Dr. Ajit A Kulkarni (Ph.D. Medical Microbiology)

Senior Scientist-Molecular Biology

Pune 942******* 976-***-**** adh1h0@r.postjobfree.com adh1h0@r.postjobfree.com SUMMARY

• Performance and results driven research professional with more than 13 years of experience in microbiology, cellular biology and molecular biology

• Proficient at development of recombinant tetravalent dengue DNA vaccine and its immunogenicity and efficacy in mice

• Extensive experience in handling various antibody engineering projects

• Strengths include excellent time management, collaboration, self-motivation and organization skills

• An effective communicator with excellent relationship building and interpersonal skills

• A quick learner with the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines Seeking a suitable position to utilize and enhance the existing leadership/interpersonal skills and to work in an environment that offers professional growth while being resourceful, innovative and flexible CORE SKILLS

• Scientific Concepts &

Research Design

• Virology, Immunology, cell

culture

• Recombinant Antibody

Engineering

• Clinical Trial Operations

(GCP, GCLP)

• Recombinant Vaccine

development

• Data Management &

Informatics

• Medical Microbiology,

Molecular biology,

• Detailed Documentation

• Training and Team

Management

WORK EXPERIENCE

TheraIndx Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd. Bangalore

Senior Scientist-Molecular Biology Sept 2019 – Present Responsibilities

• Working on anticancer testing-cancer biomarkers and antivirals testing etc.

• Performing Real-Time PCR and ELISA for cancer and other biomarkers and Influenza A-H1N1, human Beta Corona virus testing etc.

• Successfully completed various antiviral and anticancer projects. Molbio Diagnostics Pvt. Ltd., Pune

Application Specialist-Support October 2018 – August 2019 Responsibilities

• Presale Demo, Installation, Training and Troubleshooting of Trueprep Real Time PCR device for Rest of Maharashtra region (W)

AbGenics Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Pune

Research Associate Mar 2016– October 2018

Responsibilities

• Systematically supervising various projects on recombinant antibody engineering for cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases etc.

• Responsible for carrying out PBMC isolation, molecular assays- RNA isolation, cDNA preparation, PCR, Agarose gel electrophoresis, Restriction digestion, Cloning, transformation, transfection, bacteriophage panning, ELISA, Recombinant protein expression and manual purification by Ni NTA column, SDS-PAGE, Western Blot in vitro microbiological assays and cell culture-based assays

• Detailed documentation of data, research process & procedures for future references

• Diligently assisting in preparation of weekly, monthly progress reports and presentation to the Director Dr. Ajit A. Kulkarni

• Conscientiously served as a lead to junior team members and as a link to other teams by providing assistance and training

Achievements

• Successfully made various recombinant antibody libraries of camel origin, human, and mouse and studied its efficacy by in vitro assays

Haffkine Institute Mumbai

Senior Research Fellow Mar 2015 – Feb 2016

Responsibilities

• Development of recombinant tetravalent dengue vaccine and study its immunogenicity and efficacy in mice

• Work involved cell culture, virus propagation, RNA isolation, RT PCR, Agarose gel electrophoresis, Restriction digestion, Cloning, transformation, transfection, SDS-PAGE, Western Blot, mice immunization, LD50 determination, TCID50 determination, neutralizing antibody titre determination, cytokine genes expression determination by Real Time PCR, mice challenge studies (efficacy) and cell culture-based assays.

• Authored and presented exploratory research proposal to the internal project management and leadership teams Achievements

• Successfully developed novel recombinant tetravalent dengue DNA vaccine comprising envelope domain III of all four dengue virus serotypes and studied its immunogenicity and efficacy in mice Serum Institute of India Ltd. Pune

Officer -Quality Control Oct 2007 – Jun 2010

Responsibilities

• Efficiently conducted QC testing of various vaccine products (from bulk to finished products) and water samples

• Effectively performed tests like ELISA, PCR, BET

• Systematically performed all work in a safe manner and maintain a clean and organized environment

• Worked in accordance with approved methods and SOPs while performing tests

• Actively worked in a team environment and participates in natural work groups and increase productivity Achievements

• Successfully completed assigned work prior to deadline National AIDS Research Institute (NARI) Pune

Research Associate Nov 2003 – Oct 2007

Responsibilities

• Responsible for screening and Immunogenicity testing (ELISA, PBMC isolation, ELISPOT, CD4/CD8) of volunteers enrolled in Phase 1 HIV-1 vaccine trial, a collaborative research project between International AIDS Vaccine Initiative

(IAVI), New York and NARI, Pune, India

Achievements

• Successfully completed assigned work in time

• Received recognition for work in clinical trial in an international collaborative environment Laboratory Technician Jul 2000 – Nov 2003

Responsibilities

• Accurately calibrated testing equipment on a regular basis to ensure accurate analysis results

• Effectively maintained laboratory compliance to OSHA standards

• Followed safety procedures accurately when handling hazardous material

• Diligently assisted senior Lab Technicians with research tests and entering all findings into database

• Responsible for screening of patients attended STD (sexually transmitted diseases) clinic for STD infections by clinic based laboratory tests like Gram staining, Rapid HIV ELISA, RPR, DGI, VDRL, bacterial culture in collaborative research projects between John Hopkins University (JHU), USA and NARI, Pune, India such as “HIV Prevention Trial Unit of HPTN”, HIV Vaccine Trial Network (HVTN), and “Pathogenesis of Acute HIV Infection in India” Dr. Ajit A. Kulkarni

Achievements

• Successfully completed assigned work in time

• Received recognition work in STD clinic in an international collaborative environment TECHNIQUES/SKILLS

• Microbiology Assay : ELISA, antimicrobial assay, basic microbiological techniques, etc.

• Molecular Assay : RNA isolation, cDNA preparation, PCR, Agarose gel electrophoresis, Real Time PCR, Plasmid isolation, RE digestion, Cloning, Transformation, SDS- PAGE, Western Blot, Transfection, competent cells preparation, Recombinant protein expression and purification by Ni NTA column

• Virology Assay : Cell culture, Virus propagation, TCID50, TCID50 inhibition assay, MTT assay, HA and HAI assay

• Immunology Assay : PBMC isolation, ELISPOT, Flow cytometry- CD4/CD8, Indirect immunofluorescence assay

• Animal Handling : Mice- Intracerebral, intramuscular inoculation, LD50

• Others : Bacterial Endotoxin Test, IQC, EQC, SOP preparation ACADEMICS

Examination Board/University Year

Ph.D. – Medical Microbiology

Haffkine Institute for Training, Research & Testing, Mumbai/ Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik

2017

Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical

Research & Data Management

Ruby Hall Clinic and PPCE, Pune 2016

M. Sc. - Medical Microbiology

Government Medical College Miraj/ Shivaji University, Kolhapur

1999

B.Sc. –Microbiology S.G.M. College, Karad/ Shivaji University, Kolhapur 1996 TRANING/WORKSHOPS

• Attended training session on DBT sponsored Techniques in Molecular Biology at Bhavan’s Research Center, Mumbai

• Attended Basic cell culture and virology training at NIV, Pune

• Attended training session on Bacterial Ghost-based Vaccine Development at NIRRH, Mumbai

• Attended training session on PPD sponsored Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) at NARI, Pune

• Attended training session on IAVI sponsored Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) at Lusaka, Zambia

• Attended training session on JHU sponsored AIDS Vaccine Trials & Good Clinical Practice (GCP) at NARI, Pune

• Attended Departmental training of Serology and Molecular Virology at NARI, Pune

• Attended training session on PPD sponsored Good Clinical Practices (GCP) at NARI, Pune

• Attended training session on WHO sponsored Short-term training workshop on HIV/AIDS at NARI, Pune RESEARCH PROJECTS

• Ph.D. Project: “Immunogenicity study of recombinant Dengue gene construct in mice” Guide: Dr. (Mrs.) Ranjana A. Deshmukh, MD, Ph.D. (Visiting Research Scientist and Former Director, Haffkine Institute, Mumbai). Co-Guide: Dr. Abhay Chowdhary, MD, DHA, DM Virology, FIMSA, FRSTMH Prof. & Head, Dept. of Microbiology, Sir JJ Hospital & Former Director, Haffkine Institute, Mumbai Dr. Ajit A. Kulkarni

• M.Sc. Project: Incidence of Group-B Beta Haemolytic Streptococci in the vaginal flora of pregnant women and its transmission to the neonates Guide: Dr. (Miss) S. G. Pawar MD, DCP (Professor and Head, Dept. of Microbiology, Govt. Medical College, Miraj)

PRESENTATIONS

• “A preliminary study to assess the efficiency of different diagnostic tools for dengue virus infection” presented at National Virology Conference held at Vidya Pratishthan’s School of Biotechnology, Baramati, India from 23rd January to 25th January 2012, Sweta Kothari, Deepak Patil, Ajit Kulkarni, Kanchan Kathalay, Debarchana Saha and Abhay Chowdhary

PUBLICATIONS

• Published article on “Neutralizing Antibody Response and Efficacy of Novel Recombinant Tetravalent Dengue DNA Vaccine Comprising Envelope Domain III in Mice”. Iran J Med Sci. 2017;42(2):152-160, Kulkarni A, Bhat R, Malik M, Sane S, Kothari S, Vaidya S, Chowdhary A, Deshmukh RA

• Published article on “A novel tetravalent recombinant envelope domain III vaccine against dengue: an in-silico approach”. Int J Pharm Sci Res 2015; 6(6): 2441-50.doi: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.6 (6).2441-50, Kulkarni A, Shinde P, Kothari S, Warke R, Chowdhary A and Deshmukh RA

• Published article on “Construction of envelope domain III based recombinant tetravalent dengue vaccine” Int. J. Pharm. Sci. Rev. Res., 26(2), 2014, 44-49, Ajit Kulkarni, Vikrant Sangar, Sweta Kothari, Shraddha Mehta, Ritwik Dahake, Sandeepan Mukherjee, Abhay Chowdhary and Ranjana A. Deshmukh

• Published article on “Colonization of pregnant women and their newborn infants with group B Streptococci” IND J OF MED MICROBIOL 2001; 19(2): 97 – 100, A Kulkarni, SG Pawar, CA Dharmadhikari. RD Kulkarni ACHIEVEMENTS

• Received first place in merit for Medical Microbiology subject at Shivaji University during M.Sc. degree OTHER ACTIVITIES

• Mentoring M.Sc. students for their short-term research projects

• Conducting training and lectures of summer batches M.Sc. students

• Conducting workshops of BSc, MSc students at colleges on basic molecular biology techniques PERSONAL DOSSIER

• D.O. B :9th July 1976

• Languages Known : English, Hindi, Marathi

• Permanent Address : Ganga Kunj Hos. Soc. Flat-406, Bld- F, Kalas, Alandi Road, Pune-411015 India

• Research Gate : http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ajit_Kulkarni8

• LinkedIn : https://in.linkedin.com/pub/ajit-kulkarni/16/916/42

• Location Preference : Pune, Mumbai, Aurangabad, Nashik, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Singapore, Australia, UK, USA, Gulf countries and other REFERENCES

• References will be furnished upon request

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