Akshay Pujari
Biomedical Research, Computational Biology | Rubedo Life Sciences
32 years old
Driving License
San Francisco Bay Area United States (California)
Professional Status
Employed
Just looking around
About Me
Currently working at Rubedo Life Sciences primarily in the Bioinformatics / Computational Biology team. Previously, Research Associate II at an early staged drug discovery company – DiCE Molecules in Redwood City.
I graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst with an MS in Mechanical, Biomedical Engineering. I worked as a Research Assistant in the Vascular Biology and Biofluids Laboratory, and did in-vivo, ex-vivo in-vitro and in-silico translational research work. With the diverse and cross-disciplinary nature of the research, my coursework included classes from mechanical and biomedical engineering, biology, animal science and computer science disciplines.
My background is in the research connecting the fields of Engineering, Biology, and Medicine, and my skillsets include but are not limited to: Biomedical Sciences, Computational Biology, Vascular Biology, Wet lab experimentation, Monolith Chemistry, Bioinformatics, Automation + Robotics and Engineering design. I have an extensive background in both life sciences and engineering domains. I am passionate about science and unification of disciplines to solve new problems relevant in understanding and improving human life.
I graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst with an MS in Mechanical, Biomedical Engineering. I worked as a Research Assistant in the Vascular Biology and Biofluids Laboratory, and did in-vivo, ex-vivo in-vitro and in-silico translational research work. With the diverse and cross-disciplinary nature of the research, my coursework included classes from mechanical and biomedical engineering, biology, animal science and computer science disciplines.
My background is in the research connecting the fields of Engineering, Biology, and Medicine, and my skillsets include but are not limited to: Biomedical Sciences, Computational Biology, Vascular Biology, Wet lab experimentation, Monolith Chemistry, Bioinformatics, Automation + Robotics and Engineering design. I have an extensive background in both life sciences and engineering domains. I am passionate about science and unification of disciplines to solve new problems relevant in understanding and improving human life.
Bioinformatician
Rubedo Life Sciences
Since January 2020
Sunnyvale
United States - California
Company website
Research Associate II
DiCE Molecules
November 2017
to December 2019
Redwood City
- Part of early-staged drug discovery company focused on discovering drug-like molecules for pharmaceutical targets based on innovative DNA-programmed combinatorial chemistry synthesis platform.
- Responsible for handling and optimizing the innovative monolithic affinity chromatography technology and production of DNA-encoded libraries which is the foundation of company’s technology.
- Explored new manuscripts and experimented to improve affinity chromatography efficiency. Successfully improved the binding efficiency by 1.5x and updated chemistry protocols.
- Assisted bioinformatics team in writing highly efficient python codes to facilitate quick downstream NGS data analysis for hit finding.
- Hands-on wet laboratory experimentation experience and responsible for development of robust protocols.
- Managed database and reported results to parallel teams on regular basis.
- Handled responsibilities as a core member of in-house laboratory environmental health and safety (EH&S) team to overlook safe liquid and solid chemical disposals, procurement and handling of hazardous lab chemicals.
- Promoted to Research Associate II in August 2019.
Company website
Graduate Research Assistant
Vascular Biology and Biofluids Laboratory, UMass Amherst
December 2015
to October 2017
Amherst
United States - Massachusetts
- Studied lymphatic fluid flow and lymphatic valves in-vivo in wild type and genetically modified mice.
- Studied effects of flow in cardiovascular & cerebral vessels; disease metastasis including cancer.
- Studied stenting, catheterization, medical devices, drugs and their effects to vasculature & disease.
- Explored several manuscripts to understand mechanism, development, effects, metastasis and clinical treatment of conditions such as atherosclerosis, thrombosis, aneurysms, myocardial infarctions, and lymphedema.
Detailed Description
- Performed intensive data analysis; generated algorithms for video, image processing, vessel edge detection and fluorescent particle tracking on in-vivo mice data. Used self-written custom MATLAB algorithms, Imaris, PTV Lab, and developed ImageJ Macros.
- Performed immunohistochemistry (IHC) experiments on mice tissues to demonstrate differential protein expressions on vascular endothelial cells subjected to differential flow pattern.
- Dissected mice samples; performed microscopy and developed in-vitro lab experiments/ protocols.
- Mentored two undergraduate students in the research group, presented journals in lab meetings.
- Presented my research on multiple platforms in both engineering and life sciences context. Presented poster in BMES Annual Meeting 2016, IALS Life Science Symposium 2016.
- Generated manuscripts, figures for publications. Efforts ongoing in the lab to finalize two manuscripts as first author through collaborative effort.
Company Description
The laboratory studies the interaction between fluid flow and biology, by integrating fluid dynamic engineering, cellular and molecular biology. Body fluids or biofluids, such as blood, lymph, and cerebrospinal fluid continuously interact with cells in the body eliciting biochemical and physical responses. The research seeks to elucidate the fluid flow characteristics and fluid flow-dependent biomolecular pathways relevant in medicine.
Company website
Engineering Intern
Bajaj Auto Ltd
June 2012
to July 2012
Internship
Pune
India
- Researched, designed and installed indexing mechanism for fuel tank line of motorcycles in paint shop.
- Assisted in installation of decal printing robot and computed printing time.
- Interacted with workers and engineers from various departments of the industry.
Company website
Undergraduate Research Project
Kolhapur Institute of Technology
July 2012
to May 2013
Kolhapur
India
- Title: Pneumatically Energized and Actuated Robotic Leg (PEARL)
- Designed and developed a remote operated powered exoskeleton to automate the human walking movement by combination of mechatronics, biomechanics (orthotics, kinesiology), pneumatics (air muscles), robotics, and product design.
- Performed gait analysis to study leg movement and joint kinetics at hip, knee and ankle joint during walking.
- Generated computer aided designs, analyzed the structure and simulated the human walking action.
- Conceptualized and succeeded in manufacturing air muscles in-house and applied them as pneumatic actuators.
Company website
Project: All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) for SAE-BAJA
Kolhapur Institute of Technology
May 2012
to February 2013
Student Project
Kolhapur
India
- Collaborated with 25 multidisciplinary students to form Team Race Aces for the event BAJA– an ATV designing, fabricating and racing competition organized by SAE India.
- Head of design and control system team:Designed structure and parts on CATIA and SolidWorks, analyzed using ANSYS.
- Installed the entire electrical circuits and electronic paddle shifting mechanism for ATV.
- Presented design and ideas in first round to qualify for final round; won ‘safest vehicle award’ at the final event.
Company Description
Image:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ATeam_Race_Aces_-_Kolhapur_Institute_of_Technology.jpg
Company website
Sports Secretary
Student Council of KIT
August 2012
to June 2013
Kolhapur
India
- Represented college at various university and national level 'Chess' championships for 3 years as college captain.
- Selected as 'Sports Secretary' for academic year 2012-13 (my final year).
- Managed documentation, record keeping, organization of all players and tournaments of all sports and games
- Organized college annual sports by conducting eight sports and final sports day which had participation of over 1200 students.
