Molecular Biologist

SARAH NANYITI, PHD

Phone: +256********* Email: *****.*******.****@**.*******.**.**

Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sarah-nanyiti-04810a77 PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Motivated and result-oriented scientist/scholar with 10+ years’ experience in Molecular Biology, Immunology, Cell Biology, Plant Virology/Pathology.

Passion for science is inspired by the wealth of knowledge, expertise and skills acquired that can be applied to solve challenges to do with plant, animal and human health.

Optimized strategies on the construction of infectious clones of viruses, resulting in publications in leading peer-reviewed journals.

Excellent track record of diligently executing tasks independently and in collaboration with team members.

Award-winning communicator with experience presenting at international scientific conferences in the UK, USA and China.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Research Scientist / Member Institutional Biosafety Committee (NARO) Jan 2018-Present Department of Biotechnology, National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI)

Developed quick diagnostic tools for vectors transmitting viruses infecting cassava and yam plants, which are essential for early diagnosis to control disease spread.

As Co-Principal Investigator on CONNECTED project, acquired excellent scientific data analysis, reporting and interpretation skills in addition to project management skills. Doctorate Researcher May 2013 – Nov 2016

School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, United Kingdom. Generated infectious clones for UCBSV, a devastating virus for cassava, a root tuber plant that ensures food security in Africa. The infectious clones generated will be used in screening transgenic cassava plants for resistance to UCBSV and to understand virus-vector interactions.

Sequenced the complete genome of Ugandan cassava brown streak virus (UCBSV). Genome submitted to NCBI database under accession number KX753356. Infectious clone for the virus was constructed and genome submitted to the NCBI database under accession number KX753357.

Developed, designed and executed independent experimental strategies for in-vitro experiments to test infectious clones.

Presented research in multiple international conferences in the UK, USA, Belgium and China, which resulted in research collaborations between a number of developing and developed countries. Received a prize for the Best Student Poster at the Advances in Plant Virology Conference (2015).

Mentored 10+ undergraduate students/ postgraduates in University of Bristol and Makerere University to guide their research projects and assignments, developing leadership and management skills. Masters Researcher April 2004-Dec 2007

School of Veterinary Medicine, Makerere University. Lead a TRYPADVAC project involving production of potential vaccine for Trypanosomiasis disease to solve cattle disease challenge.

Performed recombinant protein expression assays to generate protein for mice immunisation

Assessed antibodies by Western blotting to determine vaccine potential of targeted protein EDUCATION

2013 - 2017 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.), Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, United Kingdom.

Thesis: Construction and Characterisation of Ugandan cassava brown streak virus (UCBSV) Full-Length Infectious Clones.

2004 - 2008 Master’s degree (M.Sc.), Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Makerere University, Uganda.

Thesis: Immunoprotection of mice immunised with recombinant oligopeptidase B from Trypanosoma. congolense and Trypanosoma. Vivax.

2001 - 2004 Bachelor’s degree (B.Sc.), Biochemistry, Makerere University, Uganda. SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

C.R.A. Duff-Farrier, D.R. Mbanzibwa, S. Nanyiti, H. Bunawan, J.L. Pablo.Rodriguez, K.R. Tomlinson, A.M. James, T. Alicai, S.E. Seal, A.M. Bailey and G.D. Foster. Strategies for the Construction of Cassava Brown Streak Disease Viral Infectious Clones. Molecular Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-018-0139-7 Katie R. Tomlinson, Jose Luis Pablo.Rodriguez, Hamidun Bunawan, Sarah Nanyiti, Patrick Green, Josie Miller, Titus Alicai, Susan E. Seal, Andy M. Bailey and Gary D. Foster. Cassava brown streak virus HAM1 protein hydrolyses mutagenic nucleotides and is a necrosis determinant. Molecular Plant Pathology. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mpp.12813 HONORS & AWARDS

EARLY CAREER FEMALE SCIENTIST Award from Next-Gen (USA). 2016. BEST STUDENT POSTER PRIZE from the ASSOCIATION OF APPLIED BIOLOGISTS (AAB) at Advances in Plant Virology Conference at the ICC in Birmingham (UK). 2015. TECHNICAL SKILLS

Nucleic Acid Techniques Immunology Molecular Biology Computer & Softwares RNA Isolation Enzyme Linked

Immunosorbent Assays

(ELISA)

Polymerase Chain

Reaction (PCR)

MEGA-6

DNA extraction Southern Blotting

Protein expression

purification

Clone Manager

Sequencing and

sequence analysis

Northern Blotting Agarose gel

electrophoresis

Sequencher

Nucleotide synthesis Western Blotting Primer Design GraphPad Prism Nucleotide

tagging/labelling

Antibody Purification Reverse Transcription

PCR/qPCR

Artemis

Cloning

Immunofluorescence Poly Acrylamide Gel

Electrophoresis (PAGE)

MS Office, Excel and

Powerpoint

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