Field Technician Research Associate

MADHAVI DAIDA

****, ****** ******, *********, ************, S7H1X5 H: 306-***-****

***********@*****.***

CITIZENSHIP: Canadian Citizen

CAREER OBJECTIVE

My career interest is to excel in the domain of pathology, disease management, plant breeding, crop improvement, double haploid production, genetic transformation, plant biotechnology, microbial formulations, plant-microbiome and plant-microbiome interactions.

EDUCATION

Doctor of Philosophy: Plant Genetics 2006

International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and Centre for Plant Molecular Biology (CPMB), Dept. of Genetics, Osmania University, India. Master of Science: Plant Genetics 1998

Plant Genetics, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India. Bachelor of Science: Botany, Zoology and Chemistry 1996 A.V. College, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India. CERTIFICATIONS

• Certified in Standard First Aid and CPR/AED Level C

• Occupational Health Committee Level 1 (OHC Level 1)

• Certified in Mental Health First Aid Standard

• Participation in Greystone Foundations Leadership course RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

• Field Technician: Limagrain Cereals Research Canada, Saskatoon, August 2024 - Present.

• Senior Research Technician and Research Associate: Accelerated Breeding Pipelines: Double Haploid Production and Genetic Transformation - Cell Biology Platform - Global Institute for Food Security, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, 2018 – April 2024.

• Research Associate: Enzymatic Conversion of Glycerol to Platform Chemicals; Adverse effects of synthetic pesticides on plant microbiome; Plant microbiome, microbial interactions and microbial formulations - Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, 2008 - 2009; 2011 - 2018.

• Technical Officer: Genetic Transformation - Plant Cell Technologies, Genetic Transformation Lab, National Research Council Canada Plant Biotechnology Institute, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, 2009 - 2010.

• NSERC Visiting Fellow at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada: Isolation and characterisation of avirulence and pathogenecity factors from Leptosphaeria maculans, the cause of Black leg of Canola - Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Saskatoon Research Centre, 2006 - 2008.

• Senior Laboratory Technician: Mediciti Hospital, Hyderabad, India, 1996 - 1998.

• Laboratory Technician: Mahavir Hospital, Hyderabad, India, 1992 - 1996. SUMMARY OF SKILLS

• Proficient in double haploid production in Brassica napus and Camelina sativa.

• Significant knowledge in extraction of nuclei from double haploids, high throughput estimation using flow cytometry, data analysis and identification of double haploids.

• Extensive experience in plant cell and tissue culture techniques.

• Large scale media preparation using the Integra Media System, composed by the Mediaclave and Mediajet equipments.

• Very skillful in establishing, growing and maintaining plants at growth chambers, greenhouse and field level.

• Strong experience in genetic transformation techniques and production of transgenics.

• Developed and optimized genetic transformation and regeneration protocols in canola, pearl millet, finger millet, wheat, barley, rice and sorghum.

• Produced transgenic canola using different candidate genes.

• Produced transgenic pearl millet resistant to downy mildew disease (Sclerospora graminicola).

• Produced transgenic finger millet resistant to leaf blast disease (Pyricularia grisea).

• Established and maintained transgenic pearl millet resistant to downy mildew at greenhouse and in the field conditions until three generations.

• Established and maintained transgenic finger millet resistant to leaf blast at greenhouse and in the field conditions until three generations.

• Performed fungal bioassays for Fusarium Head Blight resistance in cereals against different Fusarium species, Black leg resistance in Brassica napus against Leptosphaeria maculans, Downy Mildew resistance in Pennisetum glaucum against Sclerospora graminicola and Leaf Blast resistance in Eleusine coracana against Pyricularia grisea.

• Studied the effect of endophytes on crop production under drought conditions in different crop varieties.

• Good experience in anatomical study, microscopic observation (light and fluorescent microscopy) and imaging.

• Proficient in using Gammacell 220 irradiator to sterilize soil and plant material.

• Good knowledge in performing dual cultures- mycoparasites against Fusarium species

• Actively involved in the plant microbiome and drought stress resilience project funded by Genome Canada and Genome Prairie and microbiome associated projects.

• Proficient in microbial formulations for crop improvement.

• Extensive experience in molecular biology techniques such as RT-PCR and PCR analyses, PCR Walking, Thermal asymmetric interlaced polymerase chain reaction (TAIL-PCR), Southern and Northern analyses, gene cloning, bacterial transformation and yeast transformation (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris), plasmid DNA isolation, plant genomic DNA and fungal genomic DNA isolation and total RNA preparation.

• Significant experience in magnetic particle based automated method used to obtain extracted genomic DNA suitable for qPCR, rtPCR and SkimSeq assays in a high throughput, 96 well KingFisher application across multiple species and tissue types and quantification of DNA using plate reader.

• Experience with analysis and interpretation of DNA sequencing data.

• Experienced in qPCR characterization of aurofusarin gene at molecular level in mycotoxigenic fungal pathogens.

• Good experience with SDS-PAGE and 2-D PAGE.

• Skillful in protein isolation and expression studies in bacteria and yeast

• Good knowledge in isolation, identification, purification, characterization and multiplication of desired microbial cultures.

• Competent in operating, calibrating, and performing routine maintenance and schedules on equipment and maintaining laboratory supplies.

• Strong ability to write, read and understand operating manuals and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

• Great team worker

• Very good decision making and creative and critical thinking.

• Exceptional leadership and problem solving skills. TEACHING EXPERIENCE

• Teaching Assistant: FABS 334 - Industrial Microbiology course at Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, 2015 - 2018.

• Teaching and mentoring: undergraduate and graduate students at Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, 2015 - 2018.

• Teaching and mentoring: undergraduate and graduate students at Global Institute for Food Security, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, 2018 - 2024. VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

• GIFS Safety Committee Member, 2024.

• General Secretary of GIFS Social Committee, Global Institute for Food Security, 2022-2024.

• Representing Research Associates in GIFS Employee Engagement Committee, Global Institute for Food Security, 2021-2023.

• Education Coordinator of Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre of Saskatoon, 2022-2024.

• Teaching human values to children in Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre of Saskatoon, 2010-2024.

• Past President of Telugu Association of Saskatoon, 2021-2023.

• President of Telugu Association of Saskatoon, 2019-2021.

• Social and cultural coordinator of Telugu Association of Saskatoon, 2017-2019. REFERENCES

1. Prof. Leon Kochian, Associate Director and Canada Excellence Research Chair, Global Institute for Food Security, 421 Downey Road, Suite 101, Saskatoon and Professor in Departments of Plant Sciences and Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, Room 4D36 and 5D34, Agriculture Building, 51 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A8, Canada. Email: ****.*******@****.**. Ph: 306-***-****.

2. Dr. Renata Fuganti Pagliarini, Cell Biology and Plant Growth Facilities, Platform Lead, Global Institute for Food Security, 421 Downey Road, Suite 101, Saskatoon. Email: ******.*******@****.**. Ph: 306-***-****.

3. Dr. Raju Datla, Program Lead, Resilient Agriculture, Global Institute for Food Security, 421 Downey Road, Suite 101, Saskatoon.

Email: ****.*****@****.**. Ph: 306-***-****.

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