Project Maintenance

Faraz I. Zaidi

*** * **** ******, *-mail: *****.*******@*****.***

Apt# G-105 Cell: 215-***-****

Philadelphia, PA 19104

Career Objective: To apply knowledge, experience and gains in a technically challenging research

career for scientific growth. A Biotechnologist, looking to contribute to the current challenges and

novel aspects in Biotechnology

Academics:

Master of Science (Thesis), Cell Biology and Biotechnology from University of the Sciences,

Philadelphia, PA (Aug, 2009- Aug, 2012).

Bachelor of Technology, Biotechnology from Dr. D. Y. Patil Institute of Biotechnology and

Bioinformatics, Pune, India (June, 2004- May, 2008).

Skills:

PCR, qPCR, RT-PCR, DNA Sequencing, Cloning, Transformation, Western blot analysis, primer

design, Cell culture and maintenance, RNAi, Transfection, SDS-PAGE, ELISA, Bradford Assay,

Microscopy, DNA extraction, RNA extraction, GLP/GMP.

Experienced in working with DNA, RNA and proteins.

Computational and bioinformatics tools and databases like Biostatistics, SAS, Rasmol, ViroSeq,

MEGA 3.1, DNA 2.0, GCK, Poland, DotPlot, BLAST, ClustalW, GenBank.

Proficient in MS Office, C Programming & Data Structures, Technical Writing

Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.

Work Experience:

Associate Laboratory Technician, Wuxi Apptec, Philadelphia, PA (Nov 2012 - April 2013) Dept. of

Molecular Biology.

Responsibilities included-

Detection of MVM, Calicivirus, HIV1, HTLV1&2, PCV1&1 DNA by qPCR, LCMV DNA detection using

RT-PCR

cDNA Sequencing

DNA/RNA by Phenol/Chloroform extraction, Ultraspec/QIAamp Kit extraction methods

Mycoplasma DNA detection using Touchdown-PCR

Assay validation, assay troubleshooting and final data analysis, GLP/GMP, reagent preparation,

tracking and maintenance of positive control stocks, laboratory maintenance.

Conduct Assays and lab procedures and accurately complete batch records and other required

documentation according to and in compliance with GLP, cGMP, CFR and PTC guidelines and

SOPs.

BSL-2/3 clearance.

Graduate Research, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA (Jan 2010- Aug 2012)

Dept. of Biology,

Thesis Title: “Edible Cholera Vaccine Development in Yogurt using protein subunit Cholera Toxin

B (CtxB) and Lactobacillus plantarum”

Project focused on development of edible vaccines against cholera, a way to integrate vaccine

production and delivery systems into one safe, nutritious and easy to administer product.

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Faraz I. Zaidi

Gained hands on experience in cloning, transformations, PCR, qPCR, primer design, DNA

extraction, RNA extraction, SDS-PAGE, western blotting, dot blot.

Research Assistant, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA (Sept 2009- Dec 2009)

Dept. of Biology,

Project Title -“Over-expression and Knockout of Hsp70 gene from M1/miMCD3 cells”

Gained hands-on experience in mammalian cell culture, cell growth and maintenance, RNA

extraction, transfection, RNAi .

Research Assistant, National AIDS Research Institute, Pune-India (Aug 2007- Dec, 2008)

Dept. of Molecular Virology

Project Title -“HIV-1 antiretroviral drug resistance Genotyping by ViroSeq and Analysis of drug

resistance and polymorphic mutations in the samples collected from Pune”

Gained hands-on experience in molecular biology techniques like DNA Sequencing (ABI 3100

sequencer), sequencing sample preparation and sequencing -PCR, sequencing analysis using

software ViroSeq 2.7, PCR, RT-PCT, DNA/RNA extraction, agarose gel electrophoresis, Real Time

PCR, ELISA. Drug resistance determination in HIV patients u sing Stanford HIV database.

Phylogenetic analysis using tools like MEGA 3.1.

Summer Intern, Best Biotek Research Labs Pvt. Ltd. Bengaluru, India (May-June 2006)

Attended proficiency course in Immunotechnology - learned techniques like ELISA, Ion Exchange

Chromatography, Widal & Rpr Tests, among others.

Teaching Experience:

Graduate student instructor, University of the Sciences

General Biology lab (Aug, 2009 – Dec, 2011)

Microbiology lab (Dec, 2009 – Dec, 2011)

Prepared and organized laboratories to teach; assisted the Primary instructor in management

and conduction of laboratory experiments.

Guided undergraduate students with lab experiments; explain principles and answer concept

queries.

Research and poster presentations:

Wistar institute (March 2011) and University of the Sciences (April 2011) - Presented edible cholera

vaccine research poster.

National AIDS Research Institute- Presented a research paper (December 2007).

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