Dr. Shaifali Pal

Plant molecular biologist with ten years of experience in siRNA gene silencing and transgenic plant generation. Expertise in genetic engineering of secondary metabolites and GC-MS analysis of sterol metabolites in Tobacco and Withania. Demonstrated success in managing research projects and budgets while producing high-quality scientific documentation. Dedicated professional with a strong focus on continuous learning and adaptation to emerging techniques in biotechnology. Currently serving as Assistant Manager in Quality Assurance at Symbiotic Sciences Pvt. Ltd., demonstrating commitment to enhancing expertise in the field. Proven ability to implement quality assurance processes that improve in-vitro developed AMF product reliability and compliance.

• Received SERB-National Post Doctoral Fellowship in Life Sciences, conducted by Science and Engineering Research Board, New Delhi, India (2017).
• Qualified CSIR-Research Associate Fellowship (RA) in Biological Sciences, conducted by CSIR, New Delhi, India (2017)-not availed.
• Qualified CSIR-Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) in Biological Sciences, conducted by CSIR, New Delhi, India (2012).
• Qualified Joint CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) for Lectureship in Life Sciences, conducted by CSIR-UGC, India (2009, 2010).
• Got CSIR Diamond Jubilee Research Interns Award fellowship by CSIR- CIMAP, Lucknow, India for two year (2007-2009).
• Qualified GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) Exam conducted by IIT, Kanpur in Life sciences (2007).
• PB Kakkar Gold Medal (2004) for obtaining highest marks in Botany during Graduation from Navyug Kanya Degree College (Lucknow University, Lucknow, India).
• National Level Competitive Examination (JNVST) conducted by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in 1993 and got 7 year fellowship from class VI to class XII under a scheme in which education of students are fully financed by Government of India.

• RNAi of Sterol Methyl Transferase1 reveals its Direct Role in Diverting Intermediates towards Withanolide/Phytosterol Biosynthesis in Withania somnifera, Pal S, Rastogi S, Nagegowda DA, Gupta MM, Shasany AK, Chanotiya CS, Plant and Cell Physiology, 2019, 60, 3, 672-686, https://doi.org/10.1093/pcp/pcy237
• A WRKY transcription factor from Withania somnifera regulates triterpenoid withanolides accumulation and biotic stress tolerance through modulation of phytosterol and defence pathways, Singh AK, Sarma RK, Dwivedi V, Rai A, Pal S, Shasany AK, Nagegowda DA, New Phytologist, 2017, 215, 3, 1115–1131, 10.1111/nph.14663
• Nitrogen treatment enhances sterols and withaferin A through transcriptional activation of jasmonate pathway, WRKY transcription factors and biosynthesis genes in Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, Pal S, Yadav AK, Singh AK, Rastogi S, Gupta MM, Verma RK, Nagegowda DA, Pal A, Shasany AK, Protoplasma, 2017, 254, 1, 389-399, 10.1007/s00709-016-0959-x
• Repurposing L-menthol for systems medicine and cancer therapeutics? L-menthol induces apoptosis through caspase 10 and by suppressing HSP90, Faridi U, Dhawan SS, Pal S, Gupta S, Shukla AK, Darokar MP, Sharma A, Shasany AK, Omics: a journal of integrative biology, 2016, 20, 1, 53-64, 10.1089/omi.2015.0118
• Virus-induced gene silencing of Withania somnifera squalene synthase negatively regulates sterol and defence-related genes resulting in reduced withanolides and biotic stress tolerance, Singh AK, Dwivedi V, Rai A, Pal S, Reddy SGE, Rao DKV, Shasany AK, Nagegowda DA, Plant Biotechnology Journal, 2015, 13, 1287-1299, 10.1111/pbi.12347
• Sterol partitioning by HMGR and DXR for routing intermediates towards withanolide biosynthesis, Singh S, Pal S, Shanker K, Chanotiya CS, Gupta MM, Dwivedi UN, Shasany AK, Physiologia plantarum, 2014, 152, 4, 617-633, 10.1111/ppl.12213
• Comparative withanolide profiles, gene isolation and differential gene expression in leaves and roots of Withania somnifera, Pal S, Singh S, Shukla AK, Gupta MM, Khanuja SPS, Shasany AK, Journal of horticultural science and biotechnology, 2011, 86, 4, 391-397
• Screening and analysis of expressed sequence tags from trichome specific cDNA library of menthol mint (Mentha arvensis), Dhawan SS, Shasany AK, Gupta S, Bakhla A, Pal S, Nair P, Khanuja SPS, Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Sciences, 2008, 30, 281-285, Indian Journal

• Submission of total 652 ESTs to dbEST division of GenBank under accession numbers: GR923244-GR923812, GR930348-GR930349 (495 ESTs from leaf and 76 ESTs from root cDNA library of Withania somnifera respectively), GT087796- GT087877 (36 ESTs from subtracted leaf library and 45 ESTs from subtracted root library).
• Full-length sequence of Sterol Methyl Transferase 1 (SMT1) gene, Sterol Methyl Tranferase 2 (SMT2) and Sterol Methyl Oxidase 2 (SMO2) from Withania somnifera have been submitted to GenBank under accession number GQ921847, KR919799 and KR919800 respectively.
• Full-length sequence of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR) gene from Centella asiatica has been submitted to GenBank under accession number JQ965955.

• Painting, Gardening and Reading Scientific Journals.