Karishma Pandya

Cell 217-***-****, adb06e@r.postjobfree.com

Education

University of Illinois, Champaign, IL 61820. August 2016 – May 2020.

oMajor: Chemistry

oConcentration in Molecular and Cellular Biology

Work Experience

Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology Ort Lab, UIUC – Undergraduate Research Assistant (December 2018 – Present)

oGeneral lab work including RNA extractions, PCRs, gel electrophoresis, handling transgenic materials. Worked with post doctorates whose research was focused on manipulating the genomes of agricultural plants (such as potato and cassava) in order to fight climate change conditions and improve/increase crop yield.

For the potato plants, the post doctorate researcher manipulated the genome so that it would bypass the photorespiration pathway since it is wasteful and undoes the work of the calvin cycle hindering photosynthesis.

oPerformed RNA extractions, cDNA synthesis, and qRT-PCR protocols on approximately 20 plant samples weekly. Also performed gene expression protocols and western blots about once a month.

A lot of pipetting experience

oEntered data into Excel and created tables and graphs in order to analyze the data and trends of plant growth under various physiological conditions (such as elevated CO2 levels).

oUsed Li-cor machines to obtain data from plant leaf samples and also used 3D scanners in the lab to identify surface area and volume of transgenic potatoes.

Loomis Laboratory of Physics, UIUC – Physics 101/102/211 Learning Assistant (January 2019 – Present)

oAttend physics lab section weekly to help and guide students with their work. About 20-30 students in each class performing various experiments using an iOLab device to find measurements including velocity, acceleration, force, light intensity, and sound.

oResponsibilities included making sure that the students were accurately setting up their experiments when collecting data and then guiding them to use the correct concepts and equations to explain their findings. Examples of concepts and equations used are Newton’s Laws, friction, kinematics, forces and motion, work and energy, static equilibrium, and spring constant.

oMain goal was to learn how to become a better instructor by promoting critical thinking by asking open-ended questions rather than simply providing students with the answers.

Vector/Cutco, Champaign, IL – Sales Representative (Summer 2017)

oPitched sales to potential customers, Summer 2017.

Jimmy Johns, Champaign, IL – In-shop worker (February – May 2017)

oTook orders, made sandwiches, cleaning, various other tasks.

Disney’s Polar Express train, Monticello, IL – Dancer/Performer/Entertainer (November – December of 2014 & 2015)

oPerformed dances and entertained the children on the train while it took a trip to the “North Pole.”

Extracurricular Activities and Accomplishments

Member of American Chemical Society, January 2018 – Present.

Member of Vitality Dance Team at University of Illinois, September 2016 – Present

Member of Phi Sigma Sigma Fraternity, March 2017 – December 2018.

Volunteer Experience

Carle Hospital, Summer 2014 – May 2018.

Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club August 2017 – December 2018

Tolono Library, August 2012 – May 2016

Various other events throughout high school and college

Relevant Coursework

CHEM 102 & 103 (General Chemistry & Lab I)

oPrinciples governing atomic structure, bonding, states of matter, stoichiometry, and chemical equilibrium.

CHEM 104 &105 (General Chemistry & Lab II)

oChemistry of materials, including organic and biological substances, chemical energetics and equilibrium, chemical kinetics, and electrochemistry.

CHEM 232 &233 (Elementary Organic Chemistry & Lab I)

oStructural and mechanistic chemistry with emphasis on applications of this material to closely related areas.

oBasic laboratory techniques in organic chemistry are presented with emphasis on the separation, isolation, and purification of organic compounds.

CHEM 332 (Elementary Organic Chemistry II)

oFocuses on organic chemistry and its applications to biochemistry, enzyme mechanisms and the life sciences.

CHEM 360 (Chemistry of the Environment)

oChemistry of the atmosphere, the chemistry of soil and minerals in the Earth's crust, chemistry of natural waters, agricultural chemicals and organic pollutants, and topics related to energy use.

CHEM 440 (Physical Biochemistry)

oPhysical chemistry emphasizing topics most important to students in the biological and agricultural sciences.

CHEM 494 (Lab Safety Fundamentals)

oKey aspects of laboratory setups, operating procedures, and emergency preparedness measures necessary for the experimentalist.

MCB 150 (Molecular & Cellular Basis of Life)

oFocuses on the basic structure, metabolic, and molecular processes (including membranes, energy metabolism, genes) common to all cells. Emphasis on unique properties that differentiate the major sub-groups of organisms (Archaea, Bacteria, plants, and animals), and will discuss how cells are integrated into tissues and organs in multicellular organisms.

MCB 250 & 251 (Molecular Genetics & Experimental Techniques in Molecular Biology)

oFundamentals of molecular biology including structure of DNA, RNA and proteins, mechanisms of DNA replication, transcription and translation, gene organization, genetic variation and repair, and regulation of gene expression in Bacteria, and Eukarya.

oLaboratory course emphasizing a range of molecular biology questions, and the experimental approaches and methodologies needed to answer these questions. Lectures will accompany labs to explain theoretical background and experimental rationale.

MCB 252 &253 (Cells, Tissues and Development & Experimental Techniques in Cellular Biology)

oFunctional organization and physiology of cells and tissues, including cellular signaling, cellular interactions, and developmental processes.

oLaboratory course emphasizing experimental techniques in cellular biology, cellular physiology, and developmental biology.

MCB 300 (Microbiology)

oEmphasizes fundamental concepts of microbiology, including nutrition, physiology, genetics, molecular biology, ecology and evolution of microorganisms, and their role in nature, human health and disease.

MCB 450 (Introductory Biochemistry)

oChemistry and metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, vitamins, and coenzymes and their relation to the regulation and processes of organisms, cells, and subcellular components.

Calculus I, II, & III

oBasic techniques of differentiation and integration with applications including curve sketching; antidifferentation, the Riemann integral, fundamental theorem, exponential and trigonometric functions.

oTechniques of integration, conic sections, polar coordinates, and infinite series.

oVector analysis: Euclidean space, partial differentiation, multiple integrals, line integrals and surface integrals, the integral theorems of vector calculus.

PHYS 101 (College Physics: Mech & Heat)

oNewton's Laws, work and energy, rotational motion, fluids, thermodynamics, and waves. A noncalculus-based approach.

PHYS 102 (College Physics: E&M & Modern)

oElectric forces and fields, electric potential, electric circuits, magnetic forces and fields, geometrical optics, relativity, and modern physics. A noncalculus-based approach.

References

Ursula Ruiz-Vera, Postdoctoral Researcher. Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at UIUC. 407-***-****. adb06e@r.postjobfree.com

Paul South, Postdoctoral Researcher. Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at UIUC. 440-***-****. adb06e@r.postjobfree.com

Amanda Cavanagh, Postdoctoral Researcher. Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at UIUC. 312-***-****. adb06e@r.postjobfree.com

Tricia Trimble, Dance Teacher. Art In Motion Dance Studio. 217-***-****. adb06e@r.postjobfree.com

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