Riya Sarkar
Ann Arbor
Summary
Knowledgeable Post doctoral fellow with robust background in advanced experience in protein and molecular biology. Demonstrated success in leading innovative projects and contributing to scholarly publications. Proficient in analytical techniques and collaborative research methodologies.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Post-Doctoral Fellow
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
01.2023 - Current
- Specialized in protein and cell biology for over 8 years, with expertise in qPCR, RT-PCR, siRNA/shRNA gene editing, cell culture and hybridoma maintenance
- 5+ year of hands-on experience in confocal and super-resolution microscopy with image data analysis using LASX and ImageJ software
- Developed cell culture based viral assay to gain 20% reduction in time to deliver the results
- Improved experimental reproducibility by 20% by standardizing Western Blotting protocols and ELISA
- Achieved a 40% reduction in project turn-around time by streamlining communication workflows
- Mentored 1 PhD and 1 MD/PhD student from 2024-2025, fostering a productive research environment and achieving team goals
- Coordinated 4-member cross-functional group for the collaboration projects
- Contributed to peer-mentoring programs for the incoming post-doctoral fellows
- University of Michigan EHS certified working in a BSL-2 facility, ensuring compliance with biosafety regulations and maintaining a secure laboratory environment for handling potentially hazardous biological materials
PhD Fellow
Translational Health, Science and Technology Institute
Faridabad, India
01.2016 - 01.2023
- 5+year experience in protein biology with expertise in western blotting, ELISA, immunoprecipitation, protein purification
- Experience in molecular biology protocols of nucleic acid extraction, qRT-PCR, gene editing, cDNA synthesis and reverse transcription
- Established the protocols and SOP for laboratory tissue culture to increase efficiency and maintain sterility from 2018-2020
- Enhanced publication rate by 30% by providing advanced training in Photoshop, Prism, ImageJ and Microsoft Office for manuscript preparation
- Trained 4 PhD and 1 master's students between 2017-2023, with intensive good cell culture practices
- Published 2 research article and presented at 2 international and 2 national conferences, boosting impact and visibility to the research
- Oral presentation of the scientific work in workshops and seminars
Junior Project Fellow
Institute of Life Sciences
Bhubaneswar, India
01.2014 - 01.2016
- 2 years of experience working primary cells and hematopoietic stem cells
- Advance in molecular biology techniques like cloning, primer designing, colony PCR, ligation and bacterial transformation
- Identified Maintained up-to-date records of all research activities conducted throughout the duration of the project
- Established protocols process and store chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patient samples
Education
PhD - Molecular Biology
TRANSLATIONAL HEALTH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
Faridabad, India01-2023
Master's (Hons) - Biotechnology
PANJAB UNIVERSITY
Chandigarh, India01-2014
Skills
- Western Blotting
- Confocal Microscopy
- Mammalian cell culture
- Gene editing
- ELISA
- QRT-PCR
- Transfection
- Transduction
- Nucleic acid isolation
- Protocol development
- Critical thinking
- Trouble shooting
Awards
- UMPDA post-doctoral Travel award, 2024, University of Michigan
- Best Oral Presentation, 2020, THSTI Colloquium
- Runner-up award for poster presentation, 2019, Bangalore microscopy
- UGC-JRF and UGC-LS fellowship, 2015
- Indian Council of Medical Sciences (ICMR) fellowship, 2014
Publications
- Japanese encephalitis virus capsid protein interacts with non-lipidated MAP1LC3 on replication membranes and lipid droplets, Riya Sarkar, Kiran Bala Sharma, Anita Kumari, Shailendra Asthana and Manjula Kalia, Journal of General Virology, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1099/jgv.0.001508
- Japanese encephalitis virus hijacks ER-associated degradation regulators for its replication, Riya Sarkar, Simran Chhabra, Mukesh Tanwar, Nisheeth Agarwal and Manjula Kalia, Journal of General Virology, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1099/jgv.0.001995
Training
- Positive Strand RNA Viruses: Interdisciplinary Advances in Virology, Pathogenesis, immunology and technology development, 2024, Poster presentation
- IUBMB Focused Meeting - Biochemistry & Molecular Biology of RNA Viruses, 2022, Oral Presentation
- Translational Health Science and Technology institute colloquium, 2020, Oral presentation
- Bangalore Microscopy Course, NCBS, 2019, Poster Presentation
- 6th Molecular Virology Meeting, 2019, Poster Presentation
- International Congress of Cell Biology, 2018, Poster Presentation
- Molecular Motors, Transport and Trafficking, 2019, Poster Presentation
Workshops And Seminars
- IMARIS Workshop, University of Michigan, 2025
- You3 Postdoctoral Leadership and Management Program, 2025, Successfully completed an intensive 8-week module focused on leadership and management principles tailored for post-doctoral candidates
- UMPDA postdoc peer mentoring program, 2024-2025, Provided guidance and support to fellow colleagues.
- Bangalore Microscopy Course, 2019
- RCB Bioimaging workshop, 2019
Timeline
Post-Doctoral Fellow
University of Michigan
01.2023 - Current
PhD Fellow
Translational Health, Science and Technology Institute
01.2016 - 01.2023
Junior Project Fellow
Institute of Life Sciences
01.2014 - 01.2016
Master's (Hons) - Biotechnology
PANJAB UNIVERSITY
PhD - Molecular Biology
TRANSLATIONAL HEALTH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE