Venkatesh Subramanian
Research Scientist
Hofheim Am Taunus,HE
Summary
Interdisciplinary Scientist with extensive experience in advanced histology, imaging & analysis along with, molecular biology, gene regulation and multiplexed immunoassays across industry and academia. Proven leader in project design, lab management & execution of in-vivo studies in rare disease therapeutics and spatial biology. Adept in workflow automation and GMP/GLP compliance. Proficient at adapting gene editing systems for genotype and phenotype studies with method validation through histology and immunoassays in animal model systems, providing subject matter expertise and data interpretation whilst nurturing cross functional collaborations.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
3
3
Certifications
3
3
Languages
Work History
Certified Hands-on Training
CATTI- Canadian Advanced Therapies Training Institute
12.2024 - Current
Biomanufacturing of Advanced Therapies training program certificate in GMP manufacturing of CGTs, Aseptic
techniques, cell-culture and closed systems manufacturing, CAR-T and immunotherapies.
Hands-on training in industry standard cell therapy manufacturing technologies like G-REX, Fresenius Kabi LOVO, and
CliniMACS along with GMP compliant aseptic processing.
Specialized training in GDP, QBD, Risk management and quality control in biomanufacturing and technology transfer.
Research Scientist & Lab Manager
CDI Labs Canada Inc.
08.2023 - 10.2024
- Led the setup and management of a proteomics lab offering commercial high throughput immunogenicity/immune profiling & antibody discovery service with Phage-display Immunoprecipitation Sequencing (PhIP-Seq).
- Spearheaded BSL-2 laboratory organization and optimized automated immunoassay and NGS workflows.
- Executed PhIP-Seq pipeline from sample acquisition, experimentation, data analysis to client delivery.
- Implemented informatics and analytical data delivery pipelines on R, Python and AWS.
- Designated as primary safety officer for CDI Labs Canada at J&J JLABS, authored and reviewed SOPs, instrument IQ/OQ, calibration and QA documentation ensuring compliance with safety protocols and GLP standards.
- CRO at J&J Innovation - JLABS
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
University of Toronto
04.2019 - 08.2022
- Established HCR-IF, RNA-F-ISH, TSA-IHC-ISH, multiplexed IHC & immunoassays with 2-photon, confocal imaging for neuronal marker discovery, spatial expression and disease phenotype analysis on vertebrate models.
- Created a Sequencing and High-Resolution Melt (HRM) qPCR based high throughput assay for genotyping base edited CRISPR engineered zebrafish model for a rare neuro-muscular disease (Dystonia).
- Generated GCaMP and Gal4-UAS driven transgenic reporter lines, optimized RNA biology techniques like rapid amplification of cDNA ends (5’RACE), CRISPR and plasmid biology for tissue specific gene expression and line validation.
- Supervised and designed projects for 10+ undergraduate and graduate students, training in scientific writing.
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Tufts University, Boston, USA and Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
12.2016 - 12.2018
- Characterized and generated CRISPR mediated systemic and tissue-specific KO models for rare diseases (Pheochromocytoma and Fibrodysplasia ossificans) including histological analysis of neuro-muscular phenotype in muscle, heart and inter-renal (adrenal) glands.
- Generated a heat-shock induced phenotype via SD mutagenesis, gateway cloning and Tol 2 transgenesis.
- Developed proteomics and HPLC based assays for analyzing phenotype specific metabolites (Catecholamines) enabling non-invasive analysis of tumor-associated metabolic phenotypes.
Education
PhD - Developmental Biology & Neurobiology
University of Cologne
Germany01-2016
MSc. - Biotechnology
Bharathiyar University
India01-2009
Skills
Advanced Histology: HCR-IF, RNA-FISH, IHC-ISH (X-CLARITY, 3DISCO), Whole mount and sectional tissue processing on Cryo/FFPE/Vibratome, and automated staining on Leica and Agilent systems
Advanced Microscopy & Imaging (2-photon, confocal), analysis on QuPath, ZEN, ImageJ, inForm & Adobe suite
Genome engineering and transgenics: CRISPR-Cas9 based HDR/NHEJ, base and prime editing, gRNA design and workflows Tol2 transgenesis, Antisense/ Morpholino based gene silencing, SD Mutagenesis
Advanced Molecular biology: HRM-qPCR, RT-PCR, Plasmid Biology, Cloning (Gateway and Gibson)
Developmental Biology: Embryonic micro-manipulation of oocytes, transgenic expression and line validation
Molecular microbiology and Mammalian cell culture, HPLC, Analytical DSP of therapeutic proteins
Functional genomics and immunoassays: Phage-display-Seq, ELISA, NGS library prep and analysis
Project management, QA/QC, Laboratory management, BSL-2 Biosafety and GMP/GLP trained
Certification
Model animal handling & experimentation certificate and accreditation from Federation of European laboratory Animal Science Association (FELASA-B) - Jan 2017
Timeline
Certified Hands-on Training
CATTI- Canadian Advanced Therapies Training Institute
12.2024 - Current
Research Scientist & Lab Manager
CDI Labs Canada Inc.
08.2023 - 10.2024
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
University of Toronto
04.2019 - 08.2022
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Tufts University, Boston, USA and Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
12.2016 - 12.2018
MSc. - Biotechnology
Bharathiyar University
PhD - Developmental Biology & Neurobiology
University of Cologne
OTHER POSITIONS HELD
- Freelance Fellow
- HaloHealth, Toronto, Canada (Remote)
- Evaluated and supported early stage healthtech ventures as SME on neuroscience and molecular genetics related pitch deck presentations, as a part of the prescreening and due diligence panel.
- Genomics Specialist
- DMark Biosciences, Toronto Canada
- Advised stakeholders as technical sales consultant for Perkin-Elmer, Covaris and Macherey-Nagel genomics workflow automation solutions in Ontario, with special focus on the Greater Toronto Area.
- Research Analyst - QA/QC
- Wockhardt Biopharmaceuticals, India
- Worked as QC analyst in India’s first research team that developed generic recombinant Insulin and Insulin analogs for the Indian market worth 350 million USD.
- Performed analytical downstream processing of recombinant insulin, monoclonal antibodies, and cytokines including peptide mapping on LC-MS, LAL endotoxin test, RP-HPLC, IEC, CE, northern/southern blot analysis.
- Trained under US and European pharmacopeia standards and cGMP/GLP guidelines for quality assurance documentation, underwent multiple audits.
- Prepared SOPs, method validation, batch records, and other documents for regulatory submissions to USFDA.
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
- Molecular and Cell biology
- Advanced imaging using 2photon and Confocal Microscopy and image analysis on ImageJ, Zen, Adobe suite and inForm for high dimensional analysis.
- Multiplex IHC-ISH, HCR-Immunofluorescence, RNA-FISH, Biotin-TSA.
- Site directed mutagenesis, CRISPR-Cas Knock-out/in (NHEJ and HDR), Base and prime editing, TALENs.
- RT-PCR, qPCR, NGS and Sanger sequencing library prep, workflow automation and analysis.
- High-Resolution melt (HRM), Surveyor assays for HT genotyping & mutational screening.
- Gene cloning, vector design, conventional/gateway, and sequence analysis.
- DNA, RNA extraction and purification from complex tissues, blood, embryos, bacteria.
- RNA Biology-IVT, mRNA purification, cDNA synthesis, 5’RACE, morpholinos.
- Reporter line, Tol2-Transgenic line generation and validation.
- Microinjection and manipulation of primary cells and oocytes.
- Proteomics
- Phage-display Immunoprecipitation, Antibody/Immuno profiling and auto antibody discovery.
- Workflow automation via Liquid handling workstations (Bravo, Sciclone, Opentrons)
- RP-HPLC, Ion Exchange LC on, Agilent 1100 series and Waters and Akta platforms.
- SDS-PAGE and Western blotting
- ELISA/microplate/bead-based immunoassays.
- Downstream processing of monoclonal antibodies, recombinant insulin and cytokines.
- Protein purification & Peptide mapping (LC-MS)
- Experienced in DSP, HPLC/UPLC-MS applications in Biosimilars research at Biopharmaceutical R&D.
- Data Analytics and Documentation
- Proficient in QA documentation (SOPs, batch records, validation and stability records), scientific writing and manuscript editing, Instructor in thesis/article writing and content management.
- NGS data analytics on Python, R and AWS.
- Data analysis, writing, and visualization tools like LaTex, GraphPad prism, EndNote, Vector NTI, Snapgene, CLC workbench, Zeiss ZEN, Expasy and Ensembl, MS office.