Poonam A
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at University of Texas Austin (UT Austin)
Expertise
Cancer, Molecular Biology, Protein purification, Cell based assays
Bio
I am currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at Stanford University, California, USA. I have a long-standing interest in understanding chromatin mechanisms involved in disease pathologies including cancer and how these can inform disease therapies. My current research is aimed at developing tools and strategies to study how changes in chromatin dynamics and architecture influence gene regulation during cellular differentiation/development and how dysregulated gene expression can lead to diverse human diseases. Understanding the ways how genes are regulated (expressed or silenced) through chromatin dynamics is the key to gain insights on normal development, disease initiation and progression as well as resistance to therapy. I obtained a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Texas at Austin, Texas, USA where I developed tools to study anticancer drug mechanisms which function through DNA damage. Before coming to the US, I received a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and a Master’s degree in Biotechnology in India and worked for an agri-based company, Camson Biotechnologies and a pharmaceutical company, Biocon in Bangalore, India. I aspire to encourage students to become the next generation drivers of better healthcare. In my free time, I enjoy running, cooking and getting involved in STEM outreach programs.Project ideas
Protein expression and purification
This project is developed to provide students with an overview of protein structure, expression and different techniques that can be employed to purify a protein of interest. After a broad survey of various proteins involved in key cellular processes, the student is assisted in identifying one particular protein to pursue for research. Each session involves an introductory lesson on the basic concepts of online available bioinformatic tools and laboratory techniques that are commonly employed in proteomics research. Students will get familiarized with laboratory-based techniques for protein expression, purification by FPLC and identification by MS, NMR etc. There will be discussion on previous session's assigned readings of recommended journal articles and book chapters along with student's own discoveries on the research topic. Assignments will contain designing short experimental tasks, guided problem solving, training exercises for developing reading comprehension skills on scientific literature, research proposal drafts etc. The output from this project is a form of external communication on the student's research topic. This may include publication of a research article in a relevant science journal, a research presentation poster for a science fair, etc.