University Email address: sunitha@medicine.nodak.edu

 University Phone: (701) 777-3732

 University FAX: (701) 777-2382

Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Chemistry and Biology from Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning,Anantapur,India
• Masters degree in Animal Sciences from University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India

Graduate Education:

Advisor : Dr.Brij Singh

Dissertation Title: Identification and charectarization of TRP channels in excitable and non excitable cells

Graduation Date: December 2007

Abstract: Calcium is a key intracellular signaling molecule, which regulates numerous processes, ranging from cell division to cell death. But little is known about the regulation of the calcium levels in various, excitable and non excitable cells.Recently Trancient Receptor Potential (TRP) proteins have been identified as major calcium channels in most cell types,however the mechanism of regulation of these TRP channels is stillunknown.Therefore my research is directed towards the identification, regulation and characterization of TRP proteins in excitable and non excitable cells.Recently we have identified that TRP channels interact with the proteins of the SNARE complex which could be involved in the activation of the channel.Hence my future research will be focused towards identifiying interacting proteins which could contribute towards the molecular mechnism of the regulation of TRP proteins .

Meetings Attended:

• Attended a National Symposium on ‘Brain Awareness week’, 2001 conducted jointly by Dept.of Animal Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad.
• Annual meeting of North Dakota Academy of Sciences, Fargo, North Dakota, 2004.

Honors and Awards:

• University merit scholarship for securing first rank in the entrance examination conducted by the University of Hyderabad
• Qualified for the Center for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) fellowship

Technical Experience:

• Molecular Biology
  • Isolation and quantification of Nucleic acids
  • Agarose gel electrophoresis
  • Southern Blotting
  • Restriction analysis of genomic and plasmid DNA
  • Gene amplification using Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Genomic Cloning
• Biochemistry
  • Enzyme Assay and Kinetic Study
  • Protein Estimation by Biuret , Lowry ,Biorad Methods
  • Paper and Affinity Chromatography
  • Native, SDS PAGE
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Yeast two hybrid technique
• Animal Cell Culture
  • Invitro animal cell culture
  • Tranfection of mammalian cells
  • MTT assay for Cell Proliferation
• Immunology
  • Antibody Raising
  • Immunodiffusions
  • Immunoelectrophoresis
  • ELISA
• Instrumentation
  • Centrifugation
  • Spectrophotometry
  • Chromatography
  • Confocal Microscopy
  • Microtomy

Career Objective:

To establish myself as a thorough researcher pursuing new avenues in science.