About Me
I'm deeply passionate about genetics and genomics, understanding how things work at the most basic biotic level. I am specifically interested in the interplay between the environment and genetics; seeing how phenotype translates from genotype in different contexts. Given my background in computer science I enjoy working with large datasets and building tools that can help shed some light on this relationship.
As someone who deals with ADHD and anxiety I am a dedicated mental health advocate. I believe that having open and honest conversations about the struggles we face can create a more open and accessible future. This philosophy is something I hold dear to heart especially in my capacity as a high school tutor.
When not immersed in research, I can be found exploring the sea. As a PADI-certified Divemaster with a decade of diving experience, I cherish every opportunity to get in the water. I also enjoy immersing myself in creative pursuits such as playing the piano, crocheting, and reading.
Feel free to poke around and reach out if you have any questions, want to go diving or would like to know more!
Education
2022 - 2023
MSc: Genomic Medicine
St George's - University of London | King's College London
2016 - 2020
Honours BSc: Double Major in Genome Biology and Fundamental Genetics & It's Applications
University of Toronto - St George Campus
Relevant Coursework: Bioinformatics Interpretation & Data Quality in Genome Analysis, Genomics of Common & Rare Inherited Diseases, Molecular Pathology of Cancer & Applications, Pharmacogenomics and Stratified Healthcare
Thesis: Investigating the Use of Long Read Sequencing to Detect non-SNP Pathogenic Variants in an Unknown Neurodegenerative Disorder
Relevant Coursework – Biology: Genetics and Its Applications Lab, Whole Genome Sequencing Lab, Bioinformatics Methods, Human Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry 1 & 2, Topics in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Neuroscience
Relevant Coursework – Computer Science: Intro to Computer Science (Python), Software Design, Software Tools and System Programming, Introduction to the Theory of Computation, Data Structures and Analysis, Communication in Computer Science
Thesis: Developing a React-based visualisation tool for A. thaliana gene expression data
Work Experience
Senior Content Analyst I
Strand Life Sciences, Bangalore, India
Sept 2024 - Present
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Creating marketing assets showcasing current products and services
Volunteer Bioinformatician
Iacoangeli Lab, IOPPN, King's College London, London, UK
Feb 2024 - Present
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Creating a Django-based web page to host and utilise the variant analysis pipeline DNAScan2
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Building the webpage from scratch, to integrate the pipeline scripts that have already been created
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Integrating a visualisation of the results of the pipeline in a genome-browser like form for ease of understanding.
Years 8 – 11 (Grade 9 - 12) Tutor
Tutorful, London, United Kingdom
Feb - July 2024
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Tutoring children from ages 12 – 17 in GCSE Maths, Chemistry, Biology and Physics
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Tailored classes based on the students’ needs, explaining complex topics simply
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You can check out my profile here
Business Development Associate
Strand Life Sciences, Bangalore, India
Aug 2020 - July 2022
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Set up marketing team and developed all marketing for the Research Informatics Division
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Delivered an effective social media presence and relevant marketing assets
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Doubled customer reach within 1.5 years
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Wrote a blog series (with 15 articles) about current topics in biotechnology and precision medicine
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Hosted, produced, and edited 30 episodes of a biotechnology podcast, interviewing thought leaders in the field of biotechnology and precision medicine.
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Focused on highlighting Women of Colour in STEM and their journey to becoming scientists
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Other Cool Thing's I've Been Part Of..
Volunteer Biology Teacher
Vidya School, New Delhi, India (Online)
June - Aug 2020 (Early Covid)
Due to a lack of online teachers during the SARS-CoV2 pandemic, I taught several children in an underprivileged school, adapting to online teaching and finding creative ways to keep them engaged, such as interacting with their environments, internet literacy, and learning how to make use of internet resources effectively
Bioinformatics Intern
BAR Lab, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
May 2019 - May 2020
I interned in the BAR lab as a bioinformatics intern, which I then converted into my 4th year thesis project. In this capacity, I developed RNA expression visualization web-based tool using React for researchers to build a custom colourized SVG of their gene expression data in Arabidopsis thaliana. I also implemented a WDL pipeline to process genetic data from FASTQs to VCFs and created an in-house tutorial for how to use WDLs for fellow researchers o Incorporated industry-standard variant analysis tools including samtools, htseq and bcftools
Lab Volunteer
Agrawal Lab, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Sept 2019 - May 2020
To improve my wet lab skills, I worked in Professor Aneil Agrawals lab which focused on the evolution of sexually dimorphic phenotypes in Drophila melanogaster. In this capacity I prepared stock and maintained Drosophila populations as well as sexed, phenotyped and sorted them.
Volunteer High School Tutor and Mentor
Saturday Program, Toronto, Canada
Jan 2018 - May 2020
I worked with 5 students from different backgrounds and educational aptitudes over 4 semesters, tutoring them in Math, English and Biology on a one-on-one basis. In this capacity I was able to improve both their subject matter understanding and grades in class
Web Development Intern
Scripbox, Bangalore, India
May - July 2017
I spent 2 months at Scripbox where I learnt how to use Django and created an internal marketing analytics and research tool. I developed this tool using Python, Django, Jupyter Notebooks and the Google Ads API
Divemaster
DiveIndia, Andamans, India
May - June 2015
In order to pursue my love for scuba diving I chose to trained as aa Divemaster and Rescue Diver. As I was working for a dive resort I also helped in managing the front desk and customers, dealing with various hospitality and personnel needs, enhancing communication and relationship management skills. One of my biggest takeaways from this time was dealing with emergency situations while underwater, learning how to maintain cool under high pressure situations