Shivani Navalakha Email & Phone Number

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Project title: Role of inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6) in non-homologous end-joining in human cells.Constructed and stably expressed transgenic Ku70 mutants that failed to bind IP6 in human cells. Preliminary experiments were performed to establish the human cell line expressing endogenous Ku70 knockout using CRISPR/Cas9 system. Developed and optimized strategies to screen the knockout clones. Optimized the GFP-reporter-based end-joining assays to measure the end-joining efficiency of IP6 binding mutants of Ku70 in human cells.

• Trained 6 students in technical skills such as molecular cloning (Gibson Assembly, Golden Gate Assembly, TA cloning), site-directed mutagenesis, transfection, electroporation in mammalian cells, and CRISPR/Cas9 mediated gene editing. • Tutored students in learning computational skills such as designing primers and the single and paired sgRNA. Also assisted them in learning different online software often used for the purpose of gene editing.• Arranged and evaluated weekly quizzes for students.

• Responsibilities of the role involved creating new funding opportunities and connecting with sponsors.• Proposing and allocating a yearly financial budget for different committees of the association.• Develop monthly and quarterly reports accounting for all financial transactions.

• Trained 34 students in fundamental molecular biology techniques including nucleic acid isolation, restriction digestion, bacterial and yeast transformation, transfection, molecular cloning, protein induction and purification, q-PCR, and gene knockout using CRISPR/Cas9.• Assisted the professor in planning the weekly lab sessions and evaluating the students’ lab reports.• Coordinated with 3 other teaching assistants to prepare experiments and maintain records weekly.

United States

• Assisting the program director in organizing the documentation.• Planning virtual meetings for newly admitted students to provide them with guidance and assist with course-related queries. • Editing and formatting the thesis submitted by the alumni students.

United States

Pune, Maharashtra, India

Project title: Assisted in research projects that involved the establishment of a mouse model for osteoarthritis and osteoporosis disease as well as for oral sub-mucosal fibrosis. Responsibilities majorly involved grouping mice based on specific study criteria, collecting blood samples, delivering subcutaneous injections, analyzing behavioral activities, and euthanizing mice. We also provided mesenchymal stem cell therapy in the established mouse models.Participated in a case study that focused on comparing the efficiency of Covid-19 testing using nasal swab samples Vs saliva samples.

Project title: Mechanistic role of lactogenic hormone and extracellular matrix-mediated signaling in lactogenesis.This involved inducing lactogenesis in mammalian cell lines with the treatment of lactating hormones and studying the regulation of specific chromatin remodelers using qRT-PCR. We identified key chromatin regulators that regulate lactogenesis in the mammalian cell line.

Master'S Degree, Medical Biotechnology

B.Tech (Medical )Biotechnology, Clinical Sciences