➤ Research Project Lead for three early discovery RNA/subunit vaccine projects against a bacterial STI and a ubiquitous virus.➤ Identified novel targets and developed the collaborative research plan for vaccine projects. Collaborated with internal teams for vaccine construct design and selection of antigens/epitopes for three mRNA vaccines.➤ Responsible for driving external and internal research activities to actively progress the project from early discovery towards lead optimization and CAN selection.➤ Presented project progress to senior leadership for project transition as well as presented project updates to external advisory committee members.➤ Subject Matter Expertise for anti-infectives at CTI.➤ People’s manager - oversaw career development and responsible for everyday scientific deliverables.➤ Established and validated cell mediated, and antibody mediated immunological assays (ELISpot, multi-color T cell ICS panel and in vitro neutralization).➤ Evaluated external science and partnering opportunities with extended scientific team to grow the anti-infectives portfolio. ➤ Presented project progress to senior leadership for project transition as well as presented project updates to external advisory committee members.➤ Collaborated with project and portfolio management to report on project progression on a regular basis.➤ Trained personnel in in vitro and in vivo infection procedures/tissue harvesting.➤ In house technical expert for use and management of flow cytometers/sorters at CTI-NYC site towards multiple therapeutic area targets.

➤ Recipient of Early Career Research Development Award, March 2022➤ Research focused on identifying immunological biomarkers in women who have developed natural immunity to Chlamydia trachomatis. Used mass cytometry, flow cytometry, single cell RNAseq (10X genomics) platform and multi-dimensional data analysis tools to understand the immune responses in blood and genital tract tissues of women who were infected with Chlamydia trachomatis and naturally resolved their infection.➤ Research focused on determining Chlamydia specific immune responses in Ct infected women.➤ Research contributed towards evaluating the effect of a lead eQTL on the expression of CD151 by T cells in Ct infected women and the effect of CD151 genotype on T cell function before and after in vitro stimulation with Chlamydia.➤ Extensively used cellular immunology tools – Multi parameter Flow cytometry, Mass cytometry, cell sorting, ELISPOTS, scRNA seq, antigen specific stimulation experiments, high dimensional data analysis.➤ Key player in team science grants and participated in the role of Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator in preparing and writing of grant applications (NIH and Career Development Grants).➤ Trained and mentored graduate student, post docs and technicians in the lab.

➤ 20% of my work load contributed towards core operations at the state-of-the-art mass cytometry core facility that holds a Helios-CyTOF instrument.➤ I design and execute research projects in understanding inflammatory mechanisms of chronic pain in burn patients using systems immunology approaches (CyTOF).➤ Designed several multi-dimensional (35-40 markers) functional, phenotype and antigen specific panels. ➤ Custom conjugation of metal isotope-polymer-monoclonal antibodies.➤ Expertise in analyzing high dimensional data analysis.➤ Ongoing collaboration with Dr. Bruce Bagwell (a pioneer in cytometry data analysis for the last three decades) that has resulted in a significant and impactful co-authored publication.

➤ 20% of my work load contributed towards core operations at the centralized state-of-the-art flow cytometry core facility at UNC that holds 7 Analyzers [BD LSR II, BD Fortessa, Cytek Aurora, Thermo Fisher Attune (2x), Intellicyt iQue and Amnis Imagestream] and 2 sorters (BD Aria II and III).➤ Provide consulting services by designing, performing and trouble-shooting flow cytometry experiments for immuno-oncology, cancer therapeutic, basic immunology and infectious diseases (COVID-19) researchers across UNC-CH campus.➤ To Flow Sort target cell populations for projects that involve bulk RNA sequencing, single cell RNA sequencing, in vivo adoptive transfer experiments, enrichment culturing and screening.➤ Invited member of Flow Cytometry Research Group (FCRG) with a goal of providing information related to the art of flow cytometry, including its cross-technology applications to genomics, proteomics and other core-related areas.

Mucosal Immunology, Biomarker discovery, Vaccine development, Infectious Disease, Flow cytometry and Mass cytometry, High dimensional data analysis.

Chlamydia, Mucosal Immunology, Vaccine development, Adjuvants, Chlamydial male mouse model and Herpes.

Identification of immuno-dominant antigens for vaccine development against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.