Development Assistant
Resume:
OBJECTIVE
Seeking a position in R&D product development area utilizing my formulation
development experience that affords future growth, management and
leadership opportunities
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
o Extensive experience in development of multi-particulates using fluid
bed technology
o Competent in formulation development of taste masking by micro-
encapsulation and fluid bed coating
o Lead scientist in technology improvement, development and scale-up for
Eurand's ODT technology (ADVATAB )
o Extensive experience in ODT development
o DoE implementation in development process
o Energetic self-starter with excellent oral and written communication
skills
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Eurand Inc., Vandalia, OH March 2008
- present
Formulation Scientist
o Hands on experience with solid dosage form manufacturing equipment and
processes
o Successfully completed fast-track formulation development of rapidly
disintegrating (RDT) formulation for an alternative route of
administration for pre-clinical study for external client
o Formulation development of immediate release, modified release dosage
forms involving matrix as well as containing multi-particulate
delivery systems
o Experience in communicating and presenting findings to external
clients
o Patent and Literature review and implementation towards development of
novel taste masking and sustained release technology
o Proficient in microencapsulation by coacervation process for API taste
masking ODT/RDT prototype development
o Knowledge of cGMP, ICH guidelines in relation to quality and general
operating procedures within the facility
o Overview of blister/bottle packaging at third party facility
o Writing and training peers on new/revised SOPs, writing development
reports.
o Collaborate and support other departments (Regulatory, Quality) for
regulatory filings when required.
o Ability to multitask and prioritize responsibilities
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
2002 - 2007
> Research Assistant
o Worked as a research assistant on a collaborative contract project
involving product development studies for a client from the
industry. Experience in unit operations: Granulation, blending,
tabletting.
> Graduate Teaching Assistant (2002-2007)
o Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of the
Sciences in Philadelphia - Responsibilities included instructing
General Chemistry laboratories.
o Doctor of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Program -
Responsibilities included instructing
o Pharmaceutics
o Manufacturing and Industrial Pharmacy and Cosmetic Science
laboratories.
Responsible for teaching GMP compliance, Micromeritics,
granulation techniques
Summer Intern, Haffkins Institute, Mumbai, India (June 2001).
Exposure to oral liquid formulation manufacturing and packaging facilities
and training in quality control techniques
EDUCATION
o Ph.D. Pharmaceutics Aug 2002 - March
2008
University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA
Dissertation Title: Development of biodegradable polymer membranes for
possible tissue engineering applications.
o B. Pharmacy May 1998 - Jun 2002
Bombay College of Pharmacy, University of Mumbai, India
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Development of biodegradable polymer membranes for possible tissue
engineering applications.
Fabrication of poly-L-lactic acid: polyethylene glycol (PLLA: PEG)
membranes by solvent casting
o Physical characterization of membranes:
o Effect of PEG molecular weight on morphological, thermal,
mechanical, and diffusion properties of the membrane
o Effect of in vitro incubation on membrane properties
Study of dermal cell attachment on PLLA: PEG membranes
Other Research Skills
o Working knowledge of DSC, TGA, and mechanical tester, HPLC, SEM, Franz
diffusion cell, Gel electrophoresis for protein exclusion
o Microencapsulation of model molecule in gelatin microspheres,
preparation of gelatin beads by emulsion polymerization technique.
Polymer film casting
o Aseptic technique: Maintenance of mammalian cell lines and metabolic
assays to study cell viability
Computer skills
o Proficient in MS Office tools - Excel, Word, Powerpoint; Reference
software - Endnote.
o Fusion Pro - DOE software
AFFILIATIONS
o American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
o Controlled release Society (past member)
AWARDS AND CERTIFICATES
o Rho Chi Honour Society, 2004
o Awarded Best poster at the Philadelphia Pharmaceutical Forum - Student
poster night March 2007
ACCREDITED TRAINING
o Project Management training at Eurand Inc., Vandalia, OH
o Glatt technology "Current Practices in Solid Oral Dosage forms Processing
Seminar" in Mahwah,NJ September 2008
o Design of Experiments (DOE) training at Eurand Inc., Vandalia,OH
o Insight Education "Magic of thermal analysis sample preparation" by
Mettler Toledo September 2003. Training included use, calibration and
troubleshooting of DSC/TGA.
PUBLICATIONS
1. V. Swaminathan, R. Tchao, S. Jonnalagadda "Physical characterization
of thin semi-porous poly (lactide)/ poly (ethylene glycol) membranes
for tissue engineering." Journal of Biomaterial Sciences, Polymer
edition. 18(10), 2007, pp. 1321-1333
PRESENTATIONS
1. V. Swaminathan, S. Jonnalagadda "Attachment and proliferation of human
dermal fibroblasts on PLLA:PEG membranes: Effect of PEG molecular
weight." Poster presentation at AAPS Annual meeting, San Diego,
California, November 2007.
2. V. Swaminathan, R. Tchao, S. Jonnalagadda "Effect of PEG molecular
weight on the in vitro degradation of PLLA: PEG membranes." Poster
presentation at AAPS Annual meeting, San Antonio, Texas, November 2006
3. V. Swaminathan, S. Jonnalagadda "Effect of PEG molecular weight on
physicochemical properties of PLLA: PEG membranes." Poster
presentation at CRS, Vienna, Austria, July 2006.
4. V. Swaminathan, S. Jonnalagadda "In vitro degradation of PLLA:PEG
capsules by differential scanning calorimetry" Poster presentation at
Nashville, TN Oct 2005.
5. V. Swaminathan, J.B. Tarloff, S. Jonnalagadda "Growth of anchorage
dependent porcine kidney cells on crosslinked gelatin microspheres of
different sizes." Poster presentation at AAPS Annual Meeting,
Baltimore, MD, November 2004.
5. R. L. Graves, V. Swaminathan, S. Jonnalagadda "The effect of alpha-
cyclodextrin on the encapsulation of bovine insulin in ethylcellulose
microcapsules." Presented at the AAPS annual conference at Utah in
October 2003.
REFERENCES
Available Upon Request
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