Qualifications Summary
Analytical, dedicated, and detail-oriented PhD scientist, with hands-on
experience in the areas of molecular biology, genetics, and genomics.
Enthusiastic to apply extensive research, critical thinking, and
communication skills as well as competencies in research studies and
scientific projects; research program development; and laboratory
management. Excel at leading, mentoring, and developing cross-functional
teams to enhance their competencies toward fulfillment of corporate target
goals and objectives.
Education
1999-2008 Doctor of Philosophy in Genetics- Microbiology
University of Madras, Chennai, India
1996-1998 Master of Science in Microbiology
Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India
1993-1996 Bachelor of Science in Microbiology
University of Madras, Chennai, India
Skills and Expertise
- As a lab manager, involved in the recruitment, training and supervision
of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and technicians.
- Maintained active participation in several research projects and
successfully met project deadlines.
- Worked closely with the Principal Investigators and collaborators to
monitor the research grants progress.
- Successful at independently designing and executing scientific projects.
- Prepared NIH progress reports; Identified and resolved scientific and
technical problems to move forward the research projects.
- Organized interdepartmental meetings and seminar series; Assisted in
conducting nationwide workshops and conferences
- Technical Skills: Well versed in next generation DNA and RNA sequencing
and large-scale data analysis; Microarray and IPA analysis; molecular
biology techniques including, RTPCR, qRTPCR, cloning, over-expression of
recombinant proteins, protein purification, Western blot, ELISA, cDNA and
NGS library construction, Northern blot and basic microbiology and
biochemistry techniques; Maintenance of various mammalian cell lines,
siRNA design, lentiviral vector manipulation, generation of stable
knockdown cell lines, cell survival assays, Immunofluorescence, CHIP
assay, Flow cytometry.
- Computer Skills: Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel);
knowledgeable of Sequencher DNA Sequence Analysis Software, Galaxy,
Intergrated Genome Browser, SeqMonk and Avadis NGS Softwares, IPA
Analysis, GeneSpring, GraphPad, Photoshop, ImageJ, Canvas, and
Statistical Software (R and SPSS). Extensive knowledge in public genomic
data resources of the NCBI, UCSC and ENSEBL.
Professional Experience
University of Toledo, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH,
USA
Assistant Professor (Research Track) Department of Physiology and
Pharmacology 2011-Present
Play a vital role for National Institutes of Health (NHLBI) funded projects
in the department of physiology and pharmacology with annual cost of $1.2M.
Oversee multiple research projects and set priorities to complete and meet
projected deadlines. Prepare the annual progress report. Gather and
document all preliminary data for a NIH grant application. Conduct research
with several genetically diverse animals, including generation and
characterization of gene knockout and knock in animals, congenic rat
strains for cardiovascular disease, Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) mapping,
and investigation of regulatory gene expression by microarray and RNA
sequencing and functional analysis.
Postdoctoral Fellow
2008-2011
Compiled preliminary data for a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
(NHLBI) grant application with a projected budget of more than $1.5M
annually. Managed the development of 26 congenic rat strains with a
substitution genetic mapping strategy, monitoring a colony of over 500
rats, resulting in the genotyping of more than 3,000 rats in a year.
Genetic mapping of the region on rat chromosome 1, 9, and 10 involved in
the blood pressure regulation. Identification of the disease causative
genetic factor/gene based on its location on the rat genome by linkage
analysis and Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) mapping by substitution mapping
and/or gene expression and protein expression profiling using whole genome
systems biology approaches. Performed cell biology and molecular biology
experiments that resulted in high-impact publications.
University of Madras, Department of Genetics, Chennai, India
Guest Faculty and Lecturer Molecular Biology Program
2006-
2007
Provided molecular biology and genetics lectures to students taking up
their master's degree in Molecular Biology. Performed periodical
evaluations of 45 to 50 students and members of junior technical staff.
Project Fellow, University Grants Commission
2001-2003
Held accountability in administering the cloning and immunoscreening of a
cell wall associated protein gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to
determine antibodies response in the serum of the majority of the
individuals with tuberculosis infection which indicated the antigen was
capable of stimulating a humoral immune response.
Kanmani Human Fertility Centre, Chennai, India
Junior Embryologist Cytogeneticist
2005-2006
Conducted chromosomal analysis by preparing cultures for peripheral blood,
cell harvesting, and slide preparation.
University of Madras Affiliated College, Tamil Nadu, India
Lecturer Department of Microbiology
1998-1999
Handled and taught 45 graduate students on various subjects, including
general microbiology, biotechnology, and immunology. Made contribution to
laboratory projects, assisted students in a self-contained classroom with
their final project. Developed students' microbiology techniques and
critical thinking skills.
Awards and Honors
New Investigator Award: Annual High Blood Pressure Research Conference
(2011)
American Heart Association Council for High Blood Pressure Research,
Orlando, FL, USA
Special Recognition Awards (2010-2011)
University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, USA
International Society of Hypertension (ISH) Poster Award (2011)
ISH New Investigators Symposium, Orlando, FL, USA
New Investigator Travel Award: Annual High Blood Pressure Research
Conference (2010)
American Heart Association Council for High Blood Pressure Research,
Washington, DC, USA
Boehringer Ingelheim Young Investigator Travel Award (2010)
Finalist Young Investigator-in-Training Abstract Competition (2010)
American Society of Hypertension, 25th Annual Scientific Meeting, New York,
NY
Selected Presenter - Trainee Highlights in Physiological Genomics Session
(2010)
American Physiological Society at Experimental Biology, Anaheim, CA, USA
Professional Affiliations
2012- Present, American Physiological Society (APS)
2009-Present, American Heart Association (AHA)
2005-Present, International Society of Infectious Diseases (ISID)
2012- 2008, Indian Association of Biomedical Scientists (IABMS)
Journal Review Editorial Board Grant Review I Invitations
2011-Present, American Heart Association (AHA) Grant Peer Review Committee
2011-Present, American Medical Journal (Editorial Board)
2013, Physiological Genomics (Invited for peer Review)
2012, Colloids and surfaces B: Biointerfaces (Invited for peer Review)
2012, Frontiers in Genomic Physiology (Editorial Board)
Publications
Kumarasamy S., Gopalakrishnan K., Mell B., Morgan E., Waghulde H and Joe B.
Cross-talk between two transcription factors, Nr2f2 and Fog2, is
critical for maintenance of normal blood pressure. Nature
Communications, 2014, under revision.
Atanur, SS., Diaz, AG., Maratou, K., Sarkis, A., Rotival
Gopalakrishnan, K and Aitman, TJ. Genome sequencing reveals loci
under artificial selection that underlie disease phenotypes in the
laboratory rat. Cell, 2013, 154(3), 691-703.
Pillai, R., Waghulde, H., Nie, Y., Gopalakrishnan, K., Kumarasamy, S.,
Farms, P. ... and Joe, B. (2013). Isolation and high-throughput
sequencing of two-closely linked epistatic hypertension susceptibility
loci with a panel of bicongenic strains. Physiol Genomics, 2013, 45(16),
729-36.
Kumarasamy, S., Gopalakrishnan, K., Abdul-Majeed, S and Joe. B.
Construction of two novel reciprocal conplastic rat strains and
characterization of cardiac mitochondria, Am J Physiol Heart Circ
Physiol, 2013, 304(1):H22-32.
Gopalakrishnan, K., Kumarasamy, S., Abdul-Majeed, S., Kalinoski, A.,
Morgan, EE, Gohara, AF Joe, B. Targeted disruption of
adamts16 gene in a rat genetic model of hypertension. Proc Natl Acad Sci
U S A, 2012, 109(50), 20555-9. (This article was highlighted in Nat Rev
Nephrol. 2013 Feb; 9(2):64. doi: 10.1038/nrneph.2012.268)
Gopalakrishnan, K., Kumarasamy, S., Yan, Y., Liu, J., Kalinoski, A
Joe, B. Increased expression of rififylin in a <330 kb congenic strain
is linked to impaired endosomal recycling in proximal tubules. Front
Genet, 2012, 3, 138.
Kothandapani, A., Gopalakrishnan, K., Kahali, B., Reisman, D., and Patrick,
SM. (2012). Downregulation of SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling factor
subunits modulate cisplatin cytotoxicity. Exp Cell Res, 2012, 318(16),
1973-86.
*Kumarasamy, S., *Gopalakrishnan, K., Kim, DH., Abraham, NG., Johnson, WD.,
Joe, B, and Gupta, AK. (2011). Dysglycemia induces abnormal circadian
blood pressure variability. Cardiovasc Diabetol, 2011, 10(1), 104 (Co
first authors).
Kumarasamy, S., Gopalakrishnan, K., Toland, EJ., Yerga-Woolwine, S., Farms,
P., Morgan, EE., and Joe, B. (2011). Refined mapping of blood pressure
quantitative trait loci using congenic strains developed from two
genetically hypertensive rat models. Hypertens Res, 2011, 34(12), 1263-
70.
Gopalakrishnan, K., Morgan, E E., Yerga-Woolwine, S., Farms, P.,
Kumarasamy, S., Kalinoski, A., Liu, X., Wu, J., Liu, L., and Joe B.
Augmented rififylin is a risk factor linked to aberrant cardiomyocyte
function, short qt-interval and hypertension. Hypertension, 2011, 57:764-
771.
Gopalakrishnan, K., Kumarasamy, S., Rapp, JP., and Joe, B.. Reply to Letter
to the Editor: Mapping genes for hypertension using experimental models:
a challenging and unanticipated very long journey. Physiol Genomics,
2011, 43, 101-102.
*Gopalakrishnan, K*., *Saikumar, J., Peters, CG., Kumarasamy, S., Farms.,
and Joe, B. Defining a rat blood pressure quantitative trait locus
to a <81.8kb congenic segment: comprehensive sequencing and renal
transcriptome analysis. Physiol Genomics, 2010, 42A, 153-161(*Co first
authors).
*Kumarasamy, S., Gopalakrishnan, K*., Shafton, A., Nixon, J., Thangavel,
J., Farms, P., and Joe, B. Mitochondrial polymorphisms in rat genetic
models of hypertension. Mamm Genome, 2010, 21(5-6), 299-306 (*Co first
authors).
Joe, B., Saad, Y., Lee, N., Frank, B., Achinike, O., Luu, T
Gopalakrishnan, K and Bouchard, C. Positional identification of
variants of adamts16 linked to inherited hypertension. Human Molecular
Genetics, 2009, 18, No. 15, 2825-2838.
Cicila, GT., Morgan, E.E., Lee, SJ., Farms, P., Yerga-Woolwine, S
Gopalakrishnan, K and Joe, B. Epistatic genetic determinants of
blood pressure and mortality in a salt-sensitive hypertension model.
Hypertension, 2009, 53, 725-732.
Anbarasi, K., Kathirvel. G., Vani, G., Jayaraman, G., and Shyamala Devi,
CS. Cigarette smoking induces Hsp70 expression and apoptosis in rat
brain: Modulation by bacoside A. Neuroscience, 2006, 138(4),1127-1135.
Selected published abstracts
Gopalakrishnan, K., Kumarasamy, S., Blair, M., Joe, B. (2013). A novel long
non-coding RNA targeting Rififylin is mechanistically linked to the
regulation of blood pressure, cardiac function and survival in a rat
genetic model of hypertension. Rat Genomics and Models meeting. Cold
Spring Harbor Laboratory. Pg 62.
Gopalakrishnan, K., Kumarasamy, S and Joe, B. (2011). Impaired
endosomal recycling in proximal tubules is mechanistically linked to
proteinuria. Inter-Amer Soc Hypertension (IASH) meeting. Hypertension
58(5), E92-E92
Gopalakrishnan, K., Morgan, EE and Joe, B. (2011). Augmented
rififylin is a risk factor linked to aberrant cardiomyocyte function,
short qt-interval and hypertension. American Heart Association (AHA)
conference. Hypertension, 57, 764-771
Gopalakrishnan, K., Saikumar, J., Peters, CG, Kumarasamy, S., Farms, P.,
Yerga-Woolwine, S., and Joe B. (2010). Defining a rat blood
pressure quantitative trait locus to a <81.8kb congenic segment:
Comprehensive sequencing and renal transcriptome analysis. Experimental
Biology Conference. Physiol Genomics, 42A, 153-161
Gopalakrishnan, K., Kalinoski, A., Morgan, EE., Abdul-Majeed, S., Yerga-
Woolwine, S., Farms, P., Joe, B. (2011). Adamts16 is a novel
genetic determinant of blood pressure: Evidence from a zinc-finger
nuclease mediated knockout rat. American Heart Association (AHA)
conference. Hypertension, 58(5), E149-E150
Gopalakrishnan, K., Kumarasamy, S., Thangavel, J and Joe, B.
(2010). Mapping a genetic determinant of blood pressure to <42.5kb: rffl
and targets of novel mirnas are linked to aberrant rat cardiomyocyte
function and hypertension. American Society for Hypertension (ASH)
conference. Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 12(Suppl.1), OR-39, A17
Gopalakrishnan, K., Saikumar, J., Farms, P., Yerga-Woolwine, S., Edward J.,
Toland, WS., ... Joe, B. (2010). A < 81.8kb rat locus homologous to
human chromosome 2 controls blood pressure. American Society for
Hypertension (ASH) conference. Journal of Clinical Hypertension (JCH),
12(Suppl.1), OR-13, A6
Gopalakrishnan, K., Saikumar, J., Peters, C., Kumarasamy, S., Farms, P.,
Yerga-Woolwine, S., ... and Joe, B. (2010). Defining a < 81.8kb rat
blood pressure locus homologous to human chromosome 2: Comprehensive
single nucleotide polymorphisms, renal transcriptome and microRNA
analyses. AHA conference. Hypertension, 56(5), E60-E60
Gopalakrishnan, K., Thangavel, J., Kumarasamy, S., Yerga-Woolwine, S.,
Farms, P., Morgan, E., ... and Joe, B. (2010). Alleles of a S.LEW
congenic rat spanning 320.6kb further increases the BP of the
hypertensive Dahl S rat: Evidence for Rffl and/or two miRNAs as
potential QTL effectors. Experimental Biology Conference. FASEB Journal,
24(3), 792
Gopalakrishnan, K., Yerga-Woolwine, S., Farms, P., and Joe, B. (2009). A
congenic segment (<61kb) containing a single gene from a normotensive
rat increases hypertension of the Dahl salt-sensitive (S) rat.
Experimental Biology Conference. FASEB J, 23, LB92
Gopalakrishnan, K., Yerga-Woolwine, S., Morgan, E., Farms., P., and Joe, B.
(2009). Detection of polymorphisms in predicted precursor microRNAs:
Implications in a blood pressure quantitative trait locus with alleles
of a normotensive rat increasing hypertension in the Dahl salt-sensitive
(S) rat. AHA Conference. Hypertension, 54(4), E46-E46
References will be provided upon request