Molecular Biologist, Virologist and drug Discovery Scientist

Choudhary S Ahmed

Mississauga, ON, 613-***-**** *************@*****.***

https://www.linkedin.com/in/choudharyshoaibahmed/

Professional Summary

●Ph.D. in molecular biology & virology with over 10 years of cumulative experience in the field.

●Demonstrated Experience in advanced cutting-edge techniques in molecular biology, virology, cell biology & drug discovery, including Lentivirus and CRISPR-based gene manipulation and target identification, FACS, IF and IP, qPCR, ELISA, cell isolation and manipulation, cell viability, cell line development, virus production, titration and many more.

●Experience in method development, assay planning, troubleshooting, validation and transfer to drug discovery.

●Certificate in Regulatory Affairs, trained in GMP and high containment levels environments.

●Strong data collection and analysis, project management, communication, organization, and attention to detail skills.

EDUCATION

University of Nottingham Nottingham, UK

Ph.D. in Molecular Biology & Virology Jul 2017

Algonquin College Ottawa, Canada

Certificate in Regulatory Affairs-Science May 2019

WORK EXPERIENCE.

ViroCarb Inc. Toronto, Ontario

Senior Scientist Jan 2023 – Dec 2023

• Lead the screening of over 150 compounds for broad-spectrum antiviral and cell viability (toxicity) properties, identifying over 5 potent antiviral compounds and significantly advancing the company's mission to combat viral diseases.

• Designed and developed new methods resulting in the increase in efficiency and accuracy of antiviral drug testing against several viruses including HIV & SARS-CoV2

• Established a lentiviral-mediated CRISPR-based drug target identification platform, RNA purification by AKTA and other HPLC systems, gene and protein expression by RT-qPCR, SDS-PAGE and Western blot, FACS and immunoprecipitation.

University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario

Industrial Postdoctoral Scientist Aug 2021 – Dec 2022

• Designed & implemented high-throughput screening assays for testing novel compounds against HIV and Coronaviruses, resulting in the identification of 3 lead compounds and the generation of compound libraries

●Plasmid production, cloning, and gene/protein function assays.

• Developed 3 different cell lines for stable expression of Cas9 nuclease for whole genome CRISPR library screening

• Developed and implemented FACS and IF-based assays for HIV coronavirus detection.

• Developed 3D cell culture-based lung organoids viral gene expression assays to determine the 3D cell model use in drug development

●Formulation & solubility testing of compounds at room temperature.

University of Connecticut & SUNY Albany Storrs & Albany, CT & NY

Postdoctoral Research Scientist May 2019 - Dec 2020

• Established molecular virology/cell biology lab from scratch for in-vitro cell-based assays

• Developed HPLC, probe-capture and sucrose density-based RNA/DNA isolation assays for the Mass Spec-based RNA post-transcription modification identification and sequencing

• In-house High-throughput DNA/RNA purification assay development for Hamilton’s Nimbus liquid handling robot

Mondelez International, Hamilton, Canada Jan 2018 – April 2019

Food Production and Packaging Associate

●Preparing the production and assembly line for products.

●Maintaining the products and packaging according to QA standard

●Maintaining cleanliness, personal hygiene, updated training, equipment maintenance, material control, and batch record keeping complying and adhering to GMP standards and practices.

Pre-PhD Experience Pakistan

2004-2012

●Helped Multiple academic and industry laboratories from start to finish

●Established multiple molecular biology, microbiology and biochemistry diagnostic laboratories

●Introduced and implemented multiple advanced assays for infection disease assay

●Applied multiple cell culture, molecular biology, biochemistry and microbiology techniques like cell manipulation, RT-qPCR, nested PCR, ELISA and electrophoresis in routine testing and training.

●Down-stream processing including HPLC, centrifugation, filtration, and activity assessment.

INSTRUMENTATION & SKILLS

Molecular Biology

Nucleic Acid & protein purification from clinical and cell culture samples, PCR, PCR, RT-qPCR, Western and Northern blotting, Immunoprecipitation, Sucrose Density Gradient & Ultracentrifugation, Electroporation, transfection, RFLP, ELISA, transformation, Plasmid production and characterization, siRNA-based knockdown, in-vitro RNA production, reporter assays, CRISPR based knockdown, protein expression, over-expression, NGS sample purification, library/colonel amplification, sequencing and data analysis.

Virology & Drug Discovery

Manual & High-throughput drug screening for activity and cell viability testing, dose-response assays development, IC & TCID50 assays, virus production, filtration and titration, CRISPR screening, lentivirus generation and testing, FACS and IF-based cell assay for drug testing

Cell Biology

2D and 3D cell culture maintenance and manipulation, 2-10L mammalian and bacterial cell culture for plasmid, virus, DNA/RNA and protein production, cell-based assay development

Instrumentations

HPLC (AKTA), Hamilton and Eppendorf Liquid Handling robots, Electroporation, BioTek Cytation5 plate reader, FACS, Mass-Spec, different thermal cyclers, Plate Readers, Liquid Handling Robotic Systems, BSL level 2 & 3 training.

Biosafety Trainings

Several years of working in a biosafety environment, handling specimens (whole blood, serum, other body fluids) from patients for both diagnostic and research, GMP and high containment BSL3 level facilities

Other Skills

Technical Report writing, results and data analysis and presentation, SOP and protocol writing, Electronic & Manual data and record keeping & maintenance.

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