Pragati Nikam – Unlocking the Secrets of Viruses: A Future Scientist’s Journey in Virology

Summary

Dedicated and detail-oriented virology student with hands-on experience in Oxford Nanopore Technology, adept at handling complex and infectious samples in diagnostics. Proficient in troubleshooting sequencing issues, with excellent communication and teamwork skills. Adaptable under pressure and committed to delivering accurate and reliable results.

Areas of Expertise

• Genomics and Transcriptomics: Oxford Nanopore Technology, NGS (Next-Generation Sequencing), Sanger Sequencing, RNA-Seq, Variant Analysis.
• Molecular Biology: Real-Time PCR, Nested PCR, Primer Design, Reverse Transcription PCR, Gene Prediction and Annotation.
• Proteomics: Protein structure prediction (PDB, UNIPROT, Pfam, InterPro), visualization tools (Discovery Studio, SPDV), evaluation tools (QMEAN, PROCHECK).
• Bioinformatics Tools: Sequence alignment algorithms (Needleman-Wunsch, Smith-Waterman, BLAST, FASTA), phylogenetic analysis (MEGA, UPGMA, Maximum Likelihood).
• Pathway and Interaction Analysis: KEGG, REACTOME, STRING, STITCH.
• Software Proficiency: Galaxy platform for NGS workflows, IGV for NGS data visualization, wANNOVAR for variant annotation.
• Programming Languages: Python (data analysis, BioPython applications).

Professional Experience

Technical Assistant

Haystack Analytics Pvt. Ltd., IIT Bombay, Mumbai, India

August 2023 – Present

• Prepare Oxford Nanopore libraries with infectious patient samples daily.
• Perform sequencing using the MinION device and MINKNOW software.
• Troubleshoot sequencing processes to ensure accurate and reliable results.

Education

M.Sc. in Virology

National Institute of Virology, Pune, India 2020 – 2022

First Class

• Dissertation: Molecular Characterization of Dengue Virus Circulating in India.
• Conducted phylogenetic analysis of DENV-1 using E gene sequences from Indian serum samples.
• Constructed a phylogenetic tree with the Neighbor-Joining method in MEGA 5.2.
• Aligned sequences with MAFFT software and compared amino acids with the vaccine strain.

B.Sc. in Botany

Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India 2017 – 2020

First Class with Distinction

• Dissertation: Botanical Heritage: Developing a Herbarium of Regional Plant Species.
• Created a herbarium by collecting and preserving local plant specimens.
• Documented each specimen with detailed labels, including scientific names, collection dates, and habitat information.

Skills

Technical Skills: Oxford Nanopore Technology, Library Preparation, Troubleshooting Sequencing Issues, ELISA, PCR Variants, Agarose Gel Electrophoresis.

Computational Biology: Sequence Curation, Protein and Gene Structure Prediction, BLAST, FASTA, MEGA, Galaxy, IGV, Discovery Studio.

Soft Skills: Presentation, Teamwork, Creative Problem Solving, Active Listening, Adaptability.

Certifications and Trainings

• Advanced Bioinformatics Course: NCBI, PUBMED, MESH databases; Protein structure prediction and evaluation (PDB, MODELLER, I-TASSER, PHYRE).
• NGS Data Analysis: Sample preparation, quality control, RNA-Seq, Variant Calling, ChIP-seq, Metagenomics analysis, BRIG and MLST annotation.
• Python Programming for Bioinformatics: BioPython applications including sequence annotation, BLAST, Swiss-Prot, and PDB parsing.

Languages

• Marathi: Native
• Hindi: Intermediate
• English: Intermediate

Keywords

Oxford Nanopore Technology, Genomics, Transcriptomics, Molecular Biology, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Pathway Analysis, Interaction Analysis, Software Proficiency, Programming, Technical Skills, Computational Biology, Soft Skills, Virology

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Cover Letter:

Pragati Nikam Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India [Phone Hidden]
[Date]
Hiring Manager MedGenome [Company Address]
Subject: Application for Genome Analyst Position
Dear Hiring Manager,
Applying for MedGenome’s Genome Analyst position excites me. I am eager to use my knowledge of molecular biology and bioinformatics to support MedGenome’s mission of advancing precision medicine through innovative genomic solutions. I am a committed virology and genomics professional with practical experience in Oxford Nanopore Technology and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS).
As a Technical Assistant at Haystack Analytics Pvt. Ltd., I currently prepare Oxford Nanopore libraries daily, use MinION technology for sequencing, and troubleshoot sequencing issues to ensure excellent results. My ability to use bioinformatics tools like BLAST, FASTA, and MEGA, perform variant annotation, and process NGS data has enhanced my analytical and problem-solving skills. To further develop my knowledge of viral genomes and computational biology, I conducted molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the Dengue virus for my M.Sc. dissertation at the National Institute of Virology.
My enthusiasm for using sequencing technology to enhance healthcare outcomes aligns perfectly with MedGenome’s innovative approach to genomics-driven diagnostics and research. My flexibility, meticulous attention to detail, and capacity for teamwork in fast-paced lab environments make me a strong candidate for this position. I am eager to join MedGenome, contribute to groundbreaking genomic research, and share my passion and technical expertise.
I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss how my skills and background can benefit your team. Please find my resume attached for your review. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to the prospect of working with MedGenome and making meaningful contributions to your genomic projects.
Sincerely, Pragati Nikam