User:Sonia Chothani: Difference between revisions
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* Current and Completed: Phylogenetics, Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Computational neuroscience, Principles of Imperative Computation, Molecular Biology, Structural Biology, Cell Biology, Evolution of Regulatory Genomics | * Current and Completed: Phylogenetics, Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Computational neuroscience, Principles of Imperative Computation, Molecular Biology, Structural Biology, Cell Biology, Evolution of Regulatory Genomics | ||
* Planned: | * Planned: Bioimage Informatics, Machine Learning, Computational Genomics | ||
==Research Projects== | ==Research Projects== | ||
Areas of Interest: Systems Biology, Bioinformatics and Synthetic Biology | Areas of Interest: Systems Biology, Bioinformatics and Synthetic Biology | ||
Revision as of 18:39, 29 October 2012
About Me
<html> <body> <p> Master of Science in Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA (Fall 2012 - Spring 2014) <br> Bachelor of Technology in Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India (Fall 2008 - Spring 2012) <br>
</body> </html>
Contact Info
Coursework
- Current and Completed: Phylogenetics, Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Computational neuroscience, Principles of Imperative Computation, Molecular Biology, Structural Biology, Cell Biology, Evolution of Regulatory Genomics
- Planned: Bioimage Informatics, Machine Learning, Computational Genomics
Research Projects
Areas of Interest: Systems Biology, Bioinformatics and Synthetic Biology
- Organism Specific Protein-RNA interactions [Guide : Dr. M. M. Gromiha, IIT Madras Duration : Dec’11-Ongoing ] Understanding the recognition mechanism of Protein-RNA complexes has been a challenging task in molecular and computational biology. Computational biologists have studied non-redundant sets of these complexes and have formulated interesting facts. We would like to study whether a Protein-RNA recognition mechanism studied in only one organism can be generalized for all others or not. Expecting a varied behavior we would like to study how this change has evolved and observe a pattern over evolution.
- Reconstruction and Modelling of human specific Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase signalling pathways [Guide : Dr. Ramrup Sarkar, Mathematical Modeling and Computational Biology Laboratory, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India Duration : May-July 2010] The initial phase of the work required a meticulous and patient reconstruction of a comprehensive MAPK signaling pathway (297 ‘species’ and 160 ‘reactions’) from various databases and literature. We used the Logical Steady State Analysis (LSSA) approach for modeling and analysis using the software CellNetAnalyzer (CNA). Further, a systematic perturbation study analysis to identify alternative pathways and optimal intervention points (targets) was carried out.
- Monsanto Research Centre [Bangalore, India May-Jul’11]
- Molecular Cloning [Dr. Thillai Chidambaram, Dept: Molecular Cloning, Vector Technology and Protein Analytics (MVP), 7 weeks]
- Gained experience in numerous sophisticated Molecular Biology Techniques for E.coli and Agrobacterium
- Submitted 3 successful clones which were forwarded to the next vertical (Transformation, MRC, Bangalore)
- Quality check time for transformants was reduced from 1 day to 4 hrs by optimizing cell growth
- Optimized a new cloning technique which uses Overlap Extension fusion. It helps to clone more than 1 inserts at a time. This is being continued at MRC to reduce the cost and time
- Experimentally calculated optimum insert concentration for a successful ligation hence optimized time for PCR amplification of the insert. The time was reduced from 3.5 hrs to 1 hr
- Bioinformatics [Dr. Subodh Rawool, Computational Biology Function , 2 weeks]
- Learnt Perl, a scripting language-within 4 days and developed scripts to overcome the shortcomings of currently available methods for dynamic visualization of metabolic networks.
- Larsen & Toubro Infotech Ltd. [Powai, Mumbai, Jun-Jul’09]
- Trained for 8 years at Prerana Naratan Kala Kendra, Examining Body: Bharatiya Sangeet Samiti
- Master Diploma with “Distinction” in Bharatnatyam, ‘04
- Foundation Sr. with “Distinction” in Manipuri Naratan,‘97
- Awarded “NXG Hindu Chennai’s Best Dancer” at Campus Jive’10; Photograph and article featured in Hindu on 1st Sept’10
- Member of Institute dance team (‘08-’11) and a consistent winner at Solo dance, Lit-Soc: 6th in ‘08, 1st in ‘09, 2nd in ‘10
- Won 1 gold medal and 2 silver medals in a classical group dance competition at ISKCON (2002, 2003, 2004)
- Lead Actor in Sharavati hostel Short Film Making, LitSoc’11; Placed 3rd;
- Supporting Actor in “Variety”, an independent short film venture by MM Productions in 2011
- Social Service: Certificate of Appreciation for Alert India, Urban Leprosy control programme and National Association for Blind, India. Have also been involved in Neighborhood Development with National Service Scheme, India 2008-2009 Positions of Responsibility
- Choreo Coordinator, Saarang, IIT Madras, Sept’10-Aug’11
- Coordinated one of the biggest events at Saarang; Professional show, 8000 audience, 500 participants
- Conceptualized and conducted a new event, $treet$; 3000 audience, 40 participants, judged by: Int’l. hip hop crew
- Headed the Institute Dance team and coordinated the dance competitions all year round
- Co-Founder and Coordinator, SPArK, Dance Club, IIT Madras, ‘08-‘10
- Instrumental in organizing dance sessions on campus by renowned choreographers at 50% rates since freshman year
- Social Affairs Secretary, Sharavati Hostel, IIT Madras, Elected by 600 electorate, May’10-Apr’11
- Effectively handled a budget of INR 36,500 for conducting various cultural and social activities
- Led Sharavati hostel to place 3rd (out of 17) in Lit-Soc ‘10-‘11(Year round inter hostel literary and cultural competitions)
- Coordinator, Quality Management System, Shaastra (ISO 9001:2008 certified), IIT Madras, Mar’10-Feb’11
- Structured and implemented a formal procedure for improving the quality and management of Workshops at Shaastra
<html> <a href="http://openwetware.org/images/1/17/Report_Sonia_Chothani.pdf">Click here to view the report.</a> <br> <a href="http://openwetware.org/images/b/ba/Reconstruction_%26_Modeling_Of_MAP_Kinase_Signaling_Pathway.ppt">Click here for the presentation</a><br> </ul> </html>
International Competitions/Conferences
<html> <ul> <b><li>International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) 2011 </li></b> <i>Photonivorous bacteria for Resolution and Expression, IIT Madras, Jan-Nov’11 </i><br> <b>Won Gold, Asia's Best Natural Biobrick, Asia's Best Safety Commendation </b> <br> [Guide: Dr. Nitish Mahapatra, Dr. G.K Suraishkumar, Dr. Michael Gromiha]<br> [Asia Regionals, HKUST, Hong Kong (15th Oct’11)]<br> [World Championship, MIT, Boston (7th Nov’11)]<br><br>
<ol type="1"> <li> A light based technique to screen transformants using a positive control </li> An alternative to antibiotic screening technique for transformants. The screening plasmid here consists of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proteorhodopsin">Proteorhodopsin(PR)</a> gene instead of the antibiotic resistance which in presence of light and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retinal">Retinal (A chromophore)</a> gives a proton gradient, this is used by ATP synthase to produce ATP. Hence giving an energy advantage allowing only the transformed cells to grow in a low carbon media. <li> A light based technique to improve protein productivity</li> Plasmid consisting of a Carbon Stress Promoter (pCSTA) and Proteorhodopsin, giving a survival advantage to the cells in low nutrient media. This would help improve the productivity of recomibnant proteins, biopolymers like Hyaluronic Acid and Curdlan. <br>
<li>Mathematical Modeling and computational tools </li> <ol type="1"> <li>Developed an open-source online tool for site directed mutagenesis primer design </li> <li>An extensive Reconstruction and Flux Balance Analysis study of metabolic pathways in E.coli at the genome scale, considering 1668 metabolites and 2383 reactions and their respective stoichiometry matrices was carried out using a Constraint Based approach. Upto 30% increase in growth rate was observed due to Proteorhodopsin at high carbon stress conditions</li> </ol> <a href="http://2011.igem.org/Team:IIT_Madras/Dry_lab/Modelling">Click here to see more details on the modelling.</a> <br> </ol></ul></html>
- <html>
<li><b>International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) 2010 </b></li>
<i>Sweetening Pro-biotic Curd, Department of Biotechnology, IIT Madras, Jan-Nov’10</i><br>
<b> Won Gold </b> <br>
[Guide: Dr. Guhan Jayaraman]<br>
[iGEM , MIT, Boston(7th Nov’10)]<br>
<ol type="1">
<li>Our innovations are two-fold: the idea of using a lactic acid bacteria (often used in the curdling of milk) to produce the sweetening protein(Monellin), and in using a regulatory mechanism that functions under a combination of constraints, like an AND gate</li>
<li>Our regulatory mechanism combines the use of promoters that can be either induced or repressed by an external action, like providing Heat-shock, adding Niacin, or by the system falling below a certain pH </li>
<a href="http://2010.igem.org/Team:IIT_Madras">Click here to go to our media wiki</a><br>
<a href="http://openwetware.org/images/f/f5/11_02_10_Jamboree_presentation.pdf">Click here to view our presentation</a><br>
</ol></html>
These were student initiated and organized project where we brainstorm towards a feasible, novel and socially significant idea. We also handled the Sponsorship, Finance and the laboratory equipment management. We generated a sponsorship of INR 8,00,000 to fund the projects and managed the laboratory requirements.
Industrial Experience
Offered a Research Consultant Position at Monsanto Research Centre, Bangalore
Understanding of Product Lifecycle Management and its Current Usage in Biotechnology Equipped the team with prospect maps and SWOT analysis of various clients
Co-Curricular & Extracurricular activities
Useful links
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