Greater Munich Metropolitan Area
The research focusses on the characterization of small RNAs (sRNAs) in plants responsive to cold and high light treatment. The analyzed raw sequencing data of sRNAs was compared with mRNA and lncRNAs sequencing data in Arabidopsis thaliana. This data was used to characterize differentially expressed sRNAs after 3 hours, 6 hours and 2 days of cold and high light treatment. • Prepared small RNA libraries to identify differentially expressed sRNAs and analyzed the sequencing data using Galaxy Software. • Performed Northern blots for validation of sRNAs and RT-PCR to confirm the miRNA targets. • Collaborated with a Lab from Computational division, Technical University of Kaiserslautern and established a miRNA-Transcription factor network of A. thaliana. • Proficient in molecular biology, including DNA and RNA isolation, PCR, RT-PCR, stem loop PCR, gradient PCR, cDNA synthesis, Dot blot, Native-PAGE, Restriction enzyme digestion. • Familiar with bioinformatics tools such as Primer designing, BLAST, RNA sequencing data analysis related GALAXY and CLC genomics platforms, psRNATarget tool, DAVID Bioinformatics tool, Gephi Software for network visualization, R-programming (beginner). • Proficient in using RT-PCR, Gel doc, Thermal cycler, Light Microscope, Quantity one for blot visualization, Imaging Win for PAM measurements and Corel Draw. • Supervised a Master’s and a Bachelor’s Research course/Thesis student. • Gave 3 Oral presentations and 2 Poster presentations at the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) meetings. • Attended Galaxy Workshop and Data Analysis Workshop organized at Humboldt University of Berlin.
Title of the Master's thesis: 'Nitric Oxide mediated Hypersensitivity & Biochemical Responses under Tobacco –pathogen Interaction' • Performed infiltration of Tobacco leaves with biotic agents (X. oryzae). • Conducted Biochemical tests to qualitatively and quantitatively estimate the production of Reactive Oxygen Species and Enzymes (H2O2, APX, PAL, MDA) necessary for ROS removal from the Plant.
Topic worked on: Calcium Signalling in A.thaliana during Stress Conditions. The following tasks were performed in association with a PhD student: • Helped in performing Yeast Two Hybrid Assay to study interaction of O. sativa CBLs with A. thaliana CIPKs and A. thaliana CBL with A. thaliana CIPK. • Assisted with mutation of CIPK gene using Site Directed Mutagenesis where Threonine residue was replaced by Aspartate amino acid. • Assisted in TOPO Cloning of a CIPK gene into the Entry Vector pENTR/D-TOPO Vector to generate a construct that was further cloned into the Expression Vector pSITE2CA for localization studies by LR based cloning. • Performed Restriction Enzyme Cloning where a CIPK gene was cloned in Vectors pGAD and pGBT for yeast two-hybrid assay.