Assistant Nutrition

HARLEEN KAUR (Ph.D.)

Apartment *, **** Holdrege street, Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.A

Contact No: - 402-***-****; Email ID: ************@****.**.** ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION

Ph.D., the Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska- Lincoln. Specialization: Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition- GPA-3.88.

M.S (Hons.) in Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Panjab University, India, 2013 – 2015- GPA 3.45 and 40 credits.

B.S (Hons.) in Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Panjab University, India, 2010- 2013-GPA 3.94/4 and 125 credits.

GRE (2015) -310/340 – valid through 2015-2020

TOEFL (2015) -99/120 – valid through 2015-2017

POSITIONS HELD

Research Assistant (Ph.D.)-University of Nebraska Lincoln (UNL) January, 2016-Ongoing

Title: - To determine the effect of bio-actives-Curcumin and Piperine on intestinal inflammation in mTORC1 dependent manner.

Proficient in aseptic lab practices, cell culture monitoring, culture conditions optimization, maintenance, transduction and harvest of mammalian adherent and suspension cell lines. Experience with intestinal epithelial cell lines, HT-29, Caco-2 and monocyte cell lines, THP-1.

Experience with bio-actives handling, stock preparation and delivery into invitro and invivo models of study. Skilled in performing viability assays for various drug/test compounds.

Techniques mastered- protein extraction, protein estimation, gel electrophoresis, western blot, RNA extraction and quantification, qRT-PCR Optimized protocols for western blotting for 40+ proteins. Proficient in producing publication quality results.

Two years and 7 months of mice handling and care experience. Other techniques include - necroscopy, tissue preparation for histology, mice restrain for oral gavage of test compounds.

Ability to critically interpret, analyze and graph data using sophisticated softwares such as Lycor image studio lite, graph pad and ImageJ. Skilled in Microsoft office such as Word, Excel and Powerpoint. Adobe illustrator.

Skilled in designing, performing and trouble-shooting experiments independently. Optimized protocols for testing various end- points of inflammation in mammalian cell culture.

Good understanding of concepts involving cell biology, biochemistry, immunology, nutrition, biotechnology and molecular biology.

Conceptualized and authored NIH-R21 grant application; and 2 publications in high impact peer-reviewed journals in the field of intestinal inflammation and tumorigenesis during the course of Ph.D. program. 2 more research articles are currently in preparation.

Ability to work in highly collaborative, dynamic and fast-track environment. Worked and delivered results for 2-3 projects at the same time.

Took initiatives in lab organization, resource tracking and upkeep of lab-instruments.

Proficient in preparation of elaborate protocols and experimental design documentation. Trained in electronic achieve and documentation of large sample inventories, reagent inventories and data inventories.

Fostered collaborations with investigators from Department of Food Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Presented multiple poster in national and regional poster competitions. Delivered oral presentations pertaining to my thesis research topic in “Nutrition 2018” and “Experimental Biology 2019” organized by American Society for Nutrition and American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, respectively.

Research Assistant (M.S)-Panjab University January-December, 2015

Title: -Estimating anti-oxidant potential of methanolic extracts of Asparagus adcendens, Asparagus racemosus and Tylophora asthmatica.

Assays performed: -Total phenolic content (TPC), Total flavonoid content (TFC), Total antioxidant capacity(TAC), ferrous ion cheating capacity (FIC), ferric ion reducing capacity

(FRAP), Radical scavenging assays like DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl hydroxyl) and 2,2 - azinobis-(3ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS•+) assays.

Research finding; - The radical scavenging activity of the methanolic extract of Asparagus adcendens is greater than BHT (butylated hydroxy toluene), well known food preservative.

This research supports the replacement of commercial food preservatives by bio-active components in the food.

POSITIONS HELD (cont.)- TRAINING AND INTERNSHIPS

Trainee-GGDSD Post Graduate College, India-Industrial Biotechnology December, 2012

Focus: - Fundamentals of Fermentation Biotechnology and its role in Industrial Biotechnology

Understood and practiced the principles of fermentation and operated bioreactors.

Hands on training for large-scale production of enzymes like lactase by microorganisms in

bioreactors, downstream processing and confirmation of the enzyme by various bio-assays. Intern-Orbit Biotech Pvt. Ltd, India-Food Biotechnology June-July, 2012

Focus: - Fundamentals of Food Science and Biotechnology.

Practiced techniques like plating, streaking, general microbiological detection assays and gram staining.

Carried out the product quality control measures like alkaline phosphate assay to test the efficacy of pasteurization process of milk and studied a probiotic drink ‘yakult’ for the bacterial characterization of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota.

Performed fermentation-based production of beverages by like wine, beer, cider, sake, etc followed by detection and characterization of microbes leading to fermentation. Intern-Orbit Biotech Pvt. Ltd, India- Immunology July-August, 2012

Focus: -Preparation of ELISA KIT for detection of testosterone.

Characterized various properties of polyclonal antibodies collected from rabbit i.e. titre, specificity, and binding affinity with the antigen, antibody specificity test against testosterone.

Detected the levels of testosterone in the human serum samples collected from the hospital by performing ELISA to validate the kit efficiency.

Intern-Fortis Hospital, India – Clinical Microbiology June-August, 2011

Focus: - Fundamentals of Clinical Microbiology

Analyzed various stool, sputum, urine and blood samples for patients diagnosed with infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, diarrhea, jaundice, etc.

Performed essential tests like gram straining, catalase, motility and biochemical disc assays for confirmation of drugs against infection.

Determined minimum inhibitory concentration of antibiotics for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. PUBLICATIONS

Kaur H and Moreau R, 2019. Role of mTORC1 in intestinal epithelial repair and tumorigenesis. Cell. Mol. Life Sci pp 1-22.

Kaur H, He B, Zhang C, Rodriguez E, Hage D and Moreau R 2018. Piperine potentiates curcumin-mediated repression of mTORC1 signaling in human intestinal epithelial cells: Implications for the inhibition of protein synthesis and TNFα signaling. J Nutr Biochem 57: 276- 286

Kaur H and Moreau R, 2020. Curcumin represses mTORC1 signaling by two-sided mechanism involving the degradation of IRS ad activation of AMPK. Cellular Signaling. (Under revision)

Kaur H and Moreau R, 2020. The combination of curcumin and piperine steers THP-1 cells under LPS and mTORC1 challenges toward phenotypically resting, low cytokine-producing macrophages. J Nutr Biochem. (Under revision)

Kaur H, Erickson A and Moreau R. 2020. Divergent regulation of inflammatory cytokines by mTORC1 in macrophages and intestinal epithelial cells. Cellular Immunology. (Under revision) PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS

American Society for Nutrition, 2018.

American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), 2018.

American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2019.

American Physiological Society, 2019.

AWARDS AND HONORS

ASPET 2020 Graduate/Post-doctoral Travel Award, American Society for Experimental Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Experimental Biology Conference, 2020.

Widaman Distinguished Graduate Student Award, Agricultural Research Division, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, UNL, 2019.

Beatrice Donaldson David Fellowship and the Joan. L.Sharp Fellowship, UNL, 2019.

ASBMB 2019 Graduate/Post-doctoral Travel Award, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Experimental Biology Conference, 2019.

Graduate Student Travel Grant, College of Education and Human Sciences, UNL, 2018-2019.

Graduate Student Conference Travel Grant, Department of Nutrition and Health Science, UNL, 2019.

Spring 2019 NHS/INP Graduate Student Travel Grant, Department of Nutrition and Health Science, UNL, 2019.

Best Poster Award at the Nebraska Centre for the prevention of Obesity Diseases (NPOD) spring symposium, 2019.

Larrick and Whitmore Graduate Student Travel Award, IANR, Student Research Travel Fund, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, UNL, 2018.

Graduate Student Conference Travel Grant, Department of Nutrition and Health Science, UNL, 2018. MEETING ABSTRACTS AND ORAL PRESENTATIONS (*Speaker)

Kaur H*, He B, Moreau R 2019. The inducibility and role of mTORC1 signaling in intestinal epithelial cells as a result of cell differentiation. American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Experimental Biology Conference, April 2019, Orlando FL, USA.

Kaur H*, Bo H and Moreau R 2018. Curcumin and piperine inhibit mTORC1 dependent expression of TNFα in intestinal epithelial cells. American Society for Nutrition, Nutrition 2018, June 2018, Boston, MA, USA.

Moreau R* and Kaur H 2017. Curcumin and piperine inhibit mTORC1 signaling in intestinal epithelial cells. American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Experimental Biology Conference, April 2017, Chicago, IL, USA.

MEETING ABSTRACTS AND POSTERS (*Presenter)

Kaur H*, He B, Moreau R 2018. The inducibility and role of mTORC1 signaling in intestinal epithelial cells as a result of cell differentiation. University of Nebraska- Lincoln Spring Research Fair, April 2019, Lincoln NE, USA.

Kaur H*, He B, Moreau R 2018. The inducibility and role of mTORC1 signaling in intestinal epithelial cells as a result of cell differentiation. American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Experimental Biology Conference, April 2019, Orlando FL, USA.

Kaur H, Juritsch A, He B and Moreau R* 2018. mTORC1 targeted mechanism of curcumin improves intestinal markers of inflammation and colitis. American Society for Nutrition, Nutrition 2018, June 2018, Boston, MA, USA.

Kaur H*, He B, Moreau R 2018. The role of mTORC1 in promoting protein synthesis and cytokine gene expression in differentiated intestinal epithelial cells. University of Nebraska- Lincoln Spring Research Fair, April 2018, Lincoln NE, USA.

Kaur H*, He B, Zhang C, Hage D, Moreau R 2017. Curcumin and Piperine repress global protein synthesis and inflammatory marker TNFα by inhibiting mTORC1 in human intestinal epithelial cells. Nebraska Centre for the prevention of Obesity Diseases (NPOD) fall symposium, September 2017, Lincoln NE, USA.

Kaur H, He B, Zhang C, Hage D and Moreau R* 2017. Curcumin and piperine inhibit mTORC1 signaling in human intestinal epithelial cells (IEC). Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting, June 2017. Las Vegas, NV, USA.

Kaur H*, He B, Moreau R 2017. Curcumin and Piperine inhibit mTORC1 in human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines. Nebraska Centre for the prevention of Obesity Diseases (NPOD) spring symposium, April 2017, Lincoln NE, USA.

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