Scientist, Cell and Molecular Biologist
Resume:
Bhushan V. Desai, PhD
**** ******** ***** *****, **** Zurich, IL 60047
pqzc2u@r.postjobfree.com
SUMMARY
With 5 years of cancer biology research experience, I am proficient in a variety of molecular, cellular and biochemical techniques, including but not limited to performing eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell culture, PCR and expression vector construction, cell based screening assays, high throughput screening using tissue microarrays, cell and tissue based imaging/microscopy studies, protein purification and characterization, western blotting, receptor phosphorylation and endocytosis/internalization studies, siRNA and shRNA mediated gene knock down, use of pharmacological inhibitors to study signaling pathways, establishing in vivo tumor xenograft model and in vitro tumorigenic assays, etc. Additionally, I am highly collaborative; work efficiently in a team environment; possess excellent verbal, written and problem solving skills; and am able to mentor and manage junior researchers.
KEY COMPETENCIES
- Strong work ethics
- Demonstrated ability to multi-task
- Work efficiently and meet deadlines in a timely manner
- Exceptional team work and interpersonal skills
- Self motivated and work independently with minimal supervision
- Quickly adapt to new concepts/ technology
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
RESEARCH EXPERTISE
Cell Biology
- Mammalian Cell Culture
- siRNA and vector based transient transfections
- Viral based stable infections
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
- Immunofluorescence imaging (IF)
- Tissue microarray (TMA) staining and analysis
Biochemistry
- Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE)
- Western Blot analysis
- Immunoprecipitation and Co- Immunoprecipitation
- Sucrose gradient fractionation
- Biotinylation based approaches
- Batch purification of recombinantly expressed protein
Molecular Biology
- DNA and RNA isolation
- Use of DNA analysis programs
- Primer design
- PCR
- DNA Cloning
- Site directed mutagenesis
- Agarose gel electrophoresis
- Gene expression analysis using reporter gene fusions
Cancer Biology
- In vivo tumor xenograft model to study cancer metastasis
- Soft agar colony formation assay
- Scratch wound and Transwell migration assays
- Wound healing studies
- Intercellular adhesion assay
Computer Skills
- Microsoft office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Adobe suite (Photoshop, Illustrator)
- EndNote
- Vector NTI
- SciEd clone manager
- Metamorph imaging software
- ImageJ
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Research Associate, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA (12/2009 - current)
- Established a mouse model system to determine the role of desmosomal cadherin in tumor invasion and metastasis in vivo.
- Employed imaging techniques (IHC, H&E and TMAs) to study tumor progression of HNSCC.
- Determined the role of Dsg1 in regulating differentiation of HNSCC cells in vitro by using techniques such as siRNA and virus based knock down, western blotting, microscopy, etc.
- Targeted signaling pathways (eg. MAPK, Src, PI3K, JNK, AKT) using pharmacological inhibitors to determine the mechanism responsible for mediating Dsg1 dependent induction of differentiation in HNSCC cells.
- Mentored and managed junior scientists in the laboratory with their projects.
- Assisted Principal Investigator in preparing research grants for obtaining NIH funding.
- Prepared manuscripts for peer reviewed publications.
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA (02/2006 -11/30/09)
- Determined endocytic trafficking of desmosomal cadherin, desmoglein 2 (Dsg2), using antibody and biotin based receptor labeling and tracking studies.
- Studied epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and a disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM) dependent regulation of Dsg2 using pharmacological inhibitors and siRNA KD against EGFR and ADAMs, respectively.
- Identified the ADAM(s) responsible for ectodomain shedding of Dsg2 using siRNA based gene knock down approach followed by western blot and imaging analysis.
- Determined the impact of EGFR and ADAM dependent regulation of Dsg2 on intercellular adhesive strength of SCC cells.
- Successfully collaborated with internal and external investigators leading to publications.
- Trained and supervised junior researchers to carry out their independent projects.
- Organized and successfully executed laboratory retreats, seminar series and mini-symposiaâ s at Northwestern University.
Research/Teaching Assistant, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA (06/2000 - 07/2005)
- Worked on the thesis project to determine the role of competence inducible protein, CoiA, in genetic transformation of Streptococci pneumoniae.
- Assisted in a large microarray study to determine genes transcriptionally up or down regulated as S. pneumoniae acquire a state of genetic competence.
- Silenced a large number of genes using homologous recombination approach to determine their role in process of genetic transformation of S. pneumoniae.
- Employed reporter gene fusions to identify transcriptional activity of target genes under different conditions.
- Presented research at scientific conferences, and prepared research articles for publications.
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy, (Molecular Biology), University of Illinois at Chicago, USA (2000-2005)
Master of Science, (Biotechnology), University of Mumbai, India (1998-1999)
Bachelor of Science, (Life Sciences), University of Mumbai, India (1994-1997)
LEADERSHIP/MANAGEMENT SKILLS
- Organized and successfully executed Seminar Series in the Department of Pathology-Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago (2008-2009)
Member of the program committee for the 2009 Northwestern University-Department of Pathology Annual Scientific Retreat (2009)
- Member of the program committee for the Translational Cancer Research mini symposium "From Mice to Humans: Application of Animal Models to Translational Research" held at the Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center, Northwestern University, Chicago
- Associate Faculty Member for the Faculty of 1000 (F1000) Biology
- AdHoc reviewer for peer reviewed journals
- Supervised and mentored junior colleagues to carry out their independent projects
PUBLICATIONS
1. Plakoglobin regulates cell motility through distinct matrix-dependent Src and Rho signaling pathways. TodoroviÄ V, Desai BV, Schroeder Patterson MJ, Amargo EV, Dubash AD, Yin T, Jones JCR and Green KJ J Cell Sci. 2010 Oct 15;123(Pt 20):3576-86.
2. Detection of Differentially Expressed Adhesion-Related Proteins by Mass Spectrometry: A Platform for Cancer Biomarker Screening. TodoroviÄ V, Desai BV, Amargo EV, Green KJ, and Schroeder Patterson MJ. Mol Cell Proteomics. 2010 Feb;9(2):351-61.
3. Desmosomes at a Glance. Desai BV, Harmon RM and Green KJ. J Cell Sci. 2009 Dec 15;122(Pt 24):4401-7.
4. The chemopreventive bioflavonoid apigenin inhibits prostate cancer cell motility through the focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/Src signaling mechanism. Franzen CA, Amargo EV, TodoroviÄ V, Desai BV, Huda S, Mirzoeva S, Chiu K, Grzybowski B, Chew TL, Green KJ, and Pelling JC. Cancer Prev Res (Phila Pa). 2009 Sep;2(9):830-41.
5. Regulatory roles of the cadherin superfamily. Harmon RM, Desai BV and Green KJ. F1000 Biol Rep. 2009 Feb 24;1. pii: 13.
6. EGFR and ADAMs cooperate to regulate shedding and endocytic trafficking of the desmosomal cadherin, desmoglein 2. Klessner J*, Desai BV*, Amargo EV, Getsios S and Green KJ. Mol Biol Cell. 2009 Jan;20(1):328-37. * Equal contribution
7. Transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae: Presence of a stable eclipse complex implicates CoiA in genetic recombination. Desai BV and Morrison DA. Mol Microbiol. 2007 Feb;63(4):1107-17.
8. An unstable competence-induced protein, CoiA, promotes processing of donor DNA after uptake during genetic transformation in Streptococcus pneumonia. Desai BV and Morrison DA. J Bacteriol. 2006 Jul;188(14):5177-86.
9. Identification of competence pheromone responsive genes in Streptococcus pneumoniae by use of DNA microarrays. Peterson SN, Sung CK*, Cline R, Desai BV*, Snesrud EC, et al., Mol Microbiol. 2004 Feb;51(4):1051-70. * Equal contribution
10. Choline Starvation Induces the Gene licD2 in Streptococcus pneumonia. Desai BV, Reiter H, and Morrison DA. J. Bacteriol. 2003. 185: 371-373.
11. Vancomycin Tolerance Induced by Erythromycin but Not by Loss of vncRS, vex3, or pep27 Function in Streptococcus pneumonia. Robertson GT, Zhao J, Desai BV, Coleman WH, et al., J. Bacteriol. 2002. 184: 6987-7000.
ABSTRACT PRESENTATIONS (*First author presentations)
2011
*Society for Investigative Dermatology 71st Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, USA
2010
Society for Investigative Dermatology 70th Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, USA
Gordon Research Conferences -Signaling by Adhesion Receptors, Waterville, ME, USA
2008
American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, San Diego, USA
American Society for Cell Biology 48th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, USA
Gordon Research Conferences -Signaling by Adhesion Receptors, South Hadley, MA, USA
2007
*American Society for Cell Biology 47th Annual Meeting, Washington DC, USA
2006
*ASM Conference on Streptococcal Genetics, Saint-Malo, France
*Wind River Conference on Prokaryotic Biology, Estes Park, CO, USA
2004
*2nd ASM Conference on Cell-Cell Communication in Bacteria, Banff, Alberta, Canada
2003
*2nd Genome Maintenance Meeting, Oslo, Norway
103rd General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Washington, DC, USA
3rd ASM and TIGR Conference on Microbial Genomes, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
2002
*Wind River Conference on Prokaryotic Biology, Estes Park, CO, USA
*European Meeting on the Molecular Biology of Pneumococcus, Siena, Italy
Wind River Conference on Prokaryotic Biology, Estes Park, CO, USA
2001
*41st Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), Chicago, USA
HONORS AND AWARDS (All awards received on competitive basis)
- Poster presentation award at the Northwestern University Department of Pathology Annual Scientific Retreat (2008)
- Travel award from American Society of Cell Biology and Katten Muchin Rosenman Travel Scholarship from Northwestern University Cancer Center (2007); American Society for Microbiology (2004); and The Graduate College and from Graduate Student Council, UIC (2003)
- Research Assistantship award from Cell Controls Corporation (Biotech Company in Chicago) for undertaking a project to identify gene(s) responding to Choline deprivation in S. pneumoniae (2002)
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