SINDHU ARAVINDAKSHAN

2701 Trappers Cove Trail * Lansing * MI 48910 * 732-983-8581 *

My objective is to pursue a scientific career in one of the many microbiological
areas within a research-oriented biotech/food industry or in the academia. I ha
ve formidable experience as a researcher and would like to join a team where my
skills can be utilized effectively in a setting that encourages personal and pro
fessional growth
Skills:
* Microbiology
Aseptic techniques, microbial selection, identification, electron and fluorescen
ce microscopy, assay development for antimicrobials, handling of pathogens, qual
ity control
* Biochemistry
Protein production and expression analysis (antibody generation and purificatio
n, SDS-PAGE, Western Blot, Immunoprecipitation, in vitro enzyme assays, ELISA),
protein preparation, extraction/purification and analysis (HPLC, mass spectromet
ry, LC-Mass, sequence analysis), UV-visible spectroscopy, Gas Chromatography
* Molecular Biology
PCR, PFGE, RAPD, RFLP, DNA cloning, DNA extraction/preparation, labeling, DNA s
equence analysis, molecular (16S rRNA) phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA hybridizat
ion, bacterial transformation, clone analysis (restriction, Southern blot), site
-directed mutagenesis, library construction
Educational Background
M. Sc. Medical and Molecular Microbiology; The University of Manchester, U.K. 20
05
Thesis Advisor - Dr Gordon Rigg
Relevant Coursework: General virology, Medical and diagnostic virology, Genetics
and antibiotics, Systemic Bacteriology I, Systemic bacteriology II, Systemic ba
cteriology III, Medical Mycology, Molecular Microbiology
B. Sc. Medical Microbiology, Mahatma Gandhi University, India 2003
Relevant Coursework: Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Biostatistics, General
Microbiology, Bacteriology, General and Diagnostic virology, Clinical and diagno
stic bacteriology, Entomology, Parasitology, Mycology
Work Experience
2008-09 Research Assistant, Biology Department, University of Central Florida, O
rlando, Florida (Advisor- Dr Cristina Calestani)
Project: Sulfotransferase (sult) is required for mesoderm and endoderm developm
ent of Sea Urchin
* Genetic studies conducted under in studying the function of sult gene in Stro
ngylocentrotus purpuratus.
* The study was conducted by a knock-down approach.
Molecular Techniques used:
* cDNA isolation
* gene knock down using gene gun
* Flourescent microscopy
2006-08 Research Assistant, Faculty of Medicine, The Kuwait University, Jabriya,
Kuwait. (Advisors - Dr. Edet E Udo, Dr Noora Al Sweih)
Project: Genetic studies on the antibiotic resistance patterns and virulence det
erminants in various enterococcus sps. isolated from clinical specimens
* Conducted genetic studies on various enterococcus sps, isolated from 500 pati
ents admitted to all the major hospitals in Kuwait
* Preliminary study carried out on 150 enterococcus sps. isolated from differen
t veterinary specimens.
Molecular Techniques used:
* PFGE
* PCR
* Plasmid isolation, conjugative plasmid transfer, non-conjugative plasmid
mobilization
* Gene cloning
2004-05 Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Microbiology, The University
of Manchester, Manchester, U.K (Advisor - Dr. Gordon Rigg)
Project: Analysis of Mycograb(r) Targeting Candida albicans using Surface Plasmo
n Resonance
* Preliminary work was carried out to find the effectiveness of mycograb in att
aching to the hsp90 produced in yeast and germ tubes form of C.albicans
* Study was conducted using Surface Plasmon Resonance studies where C.albcans c
ells were allowed to flow over gold chip coated with mycograb
2003 Trainee, Amrita Institute of Medical Science and Research Centre, India
* Worked in the Bacteriology, Mycology, Tuberculosis, Serology and Media prepar
ation sections.
* Thorough exposure to the different investigative procedures for diagnosis of
infectious agents from various clinical specimens
Techniques:
* Bacteriological procedures like staining, culturing of clinical specimens
* Fluorescent staining,Acid fast staining and culturing of Mycobacteria
* Serological procedures like ELISA, Widal, VDRL, ASO, HIV-Tri dot, RPR, IM-Lat
ex tests
* Fungal culture and detection of parasites from different specimens
* Antibiotic sensitivity testing
* API-testing for various organisms
* Detection of anaerobes
* Quality control, sterility checks, water culture
Equipments Handled:
* VITEK
* BACTEC-9240
* Forma Scientific Equipments
* Electron Microscope
* Use of kits like API, Streptex, Staphaurex, mecA gene determination ,PBP-2
Computational Skills
* Operating systems: MS Windows XP, VISTA
* Productivity Software: MS Project, MS Access, other MS Office Tools
* Scientific Tools used: Sigma Plot, Adobe Photoshop, SPSS data analysis and mo
lecular
biology software.
Familiarity with bioinformatics and web-based microbiology and molecular biology
services
Training/Workshops
* Attended the Thirteenth Annual Health Science Centre Poster Conference, Unive
rsity of Kuwait, April 2008
* Attended the symposium on 'Recent advances in Clinical Virology', Department
of Microbiology, The University of Kuwait, April 29th- May 1st 2008
 * Symposium on 'Recent advances in the diagnosis and the management of infectio
us diseases', Department of Microbiology, The University of Kuwait May 4th- 6th
2008
* Participated in the 12th Annual Health Science Centre Poster Conference, The
University of Kuwait, April 16th- 18th 2007
* Symposium on 'Molecular Epidemiology and Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases', D
epartment of Microbiology, The University of Kuwait, May 12th - 14th 2007
* Attended the 11th Annual Health Science Centre Poster Conference, The Univers
ity of Kuwait, April 24th- 26th 2006
* Attended the International Diabetes Conference held in Kuwait, October 30th-
November 2nd 2006
* Participated in the workshop for International Diabetes Conference, Kuwait, O
ctober 30th-November 2nd 2006
Publication
* E. Udo, N. Al-Sweih, S. Aravindakshan 'The prevalence of antibiotic resistanc
e in Enterococcus species isolated in Kuwait hospitals', Journal of Infection, V
olume 55, Issue 3.
Presentations
Poster Presentations:
1. Sulfotransferase (sult) is required for mesoderm and endoderm development of
Sea Urchin
Developmental Biology of the Sea Urchin XIX, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods
Hole, MA, September 30-October 3, 2009.
2. The prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Enterococcus species isolated in K
uwait hospitals
* ' Federation for Infection Societies Conference' FIS-2006, in Cardiff, UK.
* 12th Annual Health Science Centre Poster Conference, 2007-Kuwait
Professional Membership
Student member of IBMS( Institute of Biomedical Sciences), UK