Shalini Vidyadharan Project Associate
Email
[email protected]
Phone
8078178577
Location
Punnaritta Madom, Vazhar mangalam P.O.,Chengannur, Kerala, India
Education
12/2020 – 02/2023Hyderabad
  • •CGPA: 8.26
  • •Dissertation title: Study of Long-term Memory Using Courtship in Drosophila

    • Advisor/PI: Dr. Amitabha Majumdar

    06/2017 – 08/2020Kollam
  • •CGPA: 9.02
    • Industrial Experience

    Associate Content Editor

    Clarivate Analytics
  • •Analyzed high-impact journal literature to identify and annotate complex molecular interactions including protein-protein, protein-nucleic acid, and nucleic acid-nucleic acid interactions.Ensured accurate scientific interpretation and quality control of annotated content for research database applications.
    • 06/2023 – 12/2023
    Research experience

    Project Associate I

    CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology(CCMB)

    Advisor/PI: Dr. Anant Bahadur Patel

    12/2023 – PresentHyderabad

    Investigating brain activity and neurotransmitter flux changes in various mice models:

  • •Type-2 Diabetes (Lepr⁻/⁻): Mapped alternative fuel utilization using ¹³C-β-hydroxybutyrate infusion in db/db mice, revealing increased cortical/hippocampal excitatory activity and mixed hypothalamic dysfunction. Identified hypothalamus-specific astroglial activation via [¹³C]-acetate tracing; currently analyzing neuroinflammation markers (IL-6, TNF-α, NF-κB, SIRT1-7) for diabetic encephalopathy mechanisms.
  • •Chronic Ketamine (Collaborative): Validating transcriptomic findings via qPCR analysis of 15+ neurotransmitter synthesis genes disrupted by repeated subanesthetic ketamine, elucidating sustained neurochemical effects.
  • •Every-Other-Day Fasting: Used ¹H-[¹³C]-NMR across aging cohorts (6M, 18M, 18M+EODF, n=10/group) to discover hypothalamic-selective neuroprotection with altered neuronal/astroglial activity. Validated AMPK downregulation. Optimized proteomics protocols for both iTRAQ and TMT labeling and submitted TMTpro-16plex samples for quantitative proteomics to map molecular pathway changes.

    • Master's Dissertation Research

    National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune

    Advisor/PI: Dr. Amitabha Majumdar

    06/2022 – 11/2022Pune

    Project Title: Study of Long-Term Memory Using Courtship in Drosophila

  • •Investigated Flotilin-Orb2 protein interactions in memory formation using courtship assays in knockout Drosophila models. My results demonstrated that flotilin knockout animals exhibited significantly decreased memory retention, suggesting Flotilin's critical role in long-term memory mechanisms.
    • Laboratory Experience
    Mice Handling: Behavioral tests (eg., FST, OFT ). | Tail vein infusion, perfusion techniques, region-specific brain dissection, and Surgeries (stereotaxic).
    Fly handling and maintenance: Sexing of flies, Virgin collection, Courtship assay, Adult brain dissection, Larval brain dissection, NMJ dissection
    Molecular Biology: DNA/RNA and Plasmid isolation, qPCR, AGE, PAGE, Western blotting, Immunohistochemistry(IHC) and Protein purification using coloumn chromatography, Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting(FACS)
    Quantitative Proteomics: Global and phosphoproteomics analysis of mouse brain tissue with iTRAQ/TMT labeling | Protein isolation, quantification (BCA assay), peptide generation using in-solution method (FASP, Desalting) | Basic pH Reverse Phase HPLC-based Fractionation | Tandem mass spectrometry - LC-MS/MS analysis
    NMR Spectroscopy: ¹H-[¹³C]-NMR spectroscopy
    Publications
  • •Sarawagi, A., Vidyadharan, S. & Patel, A. B. Sustained Effects of Repeated Subanesthetic (R,S)-ketamine

    • Administration on Neurometabolic Activity in Mouse Brain. Manuscript in preparation, expected submission [November 2025].

  • •Vidyadharan, S.*, Singh, S.*, Saba, K., Kumar, S. A., Akella, A., Varadarajan, K. S., Kumar, J. M.,

    • Chakravarty, S., Patel, A. B. & Kumar, A. Alternative Fuel Utilization and Excitotoxicity Patterns in Type-2 Diabetic Brain. Manuscript in preparation, expected submission [December 2025]. (* these authors contributed equally to the completion of this work)

  • •Vidyadharan, S.*, Anand, N. K.*, Gothwal, S.*, Ramesh, A., Dey, B. & Patel, A. B. Assessing the Impact of

    • Every-Other-Day Fasting on Brain Metabolism in Mouse Model of Aging. Manuscript in preparation, expected submission [January 2026]. (* these authors contributed equally to the completion of this work)

    Conference Presentation

    AIM-AT, IAN-2024

    Shalini, & Patel, A. B., “Assessing the Impact of Every-Other-Day Fasting on Brain Metabolism in a Mouse Model of Aging.” Poster presentation delivered at the International Conference on Advances In Mechanisms and Approaches to Neuro-Therapeutics (AIM-AT) & XLII Annual Meeting of the Indian Academy of Neurosciences 2024 (IAN-2024), National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, India; November 12-14, 2024.

    11th Annual Scientific Meeting of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) Indian Chapter

    Attended this meeting (2025, February 27–March 1), Theme: MR Updates on Acquisition, Reconstruction, Analysis, AI, and Beyond, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Hyderabad). Won 1st prize in MRI quiz

    Skills
    Scientific Communication — Delivered regular oral presentations at laboratory meetings and presented research findings at national/international conferences
    Leadership & Project Management — Led high-throughput proteomics projects from conception to completion, developing optimized protocols and comprehensive analysis strategies while mentoring master’s students in advanced techniques.
    Time Management & Deadline Adherence — Successfully managed multiple research projects with strict timelines, including manuscript preparation, sample processing, and data analysis deliverables.
    Collaborative Research — Effective team player with experience in brainstorming sessions and experimental design/hypothesis consultation
    Technical Proficiency — Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Photoshop, GraphPad Prism, MATLAB BLAST, PyMOL, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, Proteomediscoverer, Noldus EthoVision XT, Endnote
    HONORS & AWARDS
  • •Silver Rank in BSc Microbiology, Amrita School of Biotechnology
  • •GAT-B qualified 2020 AIR 87
  • •CSIR-NET 2023(LS) AIR 43
    • References
    Dr. Anant Bahadur Patel, Chief Scientist, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad
    Dr. A. Venkateshwari, Professor, Institute of Genetics and Hospital for Genetic Diseases, Hyderabad