YASHASWINI BALARAJU
Scientist Entrepreneur
Mysuru
Summary
Self-motivated professional successful in seizing viable opportunities for expansion and innovation in business. Background in research and product development, with specialization in Cancer Biology and immunotechnology. With over 12 years of experience in teaching and product development.
Experienced in leading and supervising operational and product tech teams. Determined Business Owner with commitment to excellence and more than 4 years of experience. Effective collaborator promoting Technical and sustainable food development. I bring in my global network connect to broaden the horizon needed for a start-up.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
3
3
Certifications
Work History
Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer
Mycovation Pte Ltd
Mysuru and Singapore
09.2020 - Current
- Instrumental in ideation, research and developmental activity of the start-up in developing a mycelium based dairy and meat analog
- Pitched for incubation at CFTRI and currently handling product development.
- Established foundational processes for business operations.
- Aligned organizational objectives with company mission to increase business growth and integrate work strategies.
- Developed key operational initiatives to drive and maintain substantial business growth.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired new staff members and developed training materials for employees.
- Prepared annual budgets with controls to prevent overages.
- Identified business development challenges and customer concerns for proactive resolution.
- Directed market expansions to propel business forward, meet changing customer needs.
- Developed marketing materials and campaigns to boost brand awareness and customer engagement.
- Networked with other businesses and customers to increase sales opportunities and contacts.
- Collaborated with development teams, internal customers, and product line management to verify delivery of desired quality requirements to distributors.
Lead Scientist
Renergii Asia
06.2020 - Current
- Working remotely as a Consultant scientist to all the portfolio start-up companies which are focused in circular economy and climate initiative, which come under the venture studio.
- Conducted experiments in laboratory environment for product development purposes.
- Product ideation and validation studies and consultancy.
Translator
Consultancy services
02.2020 - Current
- Working as a freelance translator for a multi-national e-commerce client for lingual translation from
- English to Kannada
Senior Scientist and Manager
Clarette Biotech Pvt. Ltd
12.2019 - 05.2020
- Conducted experiments in laboratory environment for product development purposes.
- Simultaneously managed several complex projects, meeting all pertinent milestones.
- Evaluated and implemented new technologies and laboratory techniques to improve quality and robustness of sample analysis.
DST Women Scientist
University of Mysore
Mysuru
04.2016 - 06.2019
- Development of site directed drug delivery system using a combination of scFv for sFlt-1, TRAIL and a natural compound from Tinospora cordifolia
- Grant: 22 lakhs
- Was involved in, developing an immunoliposome tagged with VEGF-receptor targeting scFv, to deliver a potent anti-angiogenic and pro-apoptotic novel plant molecule to the site of the tumor
- This novel molecule sensitizes the resistant cancer cells for TRAIL-mediated apoptosis.
- Conducted experiments in laboratory environment for product development purposes.
- Documented changes during experiments, noting unexpected issues arising during research activities.
- Prioritized project tasks after discussions with the mentor.
- Performed complex troubleshooting and assisted in leading initiatives to solve challenging scientific problems with assays or instrumentation.
- Simultaneously managed several complex projects, meeting all pertinent milestones.
Senior Research Fellow
01.2010 - 01.2013
- DBT funded Indo – German project (, Project Titled: Production of scFv for Human sFlt-1 and sTie-2: TRAIL fusion protein with selective binding properties and apoptotic potential using Immunoliposomes
- Worked on developing a scFv for sFlt-1; independently conducted the experiments, collaborated with international scientists and medical doctors; guided master students for their master thesis.
Junior Research Fellow
02.2010 - 12.2010
- Project title: Silencing of MTA-1 gene as a strategy to inhibit tumor angiogenesis and metastasis:
- Role in cancer therapy.
Visiting Research fellow
Universitat’s Klinikum
Freiburg
12.2007 - 01.2010
- On Research related work in 2011 and 2013.
Education
Ph.D. - Biotechnology
University of Mysore
Mysuru 08.2011 - 08.2017
M.Sc. - Biotechnology
University of Mysore
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc - undefined
CBZ, JSS College, Jain institute of vocational and advance studies (JIVAS)
Skills
Business development and retention
Partnership cultivation
Fundraising
Recruiting and training
Policies and procedures
Strategic planning
Business administration
Business process re-engineering
Advanced problem solving
Lean manufacturing and design
Project planning and development
Budget administration
Project budget allocation
Accomplishments
- Guest Faculty -Department of Biotechnology, University of Mysore
- 3 D printing certification, 3DING, Bangalore in February 2018
- Certificate Course in Care, breeding and Management of laboratory animal at NIMHANS
- Comprehensive training programme covering all aspects of essential oil, fragrance and flavour industry including information on policies, finance, management aspects etc at Fragrance and Flavour Development Center, Kannauj.
- First Class - Post Graduate Diploma in Nanobiotechnology from Life Science Foundation India, Karnataka in 2009.
- TRAIL- mediated Anti-angiogenesis is augmented by N-Coumaroyl Tyramine Diacetate (N-CTD)” Presented a poster at the 36th Annual conference of Indian Association for Cancer Research, Amala cancer research centre, Thrissur, Kerala, India (BEST POSTER PRESENTATION AWARD)
- Other Experiences: Administrative Experience in the Management and Marketing in Service Industry (Fitness and Wellness)
- Volunteering experience at Chair – Masoom in Young Indians (CII-Yi)
- Management and fundraising experience for Karunya Foundation, NGO focusing on Cancer Awareness.
Certification
Six week extensive online Technology Entrepreneurship Development program on “FoodTechnology”.
Timeline
Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer
Mycovation Pte Ltd
09.2020 - Current
Lead Scientist
Renergii Asia
06.2020 - Current
Translator
Consultancy services
02.2020 - Current
Senior Scientist and Manager
Clarette Biotech Pvt. Ltd
12.2019 - 05.2020
DST Women Scientist
University of Mysore
04.2016 - 06.2019
Ph.D. - Biotechnology
University of Mysore
08.2011 - 08.2017
Junior Research Fellow
02.2010 - 12.2010
Senior Research Fellow
01.2010 - 01.2013
Visiting Research fellow
Universitat’s Klinikum
12.2007 - 01.2010
M.Sc. - Biotechnology
University of Mysore
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc - undefined
CBZ, JSS College, Jain institute of vocational and advance studies (JIVAS)