Process and Assay Development Scientist
Resume:
Veerendra Koppolu
**** ******* **** *****, *** I *****.****@*****.***
Atlanta, GA, 30341 LinkedIn - Veerendra Koppolu
“Open to Relocation”
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Nine years of experience in biological sciences research
2. Extensive hands-on experience in,
- Assay development (Cell/Protein/Immune)
- Protein engineering, purification and characterization
- Drug target identification and mechanism of action studies
- Cell culture process development
- Human Genetics and Molecular Biology
- Grant writing, Supervising and Multi-tasking
3. Outstanding academic performer with several publications, awards and research grants
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Cell & Molecular Biology Scientist 09/2013- Present
Metaclipse Therapeutics (Emory University Spin-off) Atlanta, GA
• In charge of protein biochemistry and immune assay development departments
• Performed pre-clinical studies in development of a cancer vaccine against Metastatic Breast Cancer
• Raised and purified monoclonal antibodies of worth $500000 from hybridoma cell cultures in 2 months
• Selected for two cell line and purification process development grants of worth $200000 in 9 months
• Constructed GMP compliant mammalian cell lines for the purification of recombinant proteins
• Developed cost efficient purification process for 4 membrane proteins and 2 antibodies using chromatography
(Affinity, Ion exchange, Hydrophobic, and Gel filtration) columns in a record span of 9 months
• Carried out stability and potency studies on purified proteins
• Developed analytical methods such as silver stain, western blot, sandwich ELISA, HPLC and mass spectometry
• Developed flow cytometry assays to evaluate surface expression of recombinant membrane proteins
• Developed Immune assays such as clonogenic assays, ELISPOT, ELISA and flow cytometry to evaluate
immune responses in mice to vaccines
• Participated in IND-enabling studies
Graduate Research 08/2008- 09/2013
University of Kansas Lawrence, Ks
• Performed a high-through put screen of 100000 small molecules to target bacterial virulence activator proteins
• Identified anti-microbial compounds that target transcription activation mechanism of virulence activators
• Performed docking, binding strength, dosage and efficacy studies on drug candidates in targeting virulence
activators
• Optimized and performed multiple molecular and biochemical assays (Cell-based reporter assay, Real-time
PCR, and Invasion assays) towards identification of anti-microbial compounds
• Utilized site-directed random mutagenesis to identify key residues required for DNA binding and RNAP
interactions by transcription regulatory proteins
• Successfully designed and constructed multiple reporter gene expression strains to perform cell based assays
• Cloned and purified 8 insoluble proteins in bacterial and mammalian expression systems
• Strictly monitored all steps in purification process to attain maximum recovery
• Utilized GE Akta FPLC and LPLC systems for purification
• Performed bioanalytical studies (CD spectroscopy, Isoelectric focusing and Dynamic light scattering) and
crystal screening studies on purified proteins
Research Associate 08/2007- 07/2008
Department of biotechnology, Govt. of India Hyderabad, India
Carried out drug screening against multiple bacterial toxic proteins
Developed and implemented ELISA, qPCR, RT-PCR and Slot-blot hybridization for diagnos is of viruses.
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EDUCATION
Ph.D – Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology 08/2008 – 09/2013
University of Kansas Lawrence, Ks
GPA – 3.85/4.00
M.S – Biotechnology (Minor in Biochemistry) 05/2005 – 05/2007
Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) Palampur, India
Department Topper and included in Deans list of best students
GRANTS
1. Agency: NIH/SBIR PhaseI
Role: Principal Investigator
Status: Submitted (awaiting decision)
Title: Development of Glycolipid-anchored cytokines IL-12 and GM-CSF as vaccine adjuvants.
2. Agency: Georgia Research Alliance
Role: Principal Investigator
Status: Funded ($150,000)
Title: Purification and immune assay development of Glycolipid -anchored immunostimulatory molecules B7 and IL-12
against triple negative breast cancer.
3. Agency: Coulter grant
Role: Principal Investigator
Status: Funded ($50,000)
Title: Development of high expression GMP complaint mammalian cell lines for use in protein purification
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
PUBLICATIONS
1. Veerendra Koppolu, Ichie Osaka, Jeff M. Skredenske, Bria Kettle, Scott Hefty and Susan M. Egan “Small
molecule inhibitor of Shigella flexneri master virulence regulator, VirF”. Infect Immun. 2013 Nov;81(11):4220-
31. PMID: 24002059
2. Jeff M. Skredenske, Veerendra Koppolu, Ana Kolin, James Deng, Bria Kettle, Byron Taylor and Susan M.
Egan “Identification of a small molecule inhibitor of bacterial AraC family activators”. J Biomol Screen. 2013
Jun;18(5):588-98. (PMID: 23364515)
3. Veerendra Koppolu and Susan M. Egan “Mechanism of transcription activation in Rns, Role of amino
terminal and DNA binding domains in transcription activation” (Submitted)
4. Bria Kettle, Veerendra Koppolu and Susan M. Egan “Allosteric Inhibition of Transcription Activation in the
AraC family protein RhaR from Escherichia coli” (Submitted)
5. Veerendra Koppolu, Iera Chatterjee and Susan M. Egan “Inhibition of Enterotoxigenic E. coli virulence
activator Rns using small molecule compounds” – Manuscript in preparation
6. Veerendra Koppolu and Periasamy Selvaraj “Method for purification of Glycolipid-anchored
immunostimulatory molecule GPI anchored B7 using a combination of classical chromatography columns ” –
Patent in preparation
7. Veerendra Koppolu and Periasamy Selvaraj “Method for purification of Glycolipid-anchored
immunostimulatory molecule GPI anchored IL-12 using a combination of classical chromatography columns”
– Patent in preparation
8. Christopher Pack, Veerendra Koppolu and Periasamy Selvaraj “Tumor membrane based immunotherapy
for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer” – Manuscript in preparation
INVITED PRESENTATIONS
1. Virulence activators as targets for treating Shigella flexneri and Enterotoxigenic E. coli infections. Weill
Cornell Medical School, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, June, 2013
2. Molecular Mechanisms and Inhibition of Transcription Activation by Bacterial AraC Family Virulence
Activators. Metaclipse Therapeutics, July, 2013
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS: 15+ abstracts
TEACHING, MENTORSHIP, AND SERVICE
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Graduate Teaching Assistant - University of Kansas - 08/2008- 08/2013
11 semesters of teaching Biochemistry, Microbial Genetics, and Cell Molecular Biology courses
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Trained over 500 students
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
In charge of developing cell culture and biochemistry labs - Metaclipse Therapeutics (Nov 2013 – Present)
Graduate student chair – University of Kansas (June 2010 – June 2011)
Graduate student co-ordinator – CSKHPKV University (June 2005 – July 2006)
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Journal Reviewer: 17 International Journals
Total Papers Reviewed: 11
Affiliation: American Society of Microbiology, American Cancer Society, American Association for the
Advancement of Science
HONORS & AWARDS:
Doctoral dissertation defense award (2013)
Post-doctoral fellowship offer from Weill Cornell Medi cal School (2013)
Scientist offer at Metaclipse Therapeutics (2013)
Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award – Microbiology (2012)
Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award - Principles of Biology (2009)
Best Masters Student (2007)
Nomination for Youth Exchange Program between India and China (2007)
Master’s thesis award (2007)
Biotechnology Junior Research Fellowship (2005- 2007)
52nd Rank in Prestigious All India Biotechnology entrance (2005)
RESEARCH SKILLS: Over 9 years of experience in protein characterization, molecular biology, cell & immune
based assays
Immune and Bioassays: Inhibitor screens, High through put screening (96 and 384 well plates), Inhibitor
optimization, Plaque assay, Cytotoxicity assay, Alamarblue assay, Cell ELISA, Direct and In-direct ELISA,
Antibody purification, Immuno precipitation (Pull down assays), IL -2 estimation, IFN gamma estimation, T-
cell enrichment, Clonogenic assay, ELISPOT, LDH assay
Protein Characterization: Recombinant protein expression, Sonication, French press, Classical
purification (Ion exchange and Hydrophobic columns), Affinity purification (His tag, MBP tag, Antibody), Size
exclusion column, HPLC, FPLC and LPLC systems, Coomassie staining, Silver staining, SDS-PAGE, Western
blot, Dot blot, BCA assay, Protein stability assays, Intrinsic fluorescence, Dynamic light scattering, and
Crystallization
Molecular Biology: Flow Cytometry, Fluorescence imaging, Bacterial and Mammalian gene expression
analysis, Reporter gene assays, Transfection, cDNA cloning, Transformation, Electroporation, Primer
designing, PCR, Electrophoresis, Cloning, DNA and RNA isolation, Northern blot, Real time PCR ( qRT-PCR),
Recombinant DNA expressions, Sequencing analysis, Design of DNA constructs for cloning and transfection,
DNA Mobility Shift assays, Mammalian cell cultures, Tumor membrane isolation
Microbiology and Microbial genetics: BSL-2, Construct new plasmids, Construct new bacterial strains,
Bacterial genetic recombination systems (Conjugation, Transformation, Transduction), CRIM and lambda red
recombination, Site-directed mutagenesis, Random mutagenesis, UV mutagenesis, Pure culture, Gram
staining, Fluorescence and Phage contrast Microscopy, Microbial culture, Fermentation, Antibiotic disc
sensitivity
Computer Skills: Diploma in programming, MS Project, Word, Excel, Power point, Graphpad Prism, End
Note, Rasmol, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe illustrator
LinkedIn URL:https://www.linkedin.com/pub/veerendra-koppolu/a/684/93a
Personal Details: Nationality - Indian
Visa Status - H1B (Have 3 years of work authorization with an extension possible for 3 more years)
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