Engineering University
Resume:
SHASHWAT MOHAN VAJPEYI
New York, NY 10025
Phone: +1-646-***-****, Email: *******@********.***
ED U C A T I O N :
Columbia University, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, New York, NY
MS in Chemical Engineering, GPA 3.87/4.0 December 2012
Manipal University, Manipal Institute of Technology, India.
BS in Biotechnology, GPA 8.92/10 June 2011
Relevant course Work:
Bioprocess Design and control Biopharmaceutical drug regulation
Computational techniques in Biotechnology Genomic Engineering
Modeling and Simulation in Bioprocess Engineering Protein Engineering
PROJECT EXPERIENCE:
Columbia University: January- May 2012
“Multiplex genotyping of the p53 gene using solid phase capturable dideoxynucleotides and mass
spectrometry.”
Columbia University: Current
“The Effect of VFA as a sole carbon source on lipid accumulation by Cryptococcus albidus for
Biodiesel production.”
Manipal University: January-May 2011
“A Comparison of Lipase yield of the wildtype and mutant Bacillus subtilis strain in different
reactor operation modes”
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Indian Oil Corporation, Mathura, India Summer 2010
Asia’s largest oil refinery and largest commercial enterprise in India.
Position: Intern/Trainee.
Columbia University, January 2012- Present
Earth and Environmental Engineering
Position: Graduate Research Assistant
TECHNICAL SKILLS:
Lab techniques and Equipment: Biochemical assays- Lowry, Bradford, DNS etc., Cell and
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Molecular Biology– SDS-PAGE, ELISA, Primer design, DNA sequencing (Illumina, SOLiD), BAC
end sequencing, Sequence analysis, MALDI-TOF, GC-MS, Agarose gel electrophoresis, PCR.
Protein purification techniques - Ultrafiltration, HPLC, Ultrasonicaiton, Ion exchange, Kinetic studies
of Chemostat, Enzyme immobilization, Microbiology- Growth kinetics, Pure culture of cells. Design,
operation and control of bench-scale bioreactors in batch, fed-batch and continuous modes.
Applications: MATLAB, Simulink, Excel, MS Word, PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop.
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Programming language: MATLAB and C++.
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PROJECT DETAILS:
Columbia University: Current
“The Effect of VFA as a sole carbon source on lipid accumulation by Cryptococcus albidus for
Biodiesel production.”
Volatile fatty acids produced from anaerobic digestion of food waste in an anaerobic digester operating at
37oC and an HRT of 2 days, were used as the sole carbon source for the accumulation of intracellular lipids
by Cryptococcus albidus. Lipids were then extracted and transesterified into biodiesel. Yeast cultures were
grown in an aerobic 6.0 L batch reactor at 23 C and pH 6.0 with ammonium chloride as the nitrogen source.
Cryptococcus albidus was also grown using pure acids with the fermenter VFA composition (succinic:
acetic: propionic: valeric 1.2: 3.8: 4.1: 0.9) and with VFAs (acetic, propionic, butyric acids) in a ratio of
6:1:3. The lipid yield was found to be 0.098 g/g VFA and 0.06 g/g VFA respectively. The highest lipid
content (19.7%) was obtained on pure acids with the fermenter VFA composition.
Columbia University: January- May 2012
“Multiplex genotyping of the p53 gene using solid phase capturable dideoxynucleotides and mass
spectrometry.”
In this study, MALDI-TOF based Single Base Extension (SBE) method with and without solid phase
capture (SPC) was used for the genotyping of potential point mutation sites in the exon 8 of a synthetic p53
gene template and exons 11, 25 and 34 of the human sorlitin based gene, SORL A, mutation of which for
apolipoprotein E (APOE) is predictive of Alzheimer’s disease. Lack of APOE receptor is suspected to be a
contributory factor to Alzheimer’s: a significant reduction in SORL1 expression has been found in the brain
tissue of Alzheimer’s disease patients.
Manipal University: January-May 2011
“A Comparison of Lipase yield of the wildtype and mutant Bacillus subtilis strain in different
reactor operation modes”
The effect of different reactor operation modes on the lipase yield from mutant and the wildtype strain of B.
Subtilis were studied.The optimum media composition for lipase production was determined through shake
flask culture studies. Batch studies were performed on both the wildtype and UV mutated strains, while fed-
batch and continuous reactor was studied only for the wildtype strain. A mathematical model for lipase yield
in batch mode was also proposed, optimized and validated.
LEADERSHIP POSITIONS:
Head of Publicity, Institution of Engineers, Biotechnology Chapter, for the Academic Year 2009-10.
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Student coordinator, Placement and Training department, Industrial liaison office, Manipal
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Institute of Technology.
Member of Indian Jaycees. Worked in social activities for the physically challenged.
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Co-coordinator (Publicity), SYMBIOT-2010, a National Level Technical Symposium.
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Organizer, SYMBIOT-2009, a National Level Technical Symposium.
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References:
1. Kartik Chandran, Ph.D.,
Director, Columbia University Bimolecular and Environmental Sciences Program.
Associate Professor, Earth and Environmental Engineering department, Columbia University.
Mudd 918, 500 W 120th st.
New York, NY 10027
Email: ******@********.***
Phone: (212) 854- 6772
Website: http://www.columbia.edu/~kc2288/
2. James J. Russo, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Associate Director, Center for Genome Technology and Biomolecular Engineering
Associate Head of DNA Sequencing and Chemical Biology Laboratory
Columbia University
Northwest Corner Building Rm 801B
Mail Code 48-32
550 West 120th Street
New York, NY 10027
Office Phone: 212-***-****
Lab Phone: 212-***-****
Email : ****@********.***
Website: http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/humangenetics/bios.html#Russo
3. Huijie Lu, Ph.D.,
Post Doctoral Research Scientist
Earth and Environmental Engineering
Columbia University
Mudd 918, 500 W 120th st.
New York, NY 10027
Email: ******@********.***
Phone: 212-***-****
Contact this candidate