VAIBHAV EKHAR

** **** ***** ****** ●Hicksville, NY, 11801● Phone: 206-***-**** ● Email : acchnt@r.postjobfree.com

SUMMARY

• Results oriented, quality driven professional with extensive experience in microbiology/immunology research and

analytical testing methods.

2+ years of experience in industry and academic settings involving various projects.

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Proficient in basic research related to host-pathogen interactions involving animal models and Mammalian cell.

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Proficient in performing assays: Elisa, Western blot, Chemo taxis, Phagocytosis, Nitric oxide and Superoxide.

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Cell cultures work on J774, RAW, SKBR3, and HeLa cell lines.

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Experience in cell separation techniques (Magnetic bead separation and preparation for FACS sorting)

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Experience in FACS analysis, BD SLR and MACS Quant.

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Proficient in performing immunochemical and biochemical methods like ELISA, Western Blotting, PCR.

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Proficient in various microbiological testing methods and preparation of media and plates for growth.

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Experience in animal handling, organ and tumor isolation, freezing, sectioning and staining of tissues.

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Experience in working with multiple research projects simultaneously to their successful completion.

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• Strong analytical and problem solving skills.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Eminence Pharmaceuticals, Franklin, TN Jul2013 – Feb2014

Drug Safety Associate

• Receive follow up and report adverse events.

• Review and process adverse events reported by investigators.

• Research and provide medical and scientific information to health care professionals.

• Analyze medical and scientific literature using scientific expertise to support projects.

• Review clinical trial protocols and provide inputs to support the clinical trial team.

• Responsible for effective and efficient development of the safety management plan.

• Prepare safety report as per schedule Y format.

• Perform consistent coding of diseases, adverse events and medication according to the project.

• Represent team at client meetings.

Long Island University, Brookville, NY Feb2012- Jun2013

Research Associate at Dr. Luis Martinez’s Laboratory of ‘Immunology and Microbiology Research’

Projects:

● Effects of Methamphetamine on Macrophage functions in Cryptococcus neoformans Infection.

● Alcohol Abuse Enhances Acinetobacter baumannii- Associated Pneumonia and Systemic Dessimination

by Impairing Neutrophil Antimicrobial Activity.

● Cyclophosphamide- Induced Murine Model of Immunosuppression to Study Acinetobacter baumannii

pathogenesis.

● Effects of Alcohol on Macrophage Functions in Acinetobacter baumannii Infection.

Responsibilities:

● Designed and implemented experiments to study the interactions of the opportunistic fungus C.neoformans.

● Conceptualized and evaluated animal and cellular models to study bacterial infections.

● Developed skills with in-vitro Immunoassays (ELISA) and tissue culture techniques.

● Performed neutrophil isolation from human blood and protein co-immunoprecipitation techniques.

● Performed Phagocytosis, Killing, Nitric Oxide and Superoxide Assays to study host-pathogen interactions.

● Carried out Western Blots to check the expressions of various important proteins in presence of Methamphetamine.

● Authored and assisted principal investigator in preparation of scientific articles.

● Maintained laboratory supplies for research.

● Created and organized database for chemicals and microbial collections.

● Prepared media and plates used for growing microorganisms.

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Mentored high school, undergraduate, and graduate students in lab techniques and data analysis.

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Lab Assistant (Dept. of Chemistry), Long Island University, Brookville, NY

Sep2012- Dec2012

Provided academic and logistical support to professors and effectively communicated with

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students from diverse backgrounds. pH determination, Melting point, Dissolution, Disintegration, Friability,

Operating UV spectrometer, HPLC

Managed the lab, prepared chemicals and buffers required for the experiments.

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Organized the equipment and chemicals in the lab.

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Heil German Pharmaceuticals, Nagpur, India

Jan2010-Jul2010

• Worked as a Trainee in the department of Production and analysis

Managed the inventory items for production of various drug

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Underwent training in using chemicals and equipment’s used in analytical laboratory

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Analyzed chemical compounds by using various analytical techniques and instrumentation.

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Zim Laboratories, Nagpur, India May2009-Jul2009

● Worked as an Intern in the department of Formulations.

● Formulation of various solid and liquid oral dosage forms like tablets, suspensions, emulsions using tablet press and

homogenizer.

● Pre-formulation studies for the dosage forms.

● Determination of stability of the dosage forms by friability and hardness test, dissolution and disintegration studies.

EDUCATION

Long Island University, Brookville, NY Sep2010- Dec2012

M.S. in Medical Biology, Dept. of Biomedical Sciences Specialization in Immunology

Master’s thesis: Effect of Methamphetamine on Macrophage function in a Cryptococcus neoformans infection .

Nagpur University, India Jun2005- Aug2009

Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Project: Sites and dosage form options for Mucoadhesive drug delivery system.

SKILLS

Tissue Culture Development and maintenance of cell culture, GFP transfection studies,

Cytotoxicity And host-pathogen interactions

Molecular Biology BCA assays, Gel electrophoresis, Western blots, ELISA, Plasmid preparation

Microbiology Antibiotic testing, Streaking and staining, Prepared media and plates,

Sterility testing, Growth promotion testing

Analytical HPLC, UV, Affinity chromatography, Dissolution testing

Instrumentation Synergy HT biotech plate reader, Coulter counter, Colony counter, ELISA washer,

Typhoon image quant, Centrifuge

Computer Skills MS office, (MS word. Excel, PowerPoint), Scientific graphical data analysis

(Prism and Sigma plot),

RDBMS Oracle 11g/10g/9i/8i, SQL server 2000/2005, DB2, Teradata, MS Access

Qlikview Tools Qlikview desktop client, Qlikview publisher, Enterprise management console

Languages SQL, PL/SQL, DHTML, VB-script, C, C++, XML

PUBLICATION AND PRESENTATIONS

● Manepalli, S., Gandhi, J., V.E. Ekhar, M.B. Asplund, C. Coelho, and L.R. Martinez. Cyclophosphamide-induced murine

model of immunosuppression to study Acinetobacter Baumannii pathogenesis. Journal of Medical Microbiology.

2013.060004. In Press

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Gandhi, J., V.E. Ekhar, M.B. Asplund, M. Ahmadi, C. Coelho, and L.R. Martinez. 2013. Alcohol Abuse Enhance

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Acinetobacter baumannii-Associated Pneumonia and Systemic Dissemination by Impairing Neutrophil Antimicrobial Activity

Clinical Immunology. In Press.

Participated in Scientific Poster Presentation Competition MACUB, Nov 2012, Adelphi University, NY.

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Organized and attended the 60th Indian Pharmaceutical Congress Conference in New Delhi.

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