Assistant State University

SHRUTI PADHEE Contact: 309-***-****

**** ********** ****, # ****, *****, FL-33617 E-mail: acqc88@r.postjobfree.com

CAREER OBJECTIVE

Aspiring Scientist with a passion for research and development at the confluence of Chemistry and Microbiology actively

seeking a full time position to benefit the organization.

EDUCATION

University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

Ph.D. in Chemistry, May 2014; Advisor: Dr. Jianfeng Cai, Aug 2009 –May 2014 (GPA 3.83)

Illinois State University, Normal, IL

MS in Chemistry, May 2009; Advisor: Dr. David Cedeno, Aug 2006-May 2009 (GPA:3.34)

Sri Venkateshwara College of Pharmacy, Hyderabad, India

Bachelors in Pharmacy, May 2006

PROFILE HIGHLIGHTS

Synthesis of peptidomimetics:

Synthesized small molecule building blocks and developed linear, fluorescent tagged and cyclic alpha substituted

broad spectrum antimicrobial peptidomimetics via solid phase synthesis. Purified (flash column chromatography, thin

layer chromatography, Waters RP-HPLC), determined the molecular weight (Agilent LC-MS and Bruker MALDI-

TOF) and studied their secondary structures using CD spectroscopy.

Synthesis and characterization of liposomes:

Encapsulated porphyrins in liposomes and characterized them using UV-VIS spectrophotometer, fluorimeter and

dynamic laser scattering.

Lead compound determination by invitro bioassays:

Developed and optimized bio-assays using optical density in 96-well plate format to determine the minimum

inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of compounds for lead optimization against BSL-I and BSL-II strains of bacteria,

fungi, tested the efficacy of the peptidomimetics for bio-film reduction and bacterial membrane depolarization (Bio-

Rad microplate reader).Toxicity of the peptidomimetics was determined by using human red blood cells (Hemolytic

assay).Evaluated the potency of liposomes against BSL-III leishmania parasites (MTT assay).

Microscopy Techniques:

Utilized Zeiss fluorescence microscope to study the mechanism of action of the peptidomimetics. Prepared SEM and

TEM samples of peptidomimetics to study their mode of action. Confocal microscopy was used to study the mode of

action of the liposome encapsulated porphyrins to treat leishmaniasis.

Microbiology and cell-culture techniques:

Highly trained and experienced with class II Biological Safety Cabinet, handling BSL-I and BSL-II strains of bacteria,

fungi and BSL-III leishmania cells. Performed Western blots and SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis for protein isolation.

Other hands-on experience:

GC, IR-spectrophotometer, autoclaving, lyophilizing, ultra-centrifuge and using thermocycler for PCR based assays.

Adept at following lab safety protocols, maintaining laboratory equipment, supplies and records.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Adjunct Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida-August 2014-Present

Responsible for mentoring and instructing students in Organic Chemistry Labs.

Summer Intern, Zoetis, Durham, NC-May 2014-August 2014.

Optimized chemical formulations and aided in troubleshooting assay run conditions for in vitro bioassays.

Graduate teaching assistant, Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida-August 2009-May 2014.

Mentored and trained undergraduate students in research lab in Spring semester 2012.

Instructed undergraduate students in general chemistry I, II and organic lab sessions as a Graduate teaching assistant,

Department of Chemistry, University of south Florida-August 2009-May 2014.

Graduate teaching assistant, Department of Chemistry, Illinois State University –August 2006- December 2008

Monitored freshmen and sophomore student laboratory activities as a Teaching assistant, Department of Chemistry,

Illinois State University-August 2006-December 2008.

Assisted students out of class for 3-4 tutor hours per week for general chemistry I and II- August 2006-December

2008.

Industrial training at Panchpharma,Hyderabad,

Industrial training in formulating syrups, tablets and powders in Panchpharma Pharmaceutical Industry, Hyderabad -

Summer 2006.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Zoetis, Biodevices R&D, Durham, NC

Contributed to R&D in novel molecular diagnostics technology relevant to modern animal health industry. Developed

new reagents and assay environments for optimal bioassay performance.

University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

Insights into α-AA peptides and γ-AA peptides as broad spectrum antimicrobial peptidomimetics and anti-biofilm

agents (Doctoral Dissertation).Synthesized small amino acid based building blocks, novel broad -spectrum

antimicrobial linear AApeptides and cyclic lipidated α-AApeptides. Expertize in conducting antimicrobial assays and

testing the therapeutic potential of these AApeptides against 8 different kinds of microbes including BSL-I and BSL-

II gram-positive, gram-negative bacteria and fungi.

Illinois State University, Normal, IL

Preparation and Testing of Liposomes Incorporated with Novel Porphyrins to Treat Leishmaniasis (Master’s Thesis).

Efficiently encapsulated novel porphyrins into drug delivery systems like liposomes, characterized the liposomes via

Fluorimeter and Dynamic laser scattering technique and tested their effectiveness against BSL-III Leishmania

tarentolae.

PATENT APPLICATION

Jianfeng Cai, Youhong Niu, Haifan Wu, Shruti Padhee. Identification of γ-AApeptides with potent and broad-

spectrum antimicrobial activity. 2012, Application No. 61589406.

PUBLICATIONS

Yaqiong Li, Christina Smith, Haifan Wu, Peng Teng, Yan Shi, Shruti Padhee, Torey Jones, Anh-My Nguyen,

Chuanhai Cao, Hang Yin,* and Jianfeng Cai.* Short antimicrobial lipo-Î /Î -AA hybrid peptides.

ChemBioChem, 2014, 15, 2275-2280.

Shruti Padhee, Christina Smith, Haifan Wu, Yaqiong Li, Namitha Manoj, Qiao Qiao, Zoya Khan, Chuanhai Cao,

Hang Yin,* and Jianfeng Cai.* The development of antimicrobial Î -AApeptides that suppress pro-inflammatory

immune responses. ChembioChem, 2014, 15, 688-694.

Yaqiong Li, Christina Smith, Haifan Wu, Shruti Padhee, Namitha Manoj, Joseph Cardiello, Qiao Qiao, Chuanhai

Cao, Hang Yin,* and Jianfeng Cai.* Lipidated Cyclic Î -AApeptides Display Both Antimicrobial and Anti-

inflammatory Activity. ACS Chem. Biol., 2014, 9, 211-217.

Youhong Niu,1 Haifan Wu,1 Yaqiong Li,1 Yaogang Hu,1 Shruti Padhee,1 Chuanhai Cao2 and

Jianfeng Cai1,*. AApeptides as a new class of antimicrobial agents. Org. Biomol. Chem., 2013,11, 4283- 4290.

Yaogang Hu, Mohamad Nassir Amin, Shruti Padhee, Rongsheng E. Wang, Qiao Qiao, Ge Bai, Yaqong Li, Archana

Mathew, Chuanhai Cao, and Jianfeng Cai*. Lipidated Peptidomimetics with Improved Antimicrobial Activity. ACS

Med. Chem. Lett. 2012, 3, 683-686.

Haifan Wu, Youhong Niu, Shruti Padhee, Rongsheng E Wang, Yaqiong Li, Qiao Qiao, Ge Bai, Chuanhai Cao, and

Jianfeng Cai*. Design and synthesis of unprecedented cyclic γ -AApeptides for antimicrobial development. Chem.

Sci., 2012, 3, 2570-2575.

Youhong Niu, Shruti Padhee, Haifan Wu, Ge Bai, Qiao Qiao, Yaogang Hu, Lacey Harrington, Whittney N. Burda,

Lindsey N. Shaw, Chuanhai Cao, and Jianfeng Cai*. Lipo- γ -AApeptides as a new class of potent and broad-

spectrum antimicrobial agents. J. Med. Chem. 2012, 55(8), 4003-4009.

Youhong Niu, Ge Bai, Haifan Wu, Rongsheng E. Wang, Qiao Qiao, Shruti Padhee, Robert Buzzeo, Chuanhai Cao*,

and Jianfeng Cai*. Cellular translocation of a γ -AApeptide mimetic of Tat peptide. Mol. Pharmaceutics. 2012, 9(5),

1529-1534.

Ge Bai,a Shruti Padhee,a Youhong Niu, Rongsheng E. Wang, Qiao Qiao, Robert Buzzeo,Chuanhai Cao*and Jianfeng

Cai*.Cellular uptake of an a-AApeptide. Org. Biomol. Chem., 2012, 10, 1149–1153 (a-made equal contributions )

Youhong Niu,a Shruti Padhee,a Haifan Wu, Ge Bai, Lacey Harrington, Whitney N. Burda, Lindsey N. Shaw,

Chuanhai Cao, and Jianfeng Cai*. Identification of γ-AApeptides with potent and broad-spectrum antimicrobial

activity. Chem. Commun. 2011, 47 (44), 12197 - 12199. (a-made equal contributions)

Shruti Padhee, Yaogang Hu, Youhong Niu, Ge Bai, Haifan Wu, Frankie Costanza, Leigh West, Lacey Harrington,

Lindsey N. Shaw, Chuanhai Cao, and Jianfeng Cai*. Non-Hemolytic α-AApeptides as Antimicrobial

Peptidomimetics. Chem. Commun. 2011, 47 (34), 9729 – 9731.

Daniel M. Gardner, Viviana M. Taylor, David L. Cedeño*, Shruti Padhee, Sara M. Robledo, Marjorie A. Jones,

Timothy D. Lash,and Iván D. Vélez. Association of Acenaphthoporphyrins with Liposomes for the Photodynamic

Treatment of Leishmaniasis. Photochemistry and Photobiology, 2010, 86,645–652.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

Research assistantship for Collaborative project with Kimberly Clark-Fall 2013

Tharpe Bridging Fellowship –Summer 2010 and Summer 2013

ACS travel award for the 247th National ACS Meeting Spring 2014

PRESENTATIONS AND TALKS

Poster presentation at 247th National ACS Conference, Dallas, TX -March 2014 (MEDI division)

Poster presentation by undergraduates at Raymond N. Castle Student Research Conference, Tampa, FL -April 2012

Poster presentation at Raymond N. Castle Student Research Conference, Tampa, FL -April 2011

Poster presentation at 241st National ACS Conference, Anaheim, CA -March 2011(MEDI division)

Poster presentation at 235th National ACS Conference, New Orleans, LA -April 2008(PHY CHEM division)

Research oral talk at Argonne national Laboratory and CUSI Fall Conference - Nov 2007

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

American Chemical Society

Organizing committee Member of 2011 Raymond N. Castle Student Research Conference, USF

USF Badminton Club Officer 2012-2013

REFERENCES

1. Dr. Theodore Winger, Principal Scientist, BioDevice Research, Zoetis, Durham, North Carolina, Email:

acqc88@r.postjobfree.com, Phone: 919-***-****

2. Dr. Jianfeng Cai, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Email:

acqc88@r.postjobfree.com, Phone: 813-***-****

3. Dr.David Cedeno, Director, Millennium Pain Center, Bloomington, Illinois, Email:

acqc88@r.postjobfree.com

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