Smitha CV
Smitha Puthenchira Thomas
SUMMARY
• Associate Gene Therapy Testing Laboratory Manager, in IUPUI School of Medicine. Worked as Research Microbiologist in ISDH CAP and CLIA managed laboratory utilizing a variety of molecular and microbiological techniques including Real Time PCR, Whole Genome extraction and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). Worked in academia for 5 years which includes syllabus preparation, teaching, grading and career counseling for Graduate and Bacculerate students.
SKILLS
• Real Time-PCR, qPCR, RT qPCR
• NGS Whole Genome extraction using Qiagen QIAcube
• ELISA, MALDI, DNA fingerprinting/Molecular typing by Pulse-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE)
• Isolation of DNA, RNA and plasmids
• Gel Imaging using Gel Doc and Analysis using BioNumerics software
• NEXTERA XT Library Prep and Sequencing using Illumina MiSeq benchtop sequencer
• Utilize the PulseNet system to upload and download data from PFGE national database.
• Monitor and identify clusters of matching PFGE patterns within Indiana and nationally
• Report clusters to appropriate state epidemiologists and CDC SharePoint website
• Antibiotic susceptibility testing using Sensititre Microbroth dilution
• Protein estimation by combustion, and Total Fat estimation using ether extraction
• Cholesterol and Mineral analysis with Gas Chromatography
• Different types of staining techniques, serotyping, McIM, CarbaNP
• Data compilation and analysis, Experimental design and Interpretation of statistically analyzed reports
• STARLIMS, BioNumerics, BPECS, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Power point
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
IUPUI, Indianapolis August 2019- Present
Associate Gene Therapy Testing Laboratory Manager
• Key responsibilities includes assay development and implementation in GTTL including qPCR, testing with NGS centers and bioinformaticians.
• Create SOP’s for the newly developed assays, maintains records according to FDA requirements and other assigned duties.
Indiana Department of Health, Reference Laboratory, Indianapolis November 2016-July 2019
Microbiologist
• Key responsibilities include performing Real time PCR, MALDI and Sensititre Microbroth dilution for clinically challenging isolates from various labs in Indiana within the turnaround time.
• Molecular typing of foodborne disease causing bacteria by Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) and NGS Whole Genome extraction for sequencing using QIAcube within the turnaround time. Analyzed PFGE pattern using BioNumerics software and uploaded to the CDC PulseNet national database.
• Performed searches at the State and National level to identify clusters of indistinguishable PFGE patterns, which indicate that an outbreak may be occurring. Results are communicated between the relevant public health agencies.
Sensient Flavors, Indianapolis June 2016-October 2016
Quality Assurance Associate
• Performed routine quality assurance testing for finished products and raw materials following GLP.
• Outlined sampling procedures and SOPs following GMP, processing and generate shipping labels for the samples and support audits.
Food Chemistry & Analytical Laboratories, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas August 2008-May 2010
Research Assistant, Department of Animal and Food Science
• Responsible for procurement of the pork loin cuts, updating the USDA Database for Pork Loin cuts, assigning research duties to student helpers and planning and execution of different projects and other outreach activities.
Government Women’s College, Thiruvananthapuram, India July 2002- June 2007
Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry and Industrial Microbiology
• Responsibilities included syllabus preparation, teaching, grading and career counseling for Graduate and Bacculerate students.
• Courses handled includes: General Microbiology, Biochemistry, Food Microbiology, Medical Microbiology, Microbial Genetics, Agricultural Microbiology and Environmental Microbiology.
College of Agriculture, Trivandrum, Kerala February 1999-August 2000
Research Assistant
• World Bank funded project, “Impact of continuous use of copper based fungicides in the ecosystems of major rubber growing tracts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu”. Responsibilities included isolation and enumeration of soil borne microorganisms, nematodes, assisted in various crop disease projects/trials, design trials and collected research data.
• Coir board of India funded project “Biodegradation of coir geotextiles” Responsible for setting up field evaluation studies, isolation of various bacteria and fungi and helping in lab based assays.
EDUCATION
MS in Food Science from Texas Tech University, TX
• GPA 3.78/4.0
• Master’s Thesis: USDA funded project on “Nutritional analysis of selected pork loin cuts”.
MS in Applied Microbiology, Periyar University, India
• GPA 4.0/4.0 (U.S. Eq)
• Master’s Thesis: Sero-prevalance of HIV in pregnant women
BS in Microbiology, Madras University, India
• GPA 3.25/4.0 (U.S. Eq)
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
• Discover the benefits of Droplet Digital™ PCR: A Hands-on workshop on QX200 by BioRad (2019)
• Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDROs): A Hands-on workshop for Indiana Clinical Lab (2018).
• Hands-On Workshop for Sentinel Laboratories: Biothreat Agents 101 (2018)
• CDC PulseNet USA Certified in PFGE gel and analysis for Salmonella, E.coli, Listeria, Shigella and Vibrio (2018)
• Training on Next Generation Sequencing using the MiSeq benchtop sequencer including library preparation, template preparation (cluster generation), and sequencing (2017)
• FEMA, National Incident Management System (NIMS) certified from Emergency Management Institute (2016)
• Texas Public Education Grant received from Texas Tech University (2008)
• National Eligibility Test for Lectureship Certified (2005)
• Best Outgoing student Award for MS Microbiology from Periyar University (2002)
• University Rank Holder for MS Applied Microbiology from Periyar University (2002)
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
• Joint Secretary of India Association of Indianapolis from 2015 - Current
• Joint Secretary for Indiana Malayali Association from 2015- 2017
• President for University Microbiology Association in Periyar University (2001)
• Student Representative for school planning board in St. Josephs Women’s College (1994)
Smitha Puthenchira Thomas
SUMMARY
• Associate Gene Therapy Testing Laboratory Manager, in IUPUI School of Medicine. Worked as Research Microbiologist in ISDH CAP and CLIA managed laboratory utilizing a variety of molecular and microbiological techniques including Real Time PCR, Whole Genome extraction and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). Worked in academia for 5 years which includes syllabus preparation, teaching, grading and career counseling for Graduate and Bacculerate students.
SKILLS
• Real Time-PCR, qPCR, RT qPCR
• NGS Whole Genome extraction using Qiagen QIAcube
• ELISA, MALDI, DNA fingerprinting/Molecular typing by Pulse-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE)
• Isolation of DNA, RNA and plasmids
• Gel Imaging using Gel Doc and Analysis using BioNumerics software
• NEXTERA XT Library Prep and Sequencing using Illumina MiSeq benchtop sequencer
• Utilize the PulseNet system to upload and download data from PFGE national database.
• Monitor and identify clusters of matching PFGE patterns within Indiana and nationally
• Report clusters to appropriate state epidemiologists and CDC SharePoint website
• Antibiotic susceptibility testing using Sensititre Microbroth dilution
• Protein estimation by combustion, and Total Fat estimation using ether extraction
• Cholesterol and Mineral analysis with Gas Chromatography
• Different types of staining techniques, serotyping, McIM, CarbaNP
• Data compilation and analysis, Experimental design and Interpretation of statistically analyzed reports
• STARLIMS, BioNumerics, BPECS, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Power point
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
IUPUI, Indianapolis August 2019- Present
Associate Gene Therapy Testing Laboratory Manager
• Key responsibilities includes assay development and implementation in GTTL including qPCR, testing with NGS centers and bioinformaticians.
• Create SOP’s for the newly developed assays, maintains records according to FDA requirements and other assigned duties.
Indiana Department of Health, Reference Laboratory, Indianapolis November 2016-July 2019
Microbiologist
• Key responsibilities include performing Real time PCR, MALDI and Sensititre Microbroth dilution for clinically challenging isolates from various labs in Indiana within the turnaround time.
• Molecular typing of foodborne disease causing bacteria by Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) and NGS Whole Genome extraction for sequencing using QIAcube within the turnaround time. Analyzed PFGE pattern using BioNumerics software and uploaded to the CDC PulseNet national database.
• Performed searches at the State and National level to identify clusters of indistinguishable PFGE patterns, which indicate that an outbreak may be occurring. Results are communicated between the relevant public health agencies.
Sensient Flavors, Indianapolis June 2016-October 2016
Quality Assurance Associate
• Performed routine quality assurance testing for finished products and raw materials following GLP.
• Outlined sampling procedures and SOPs following GMP, processing and generate shipping labels for the samples and support audits.
Food Chemistry & Analytical Laboratories, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas August 2008-May 2010
Research Assistant, Department of Animal and Food Science
• Responsible for procurement of the pork loin cuts, updating the USDA Database for Pork Loin cuts, assigning research duties to student helpers and planning and execution of different projects and other outreach activities.
Government Women’s College, Thiruvananthapuram, India July 2002- June 2007
Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry and Industrial Microbiology
• Responsibilities included syllabus preparation, teaching, grading and career counseling for Graduate and Bacculerate students.
• Courses handled includes: General Microbiology, Biochemistry, Food Microbiology, Medical Microbiology, Microbial Genetics, Agricultural Microbiology and Environmental Microbiology.
College of Agriculture, Trivandrum, Kerala February 1999-August 2000
Research Assistant
• World Bank funded project, “Impact of continuous use of copper based fungicides in the ecosystems of major rubber growing tracts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu”. Responsibilities included isolation and enumeration of soil borne microorganisms, nematodes, assisted in various crop disease projects/trials, design trials and collected research data.
• Coir board of India funded project “Biodegradation of coir geotextiles” Responsible for setting up field evaluation studies, isolation of various bacteria and fungi and helping in lab based assays.
EDUCATION
MS in Food Science from Texas Tech University, TX
• GPA 3.78/4.0
• Master’s Thesis: USDA funded project on “Nutritional analysis of selected pork loin cuts”.
MS in Applied Microbiology, Periyar University, India
• GPA 4.0/4.0 (U.S. Eq)
• Master’s Thesis: Sero-prevalance of HIV in pregnant women
BS in Microbiology, Madras University, India
• GPA 3.25/4.0 (U.S. Eq)
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
• Discover the benefits of Droplet Digital™ PCR: A Hands-on workshop on QX200 by BioRad (2019)
• Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDROs): A Hands-on workshop for Indiana Clinical Lab (2018).
• Hands-On Workshop for Sentinel Laboratories: Biothreat Agents 101 (2018)
• CDC PulseNet USA Certified in PFGE gel and analysis for Salmonella, E.coli, Listeria, Shigella and Vibrio (2018)
• Training on Next Generation Sequencing using the MiSeq benchtop sequencer including library preparation, template preparation (cluster generation), and sequencing (2017)
• FEMA, National Incident Management System (NIMS) certified from Emergency Management Institute (2016)
• Texas Public Education Grant received from Texas Tech University (2008)
• National Eligibility Test for Lectureship Certified (2005)
• Best Outgoing student Award for MS Microbiology from Periyar University (2002)
• University Rank Holder for MS Applied Microbiology from Periyar University (2002)
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
• Joint Secretary of India Association of Indianapolis from 2015 - Current
• Joint Secretary for Indiana Malayali Association from 2015- 2017
• President for University Microbiology Association in Periyar University (2001)
• Student Representative for school planning board in St. Josephs Women’s College (1994)