Dr. Sauradipta Banerjee – Unveiling the Secrets of Protein Modification: A 14-Year Odyssey in Biochemistry and Research!

Dr. Sauradipta Banerjee

RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS: 14/D, Rajani Bhattacherjee Lane, Kolkata- 700026 (India)
DATE OF BIRTH: 12 / 12 / 1985
NATIONALITY: Indian
PLACE OF BIRTH: Kolkata, India
CATEGORY: General

ACADEMIC RECORD

BROAD AREA OF DOCTORAL RESEARCH

Studies on glycation-induced protein modification

MAJOR AREA OF RESEARCH

Biochemistry, Protein biophysics, Spectroscopy, Glycobiology, Structural biology, Proteomics, Amyloid biology

BROAD AREA OF POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH

Investigation on the role of small molecule ligands in inhibition of protein amyloidogenesis

TOTAL RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

14 years

RESEARCH TECHNIQUES

• Spectrophotometry
• Spectro fluorimetry
• Circular Dichroism
• Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy
• Differential Scanning Calorimetry
• X-ray diffraction analysis (powder/film)
• Dynamic Light Scattering
• Mass spectrometry and proteomics
• Microscopy
• Animal handling

MAJOR RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

• Performed detailed characterization of protein modification (glycation) by biophysical spectroscopic methods both under in vitro and in vivo conditions (animal model)
• Successfully carried out the detection and identification of sites and nature of protein glycation by extensive proteomic analysis including mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS, ESI-MS) and peptide mass fingerprinting
• Independently designed and conducted in vitro and in vivo experimental studies, analyzed and interpreted spectral data (both during doctoral and post-doctoral research studies)
• Identified and explored the role of certain ligands and small molecules in their ability to inhibit protein aggregation with potential clinical implications in the treatment of protein conformational disorders
• Published several research articles as corresponding sole author in international peer-reviewed journals arising from independent research studies

TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS

23 [No. of citations: 310, h-index: 10, i10-index: 10]

AWARDS/FELLOWSHIPS

• GATE ([hidden] percentile, score 508) in 2009
• CSIR-NET JRF (Life Sciences) in 2009
• DST-SERB National Post-doctoral Fellowship (N-PDF) in Life Sciences in 2017
• Research Associate-ship from CSIR (CSIR-RA) in 2018
• Research Associate-ship from ICMR (ICMR-RA) in 2019

PEER RECOGNITION

I am a peer reviewer in following journals:
Spectrochimica Acta Part A, Archives of Food & Nutrition, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Journal of Bio-molecular structure and Dynamics, Journal of Food Biochemistry, Scientific Reports, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, ACS journals

RESEARCH GRANTS RECEIVED AS PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (PI)

• DST-SERB funded project entitled, “Studies on glycation-induced protein modification” [Grant amount: Rs. 19,20,000/-; Duration: 24 months]
• ICMR funded project entitled, “Targeting telomeric repeat containing RNA quadruplex with small molecule ligands” [Grant amount: Rs. 21,58,080/-; Duration: 36 months]

PROFESSIONAL (POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH) EXPERIENCES

• Worked as Senior Research Fellow on the project entitled, “Role of ampylation, a novel post-translational signaling mechanism in Mycobacterium tuberculosis” at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (November 2015-April 2016)
• Worked as Research Associate in a project on detection and characterization of micro-RNA binding proteins at National Brain Research Centre, Haryana (July 2016-November 2016)
• Worked as Research Associate on the project entitled, “Electrochemical characterization of albumin in whole blood” at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (December 2016-March 2017)
• Worked as SERB-National Post-Doctoral Fellow (Principal Investigator) on SERB-funded project, entitled, “Glycation-induced protein modification” at Indian Institute of Technology, Indore (October 2017-January 2018)
• Worked as Research Associate on the inhibitory role of small molecule ligands on protein aggregation at Indian Association for the Cultivation of Sciences (December 2018-April 2022)
• Worked as Research Scientist-B at Government Medical College & Hospital (July 2022-July 2023)
• Currently working as a faculty at MAKAUT-affiliated college, Kolkata (since March 2024)

PAPERS PRESENTED IN SYMPOSIA / CONFERENCES

• “Glyoxal-induced modification of hemoglobin” by S. Banerjee and [hidden] Chakraborti in the National Symposium on “Molecular Architecture and Assembly in Living Systems (MADALS- 2014)”, organized by Indian Biophysical Society (IBS) and Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP) at SINP, Kolkata from 7th -10th February, 2014
• “Methylglyoxal-induced modifications of hemoglobin: structural and functional characteristics” by S. Banerjee, T. Bose, A. Bhattacherjee and [hidden] Chakraborti in the 81st Annual Meeting of the Society of Biological Chemists (India) and Symposium on Chemistry and Biology: Two Weapons Against Diseases at Science City, Kolkata from 8th-11th November, 2012

PARTICIPATION IN SEMINAR/CONFERENCES/SYMPOSIA

• UGC-DSA funded National Seminar, entitled, “Probing Biology: In vivo, in vitro & in silico III” organized by UNIVERSITY OF CALCUTTA held on 28th February, 2014
• CPCSEA EASTERN ZONAL WORKSHOP ON LABORATORY ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION organized by MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (Government of India, New Delhi) held on 4th May, 2012 at R. G. Kar Medical College, Kolkata
• DST-PURSE Sponsored One-Day Seminar On “Diabetes Research: Present Status and Future Prospects” held on 17th September, 2012, organized by University of Calcutta
• Plenary Session On “FOOD SECURITY & GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS” Organized by West Bengal State Council of Science & Technology & Department of Biophysics, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, Calcutta University, held on 25th July, 2013
• “International Symposium on Modern Biology in 21st Century: Teaching and Research” held on 7th & 8th December, 2010 organized by Department of Biophysics, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, Calcutta University
• UGC-DSA funded National Seminar on “Advanced in Molecular Regulation” organized by UNIVERSITY OF CALCUTTA held on 28th February, 2013
• “National Seminar on Social Function of Science-2013 and the Celebration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda” on June 14, 2013 held in Faculty of Science, Jadavpur University, Kolkata
• 3rd Indian National Seminar of ANRAP on the “Prevention of Management of Diabetes: Prospects of Challenges” held on 14- 16 September, 2012, at the RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata, India
• Author Workshop jointly organized by Springer & University of Calcutta on 20th November, 2014 at University of Calcutta

SKILLS

Spectrophotometry, Spectro fluorimetry, Circular Dichroism, Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, X-ray diffraction analysis, Dynamic Light Scattering, Mass spectrometry, Microscopy, Animal handling

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Cover Letter:

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

Sir/Madam,
I am Dr. Sauradipta Banerjee, [hidden] awarded in the Department of Biophysics, Calcutta University. I am writing this letter in connection to my application, interest and motivation for the advertised position. I have completed my [hidden] in Microbiology (HONS.) and [hidden] in Biochemistry with first class from Calcutta University. I have qualified GATE ([hidden] percentile) and CSIR-NET (JRF) in Life Sciences.
The broad area of my doctoral research was on characterization of protein modification in the context of diabetic complications. The major part of the study was the analysis of protein glycation by mass spectrometry based proteomic studies in order to identify the site(s) and nature of protein modifications. This has considerable biological relevance in the context of understanding the nature and role of post-translational modifications in different protein conformational disorders, and has important implications in the field of modern biology, as well as clinical and analytical biochemistry. During post-doctoral research, I have explored the inhibitory role of small molecule ligands on protein aggregation, with potential therapeutic implications in treatment of protein conformational disorders. I have exhaustively characterized protein modification by MALDI-MS, ESI-MS as well as peptide mass fingerprinting and associated MS/MS studies.

With reference to my research work to date, I have 23 publications in peer-reviewed international journals, majority of which are in first authorship or as corresponding sole author. I have been awarded with three postdoctoral fellowships (SERB National Post-doctoral Fellowship, CSIR and ICMR Research Associate-ship) and presently have 5 years of [hidden] research experience. In addition, I am a peer reviewer in several international journals of repute, namely, Current Organic Chemistry, Archives of Food and Nutrition, Journal of Agricultural and Food chemistry, Journal of Biomolecular structure and Dynamics, Spectrochimica Acta A and Scientific Reports. I also have several years of working experience as principal investigator (PI) in SERB and ICMR-sponsored projects, respectively.

Considering my academic credentials, background and considerable years of research experience in the concerned area, I feel myself suitable for the desired position, and will be highly obliged if you may kindly consider my application accordingly.

Thanking you again,
Sincerely yours,

Dr. Sauradipta Banerjee