Falguni Paul

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

  • Postdoctoral researcher at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY (August 2023 – Present)
  • Doctorate Degree in Biological Sciences – Florida International University, FL (2015-2022)
  • Master of Science in Applied Microbiology – VIT University, Vellore Campus (India), CGPA (2011-2013)
  • Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology – S.R.N. Adarsh College, Bangalore (2008-2011)

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

  • Worked as a graduate researcher in the project: “Biosynthetic pathway analysis of cyanobacteria producing compound Pahayakolide A through genome mining” – Dr. Mauricio Rodriguez-Lanetty, Dr. Niclas Engene, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, and Dr. Ana Tronholm at Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg (Sweden) as external advisor.
  • Worked as a graduate researcher in the project: “16S microbiome profiling of marine cyanobacteria through next-generation sequencing” under the supervision of Dr. Mauricio Rodriguez-Lanetty, Dr. Niclas Engene, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, and Dr. Ana Tronholm at Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg (Sweden) as external advisor.
  • Worked as a graduate researcher in the project: “Chemotaxonomy as a new and rapid tool to identify marine cyanobacteria” under the supervision of Dr. Niclas Engene, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, and Dr. Ana Tronholm at Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg (Sweden) as external advisor.
  • Worked as an intern in the project: Study of Toll-like receptors expression and role in innate immune response in HCV infected patients, under the supervision of Dr. Provash Chandra Shadhukhan, Indian Council of Medical Research Virus Unit, Kolkata (Jan ’13 – June ’13).
  • Worked as graduate researcher in the project: Enhanced production of nattokinase from UV mutated Bacillus sp. under the supervision of Dr. Mohana Srinivasana, Department of Applied Microbiology, VIT University.
  • Worked as a summer trainee in the project: Evaluation of combination therapy of chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel and Madhuca longifolia plant leaves on Hepatocellular Carcinoma cell line under the supervision of Dr. Nabendu Murmu from the Department of Signal Transduction and Biogenic Amines, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute.
  • Worked as graduate researcher in the project: Antagonistic and Anti-Oxidative Properties of Lactobacilli isolated from Ethnic Foods of India, under the supervision of Dr. Mohana Srinivasana, Department of Applied Microbiology, VIT University.
  • Worked as graduate researcher in the project: Isolation of pigment-producing fungi, fungal diversity studies, detection of antibiotic properties and pigment extraction under the supervision of Dr. Jayanthi Abraham, Department of Applied Microbiology, VIT University.

AWARDS & HONORS

  • Travel Grant (1000 AUD) from University of Queensland, August 2019.
  • Travel Grant (850 USD) from Graduate and Professional Student Committee, Florida International University, August 2019.
  • Travel Grant (300 USD) from College of Arts, Sciences and Education, Florida International University, August 2019.
  • Travel Grant (300 USD) from College of Arts, Sciences and Education, Florida International University, June 2019.
  • Best outgoing student certificate in B.Sc. in S.R.N. Adarsh Jain College, 2011.

TEACHING SCIENCE EXPERIENCE

  • Teaching Assistant – General Biology I – Spring 2020 – Fall 2022
  • Science Instructor at Academic Tutoring Center (High School, Oct 2021 – May 2022). Responsibilities include: Teaching through Zoom, developing lesson plans, helping with homework.
  • Head Teaching Assistant – General Microbiology Lab (MCB 3020L) – Spring 2018 – Fall 2019.
  • Super Teaching Assistant – General Microbiology Lab (MCB 3020L) – Spring 2017 – Fall 2017.
  • Mentoring Undergraduate Students from Florida International University – Fall 2017 – July 2019.
  • Teaching Assistant – Genetics Lab – Spring 2016.
  • Teaching Assistant – General Microbiology Lab (MCB 3020L) – Fall 2015 – Fall 2016.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Clinical Microbiologist, Clinical Microstat, Eugene, Oregon (April 2023 – July 2023)
  • Analyze the samples collected from patients using laboratory techniques to identify microorganisms that may be causing an infection or disease.
  • Perform various laboratory tests to determine the sensitivity of microorganisms to antibiotics and monitor antimicrobial resistance patterns to help guide the appropriate use of antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents.
  • Work closely with physicians and other healthcare providers to provide guidance on the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases.
  • Report laboratory findings and communicate results to healthcare providers in a timely and accurate manner.
  • Ensure that laboratory tests are performed accurately and in accordance with established protocols and quality control standards.
Advarra IBC Community Member (Biosafety), Research Triangle Park, NC (Sept. 2022 – Feb 2023)
  • Focuses on concerns pertaining to the community and environment surrounding the research site.
  • Can voice concerns about any aspect of the proposed research.
Subject Matter Expert, Learning Mate (Feb 2022 – June 2022)
  • Developing course syllabi and assessments for courses including Human Physiology, Org Chem I and II, Gen Biology I and II, Chemistry for Health Science.
Science Assessment Writer/Reviewer, United States Academic Decathlon (Sep 2021 – Dec 2022)
  • Science test questions/assessment writing including the courses biology, chemistry and math.
Science Instructor, Tri-C Ohio (High School, Oct 2021 – May 2022)
  • Teaching chemistry and biology through Zoom, developing lesson plans, helping with homework.
Science Instructor, We7 Academy (High School, Sep 2021 – Jan 2022)
  • Teaching chemistry through Zoom, helping with homework.
Microbiologist, Aurio Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. (GMP certified company), Kolkata, India (Aug 2013 – Jun 2015)
  • Carry out standardized tests with standard laboratory equipment.
  • Perform microbiological testing of crude materials, work-in-process, and finished items for approval and release.
  • Assist in the development, writing, and updating of laboratory standard operating procedures (SOPs) and approved procedures, as well as GMP and GLP compliance auditing.
  • Make and record observations, perform calculations, collect and prepare information for evaluation.
  • Assist in the delivery of molecular biology and/or microbiology training.
  • Provide suggestions and input on test outcomes to management.
  • Follow procedures and assist in the advancement of new strategies and/or documents.

PUBLICATIONS

  • Rushna Firdaus, Aritra Biswas, Kallol Saha, Anirban Mukherjee, Falguni Paul, Sujit Chaudhuri, Alok Chandra, Asokananda Konar, and Provash Chandra Shadhukhan (2014). Modulation of TLR 3, 7 and 8 expressions in HCV Genotype 3 Infected Individuals: Potential correlations of pathogenesis and spontaneous clearance. Biomed Res Intl. 2014: 491064.
  • V. Mohanasrinivasan, C. Subathra Devi, Ritusree Biswas, Falguni Paul, Mohor Mitra, E. Selvarajan and V. Suganthi (2013). Enhanced production of nattokinase from UV mutated Bacillus sp. Bangladesh J. Pharmacol. 8: 110-115.
In review:
  • Wan Li, Menghan Liu, Panos Oikonomou, Sydney Blattman, Falguni Paul, Julia Hettleman, Joseph Gonzalez, Qiaoyu Hu, Howe Chen, Saeed Tavazoie, Wenyan Jiang (2025). The genetic landscape of antibiotic sensitivity in Staphylococcus aureus. Biorxiv. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.08.15.608136
In preparation:
  • Falguni Paul, Ana Tronholm and Niclas Engene. Chemotaxonomy as a new and rapid tool to identify Cyanobacteria. Applied and Environmental Microbiology (expected submission: March 2026).
  • Falguni Paul, Ana Tronholm and Niclas Engene. Structural and Functional Characterization of Cyanobacteria Associated Microbiome. Microbial Genomics (expected submission: April 2026).

RESEARCH SKILLS

  • CRISPRi & Functional Genomics Skills: Gene knockdown using CALM-CRISPRi, primer design, assay-based validation, RNA-seq data analysis, functional analysis of antibiotic response and bacterial survival.
  • Molecular Biological Techniques: Competent cell making, oligo cloning, transformation, isolation of whole genomic DNA, cloning of viral RNA, isolation of total RNA, RT-Nested PCR, SYBR Green Real-Time PCR.
  • Next Generation Sequencing Techniques: Whole genome, 16S amplicon sequencing.
  • Bioinformatics Tools: Multiple sequence alignment, phylogenetics, MEGA X, QIIME2, antiSMASH, SnapGene, AMP design, and bioinformatics-based screening using Python.
  • Bioanalytical Technique: Biochemical extraction, HPLC, screening of bacterial secondary metabolites through LC-ESI-MS/MS, rapid screening of bacterial secondary metabolites through MALDI-TOF.
  • Basic Microbiology Techniques: Screening tests for antibiotics, enzymes, and anti-oxidative activity.
  • Fermentation, Protein Purification and Estimation: Microbial (E. coli, Bacillus sp., etc.) fermentation at bench scale and pilot scale, primary screening for antibiotic production, laboratory-scale and pilot-scale production, enzyme separation and precipitation, determination of enzyme activity, strain improvement technique, ELISA.
  • Mammalian Cell Culture Techniques (HepG2), MTT assays, immunofluorescence staining.

SEMINARS & CONFERENCES

  • Oral Presentation entitled “Chemotaxonomy as a new and rapid tool to identify marine cyanobacteria” in the 21st Symposium of the International Associate of Cyanophyte/Cyanobacteria Research at the Moreton Bay Research Station, The University of Queensland, Australia (August 2019).
  • Oral Presentation entitled “Chemotaxonomy as a new and rapid tool to identify marine cyanobacteria” in the 16th Southeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference (SEEC), University of Miami (October 2018).
  • Oral Presentation entitled “Species-specific secondary metabolite production in marine cyanobacteria” in the Biosymposium, Florida International University (February 2018).
  • Presented paper entitled “Enhanced production of nattokinase from UV mutated Bacillus sp.” International Conference on Science, Engineering and Technology (SET), VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu (November 2012).
  • Presented paper entitled “Isolation of Pigment producing fungi, fungal diversity studies, extraction of the pigment and determination of its properties” and secured 3rd position in the 3rd International Conference on Science, Engineering and Technology (SET), VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu (May 2012).

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS

  • Integration of Metabolomics and Genomics to Discover Gene Function and Active Pathways – University of Chicago, June 2019.
  • Advanced Bioinformatics for Biologists – Florida International University, Fall 2017.
  • Scientific Teaching and Outreach – Florida International University, Fall 2016.

HIGHLIGHT OF SKILLS

Hardworking, Positive Attitude, Collaborative, Co-operative, Quality conscious, Sincere, Interest to learn and work on new projects, Proper Time Management, Adapt to any working environment.

COMPUTER SKILLS

MS Office, Adobe Photoshop, R Programming Language.

LANGUAGES

Fluent in English, Hindi, and Bengali.