Udita Pushpad

Address: Gurugram, India

Profile Summary

Accomplished microbiologist with expertise in microbial biotechnology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics. Experienced in studying root microbiome dynamics and producing biopolymers using halophilic bacteria. Skilled in advanced laboratory techniques, data analysis (R, Python), and next-generation sequencing. Published researcher with presentations at international conferences and recognized for academic excellence in competitive exams and certifications.

Research Work Experience

Senior Research Fellow
Division of Microbiology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
April 2018 – December 2020

• Conducted research on producing Poly-β-Hydroxybutyrate (PHB) from halophilic bacteria isolated from saline habitats.
• Designed primers, isolated genes, and performed cloning and expression analysis.

Education

• Doctorate (2020-2025)
  Division of Microbiology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
  Research Focus: Root microbiome dynamics in arid monocot crops under moisture deficit conditions of India.
• Master of Science: Applied Microbiology & Biotechnology (2015-2017)
  Banasthali Vidyapith, Jaipur, India
• Bachelor of Science: Biotechnology (2012-2015)
  Meerut Institute of Engineering & Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India

National Eligibility Test/Other Achievements

• Cleared ICAR-NET 2019, conducted by ASRB, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India.
• Ranked 1st in All India Competitive Examination (AICE) JRF/SRF ([hidden]) – 2020 by ICAR.
• Ranked 4th in Uttar Pradesh Combined Agriculture and Technology Test ([hidden]) – 2020.

Certifications

• Python for Data Science and Machine learning.
• Data Science and Machine Learning with R.

Skills

• Laboratory & Molecular Biology Techniques
• Microbial isolation, staining, microscopic analysis, gene cloning, PCR, gel electrophoresis, DNA/RNA extraction, RFLP, Primer designing, SDS-PAGE, biochemical testing.
• Analytical & Bioinformatics Tools
• HPLC, GC, Biolog (CLPP), gene sequencing, sequence alignment, phylogenetic analysis, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) data analysis, microbial diversity analysis (Mothur, QIIME), metagenomics, R programming for statistical analysis.

Training and Workshops

• 15-day Internship on Basic Microbiology Techniques at [hidden] Medical College, Meerut (May 2016).
• 30-day Industrial Training on Vocational Food Analysis at FICCI FRAC, New Delhi (June 2016).
• 6-month [hidden] Dissertation on Cloning of cry2Af2 gene in pBINAR plant transformation vector, ICAR-NRCPB, New Delhi (Jan-June 2017).
• 3-month Practical Training on Cloning of pqq gene and Isolation of halophilic archaea, IARI, New Delhi (Nov 2017 – Jan 2018).
• Attended workshop on “Rhizosphere Engineering: Genomes to Metagenomes” (Feb 2020).
• Attended Statistics and Informatics in Experimental Data Management and Analysis training (March 2021).
• Workshop on Computational Biology in Genomics, Metagenomics, Microbiome and Proteomics (April 2022).
• Online training on Data Analysis with R (Aug 2023).
• 30-day Bioinformatics Internship at iPlantMicro Lab, ITQB-NOVA, Portugal (Nov-Dec 2023).

Conferences & Papers Presented

• Pushpad U., Tomar [hidden], Singh S., & Kaushik R. (2018). Halophilic archaea as potent PHB producer. 59th International Conference of the Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI), University of Hyderabad, India.
• Tomar G., Pushpad U., Kaushik R., & Singh S. (2018). Production of β-Mannosiadse by psychrophilic fungi. 59th International Conference of AMI, University of Hyderabad, India.
• Pushpad U., Singh [hidden], Saxena [hidden], & Kaushik R. (2019). Cloning and expression of PQQ from Burkholderia cenocepacia PS27. 60th International Conference of AMI, Central University of Haryana, India.
• Pushpad U., Stopden T., & Kaushik R. (2021). Effective fungal consortium for composting in extreme conditions. 61st Annual International Conference of AMI, University of Delhi, India.
• Tomar G., Pushpad U., & Kaushik R. (2021). Upscaling PHB biopolymer production. 61st Annual International Conference of AMI, University of Delhi, India.
• Pushpad U., Suman A., Grover M., & Kaushik R. (2023). Root microbiome dynamics in arid monocots. 63rd Annual International Conference of AMI, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, India.
• Pushpad U., Sharma P., Das R., Grover M., & Kaushik R. (2025). Exploring the Root Microbiome of Wheat and Barley in Hot and Cold Desert Ecosystems of India: Potential for Enhancing Drought Tolerance. 65 Annual International Conference of AMI, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, Haryana, India.

Publications

• Naitam [hidden], Tomar [hidden], Pushpad U., Singh S., & Kaushik R. (2022). Halophilic bacteria mediated PHB production using paddy straw as a substrate. Bioresource Technology Reports, 17, 100915.
• Rani V., Kumar R., Pushpad U., Sajish S., Divekar P., Majumder S., Kaushik R., & Pandey [hidden] (2024). Microbial biofertilizers to mitigate climate change-associated abiotic stress. Bio-Inoculants in Horticultural Crops, Woodhead Publishing.

References

Available upon request.

Skills

Laboratory & Molecular Biology Techniques, Analytical & Bioinformatics Tools

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Cover Letter:

Udita Pushpad
Gurugram, India
 
February 12, 2025
Hiring Committee
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) BHU
Subject: Application for Senior Data Analyst Position
Dear Hiring Committee,
I am excited to apply for the Senior Data Analyst position at IIT BHU. With a strong background in bioinformatics, data analysis, and microbiology, I am eager to leverage my expertise in statistical modeling, data visualization, and computational analysis to support data-driven research at your institution.
I am currently pursuing a [hidden] in Microbiology at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India, with an expected completion in May 2025. My doctoral research involves extensive genomic and transcriptomic data analysis, utilizing next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques to study plant-associated microbiomes. Through my work, I have developed proficiency in R, Python, SQL, QIIME, and MEGA, along with expertise in machine learning applications for biological data interpretation.
In addition to my research, I have a Master’s in Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology and professional experience as a Senior Research Fellow at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute. In this role, I worked on microbial technologies, focusing on genetic data analysis, biostatistics, and bioinformatics pipelines. My responsibilities included designing and implementing data-driven models, performing large-scale genomic comparisons, and generating visual reports to support decision-making in microbial ecology studies.
My technical expertise includes:
– Data analysis and visualization using Python (Pandas, NumPy, Matplotlib, Seaborn) and R (ggplot2, dplyr, tidyverse)
– Processing and interpreting large-scale NGS datasets
I am particularly drawn to this opportunity at IIT BHU because of its strong emphasis on data-driven research and interdisciplinary collaborations. My analytical skills, combined with my ability to translate complex datasets into actionable insights, will allow me to contribute effectively to ongoing projects.
I have attached my CV and relevant documents for your review. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my skills and experience align with the needs of your team. Please feel free to contact me at your convenience.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
 
Sincerely,
Udita Pushpad