectal cancers using a high throughput organoid assay, J. Clin. Oncol, Jan 22, 2024

• Interactive talk session chair, Cariology research-microbiological studies/biofilm I, 2023 American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research Annual Meeting & Exhibition. March 17th, 2023

• Oral presentation, Dental caries prevention by small molecule S. mutans biofilm inhibitors. 2023 American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research Annual Meeting & Exhibition. March 17th, 2023

• Presenting author, poster, Biofilm inhibiting hydroxyaurones with in vivo anticariogenic activity against Streptococcus mutans. American Chemical Society National Meeting Fall 2022. August 21st, 2022

• 4. Presenting author, poster, aurones as S. mutans Gtf Inhibitors for Prevention of Dental Caries. 2021 Southeastern Regional Meeting of American Chemical Society, Birmingham, Alabama. November 11th, 2021

• Author, A search for alternative solid rocket propellant oxidizers. 12th Asia-Pacific Conference on Combustion, Fukuoka International Congress Center, Fukuoka, Japan, July 1st, 2019.

• Author, On reconsideration of the method for calculating oxygen balance of propellant oxidizers. Spring Technical Meeting of the Canadian Section of Combustion Institute (CICS), Kelowna, May 2019

Organic Synthesis

Conducting organic reactions, purification by column chromatography, recrystallization, precipitation etc., characterization of organic compounds using 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, IR, UV, mass spectra etc., total synthesis

Microbiology

Biofilm assays, handling bacteria, fluorescent microscopy

Computational

High throughput screening, lead optimization, structure activity relationship

Cancer Cells Bioassays

Drug treatment using epMotion, imaging using Biotek Lionheart, CellTiterGlo

Software

SeeSAR, Autodock tools, Pymol, Topspin, Gen5, ChemDraw, GraphPad Prism

Operating Systems

Windows, Linux (basic)

Event Coordinator [Aug 2022 – Apr 2023]

Department of Chemistry, UAB

•  Attended regular meetings to discuss and implement strategies to improve student life and culture

• Organized social events, research retreats and hiking trips for the department

General Secretary [Jul 2015 – Apr 2016]

Department of Chemistry, IITB

•  Spearheaded and represented chemistry department students at IITB

•  Participated in curriculum development meetings

•  Developed departmental merchandise and organized social trips for students and faculty

Chief Editor [Jul 2015 – Apr 2016]

Spandan, Annual Hindi Magazine of IITB

•  Collected, edited and published works of students and scholars at IITB

•  Published my own literary work with editorial

National Cadet Corps

A-Certificate and B-Certificate

•  Rigorous training in army drill, rifle handling and chemouflage

•  Combined Annual Training Camp Dhana, and Annual Training Camp IITB. Both were 10-day army camps with training in discipline, camping, and survival

Rural Activities

•  Consistent member of Group for Rural Activities at IITB for 5 years

• Visited rural areas of multiple states in India, understood their needs problems and development issues, and brainstormed solutions and our role as scientists in nation building

• Regularly participated in multiple bicycle donation and tree plantation events

Traveling and Adventure

• Covered 42 states in USA, mostly by driving

• Frequent involvement in hiking, camping, white water rafting, canoeing etc.

Creative Writing

• Incessant winner of IITB Creative Writing General Championship in Hindi poetry writing

• Invited for All India Youth Poet Conference at Bhopal, India where poets across India recited their poetry