**Mariam Ahmed**
**Summary:**
Dedicated and detail-oriented professional with a Master of Science in Microbiology and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, Genetics, and Chemistry. Experienced in research and work environments, with expertise in drug delivery, nanoparticle characterization, and cytotoxicity assessments. Skilled in analyzing user-generated content for trust and safety compliance, as well as conducting microbiological and genetic research.
**Education**
*Master of Science, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad* – 2021-2023
– Postgraduate in Microbiology
– Dissertation title: *Polymeric Nanoparticles for Targeted Drug Delivery against Glioma*
*Bachelor of Science, St Ann’s College for Women* – 2017-2020
– Undergraduate in Microbiology, Genetics, and Chemistry
– Consolidated CGPA: [hidden]
**Research and Work Experience**
*Accenture, Trust and Safety Associate* – 2023-2024
– Reviewed and assessed user-generated content for a large video streaming platform, ensuring compliance with community guidelines.
– Analyzed data to track content performance and user engagement, providing insights for moderation strategies.
– Identified and resolved content-related issues, collaborating across teams for prompt solutions.
*CSIR- Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Project Trainee* – 2022-2023
– Prepared and characterized drug-loaded nanoparticles, essential for cytotoxicity assessments.
– Managed glioma and melanoma cell lines and performed in-depth cytotoxicity evaluations.
*St Ann’s College for Women, Department of Microbiology, Undergraduate Researcher* – 2019-2020
– Conducted research on antibacterial properties of leaf extracts from common fruit plants.
– Analyzed antibiotic susceptibility in bacterial species through agar well diffusion method.
*St Ann’s College for Women, Department of Genetics, Undergraduate Researcher* – 2019-2020
– Studied genotoxic effects in the human buccal epithelium through micronuclei enumeration.
– Compared pollution levels with micronuclei frequency to evaluate genotoxic damage impact.
*Institute of Genetics and Hospital for Genetic Diseases, Summer Intern* – 2019
– Trained in diagnosis and management of genetic diseases using molecular cytogenetic methods.
*Global Medical Education & Research Foundation, Trainee* – 2018
– Analyzed multi-drug resistant bacteria and isolated viral DNA for qualitative detection.
**Peer-Reviewed Publications**
– Bhamidipati, K; Malleswara, R. N. N; Ahmed, M; et al. Enhancing cancer immunotherapy with mannose mimicking glycopolymer nanoparticles induced activation of dendritic cells. Bioorg Chem. 2024; 152:107711.
**Conferences**
*Association of Microbiologists of India* – 2018
– Attended the 59th Annual conference and participated in the Petri Art competition.
**Volunteering Experience**
*Tulasi High School, Hyderabad, Volunteer* – 2019
– Educated high school students on microscopy, staining procedures, and blood group identification.
**Skills**
Microbiology, Genetics, Drug Delivery, Nanoparticle Characterization, Cytotoxicity Assessments, User Content Review, Data Analysis, Cell Line Maintenance, Antibacterial Research, Genotoxicity Studies, Molecular Techniques, Biochemical Analysis
*[End of CV]*
Cover Letter:
With a solid background in microbiology and immunology, coupled with extensive laboratory experience, I am enthusiastic about the prospect of working as a Research Fellow with the team at Molpath Private Ltd.
My academic and research journey has been motivated by my passion with figuring out the complex mechanisms underlying cancer development, progression, and treatment. I have been passionate about research since my undergraduate levels and took up independent research projects that enabled me to hone my research skills. One such project was “Testing of Antibacterial Properties of Leaf Extracts of Common Fruit Plants”. My course also offered various workshops and training programs to convert my theoretical skills into practical lab experiences. I spent a summer in the Institute of Genetics conducting research on Molecular Cytogenetics. Such internships during my undergraduate studies led me to gain significant hands-on experience in various genetic and molecular techniques.
My interests in research and practical skills, along with my determination led me to pursue my master’s from a renowned university. As a master’s student at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University my interests were focused on both theoretical and wet lab training. Apart from a challenging curriculum, the program demanded profound and detailed academic writing accompanied with meticulous individual research, preparing me for intensive roles in the future. I completed my dissertation in CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, titled ‘Polymeric nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery against glioma’ in which I explored the use of nanoparticles as vehicles for drug distribution in cancer cell lines, offering the potential to enhance therapeutic efficacy for glioma patients while minimizing systemic side effects. I have achieved this using various microscopic techniques, western blot and FACs analysis. Apart from working on polymeric nanoparticles, I also worked on carbon nanoparticles and its cytotoxic effect on melanoma cell lines. From preparing the nanoparticles with choice of drug and tagging them with plasmid isolated from bacterial cultures to checking their effects on various cell lines, I gained insights on how to actively troubleshoot experimental procedures and address challenges encountered during the project. This work was also published in the prestigious Bioorganic Chemistry journal. I also got the opportunity to shadow PhD. Scholars, and assist them with their work in murine models to see promising results.
Post my master’s degree, I aimed to gain industry experience. I pursued a content analyst role in Accenture, where I analysed and moderated publicly available health-related content. This role enabled me to understand the extent of health-related misinformation in the public domain, and gain insights about public science communication. I realized the importance of not only conducting meaningful research, but also finding accessible avenues of communicating this research to a broader audience. This role also facilitated my learning about working in large teams, shipping real-world products, and work with cutting edge technology. Gaining computational skills through this opportunity, also piqued my interest in computational biology. In this opportunity, while I gained key computing and technical skills, I found the work less intellectually stimulating and found myself willing to return to biology research.
My goal is to become a world-class researcher who not only pushes the boundaries of knowledge but also plays a significant role in translating research findings into practical applications and thereby developing targeted therapies for cancer patients, improving treatment outcomes, and ultimately contributing to the global fight against cancer. Finally, I also aim to find avenues to make scientific research more accessible to healthcare professionals and broader public.