Ruchika Bajaj

#JobAlert Open project assistant/ postdoc positions in #computational biology, #bioinformatics and #immunology We are hiring project assistants & postdocs to explore novel variants of antimicrobial peptides of therapeutic relevance against AMR. Project Name: Exploring novel variants of antimicrobial peptides of therapeutic relevance against AMR Project Profile: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as an alternative to conventional antibiotics in the face of antimicrobial resistance due to their broad-spectrum antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral activities and lower rates of microbial resistance evolution against them. Importantly, the multimodal antimicrobial activity of AMPs significantly reduces the evolution of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) against them. Thus, AMPs are getting integrated into clinical practices where the AMPs work individually or synergistically with other AMPs and conventional antimicrobial agents. A growing number of studies have recently implemented both empirical and computational methods to isolate novel AMP variants from extinct and extant animal taxa or obtain synthetic AMPs with predictably higher antimicrobial efficacy, followed by clinical trials. Using bioinformatics to analyse big genomic, metagenomic or proteomic datasets across species provides a more streamlined and cost-effective solution than directly adopting an empirical paradigm. Therefore, this project aims to understand and analyse the diverse repertoire of natural and synthetic AMPs, their structural and functional characterisation, and the identification of complementary molecules for cocktails. In this context, two positions are available for a project assistant and a postdoctoral fellow to work on a collaborative, co-supervised project in Dr Imroze Khan’s laboratory at Ashoka University. A suggested initial specific focus of the work is on identifying novel variants of AMPs implementing large language models (LLMs) and comparative bioinformatics followed by in-silico modelling of structure and function. #Duration Both positions are expected to start around October 2024. Initially funded for 1.5 years, the postdoctoral candidate is expected to apply for national and, if appropriate, international postdoctoral fellowships. #Remuneration For the project assistant position: A monthly stipend of up to INR 45,000 (based on experience) For the postdoctoral position: A monthly salary of up to INR 70,000 (based on experience). To #apply and for more #details, visit https://lnkd.in/gNQj6mZ5 For any query, write to dipendra.basu@ashoka.edu.in

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Article on Science Careers... Good news coming out of NIH for early career scientist. Find a #Postdoc who checks off all the boxes by promoting your search in the May 10 Postdoc Job Focus issue of Science. Attract highly qualified candidates across all disciplines, let them know you're hiring and target a pool of potential postdocs who align with your research focus. 📧 me today for additional information. #postdocs #unversities #recruiters #principalinvestigators

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Continuing my initiative to address the challenges early-career scientists face, I speak with three scientists, Vasundhara Srivastava, and Sheeva Azma, who have successfully navigated these obstacles and excelled in their careers. In this podcast, we discuss academic toxicity and explore actionable steps that PIs and universities can take to create a healthier, more supportive environment for early-career scientists. #academia #phd #sciencecommunication #mentalhealth

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You're a scientist finishing grad school and you want a job in biotech. When should you apply? Do you need to do a postdoc? What about industry postdocs? Here are my answers to these 3 common questions: 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟭 How long before graduation should I start applying to jobs in biotech? 𝗔𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝟭   Start applying 4-6 months before graduation. It can take 1-2 months to get into the groove of applications and to get the traction you need for your first interview. Once you get your interview it can take anywhere from 1-3 months for the hiring process to finish (depends on size of company). Note: small startups tend to want you to start working right away. Large pharma companies tend to be more willing to wait 4-6 weeks. 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟮 Do I need to have postdoc experience? Does it help me? 𝗔𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝟮 It depends on your skills. If you have high-demand skills, you don’t need to do postdoc. If you want to go to industry the purpose of a postdoc is to upskill. 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟯 How does industry view academic postdocs vs industry postdocs? 𝗔𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝟯 Industry postdocs are the best choice for individuals who want to pursue the postdoctoral path. You'll get to upskill, while gaining experience that is considered "industry experience". Just make sure you do your postdoc at a big name, reputable pharmaceutical company (ie BMS, Merck, J&J, Genentech, Lilly) 𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆? Plan ahead and focus on building out skills that are in high demand. --------- What other questions do you have about getting your first (or next) biotech job?

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#phdadmissions #nii #newdelhi To #stayinformed on the latest #jobopenings & #openpositions by #connecting with me on LinkedIn! #jobsearch #openpositions #Biotechjobs #microbiologyjobs #lifesciencejobs #MolecularBiologyJobs #careeroppurtunities #internship #studentship #researchjobs #careerhunt #Labopportunities #ResearchJobsNow #LifeSciCareers #clinicalresearch #opportunities2024 #postdoc

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In Chemical Reviews: Deciphering the Ub code is challenging due to the difficulty in reconstituting enzymatic machineries and generating defined Ub/Ubl–protein conjugates. This Review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in using GCE (genetic code expansion) techniques to study the Ub code. We highlight strategies to site-specifically ubiquitylate target proteins and discuss their advantages and disadvantages, as well as their various applications. Additionally, we review the potential of small chemical PTMs targeting Ub/Ubls and present GCE-based approaches to study this additional layer of complexity. Furthermore, we explore methods that rely on GCE to develop tools to probe interactors of the Ub system and offer insights into how future GCE-based tools could help unravel the complexity of the Ub code.

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Access the editorial entitled "In Memory of Professor Patrick M. Woster (1955–2023): a loss to the field of medicinal chemistry" written by Dave Rotella from Montclair State University for the "the Memorial Issue of Med Chem Res in honor of Prof. Patrick Woster" here at https://lnkd.in/eAwtRBSf and https://rdcu.be/d1VEv (shareable link). This Issue of Med Chem Res is guest-edited by Steven Firestine from Wayne State University, Yuri Peterson from the Medical University of South Carolina, and Dave Rotella from Montclair State University. Medicinal Chemistry Research (Med Chem Res, MCR) welcomes proposals of special issues honoring well-known medicinal chemists from the biotech/pharmaceutical industry and academia. #medicinalchemistry #chemistry #MedChemRes #MedChemResearch #DMPK #drugdiscovery #naturalproducts #WayneStatePharmacy #MUSCPharmacy #rutgersmedchem

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How can you maximize your chances of getting an interview for an industry position after your PhD? 🤔 On my 🗓️ 6-month work anniversary, I want to share some tips on how I landed my dream job at a kickass biotech company in the San Francisco Bay Area right after completing my PhD. Here's what worked for me - while it's still fresh in my mind: 1️⃣ Build your network before you need it If you're only starting to connect with people or ask for referrals during your job search, it's already too late. Use LinkedIn to your advantage. Begin posting here about your PhD research, achievements, or educational content related to your field as early as your first semester. Don't be shy about engaging with others via comments or tagging peers. Attend as many conferences as you can, and treat each one as a prime opportunity to expand your network. Remember, hiring managers and HR are more likely to consider candidates they’ve interacted with before. 2️⃣ Try to land an internship the summer before graduation While internships are less common for PhD students, careful planning and a little luck can lead to one. An internship will require you to spend time away from your lab, so share your intent to intern with your advisor early in your PhD. Treat your internship as a summer-long interview: build relationships, explore different departments, and prove your worth to the company as a team player. Even if the company doesn’t offer a full-time role near graduation, the industry experience and new connections will give you a big leg up in your job search. 3️⃣ Start applying early, but not too early Applying early helps you build momentum and develop a routine. However, interviewing too far in advance may backfire if the company isn’t able to wait for you. Also, keep in mind that most companies have multiple rounds of interviews that can take up to 6 weeks. A good strategy is to start applying casually about 6 months before graduation and ramp up your efforts with stronger intent 4 months out. 4️⃣ Be a superstar in your own field Your daily tasks in industry will likely differ from your PhD research, but you still need to show potential employers that you're a standout in your field. Demonstrate your expertise through awards, publications, or LinkedIn updates. Companies want to hire top talent with excellent communication skills. To demonstrate this, highlight your scientific achievements, but also get involved in non-scientific activities - such as student clubs, professional committees, podcasts, TED talks, or media interviews. 5️⃣ Limit your resume to one page I know that condensing 4-6 years of hard work into a single page is really difficult but your resume should immediately (in less than 10 secs) convey how you'll add value to the company. Include a brief summary, followed by job-specific skills, experience, education, and relevant publications.. Lmk if I missed anything, and best of luck with your job search. You got this!! 💪

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PhD position in immunology #phd #phdposition See the below post/attached pdf for detailed information To #stayinformed on the latest #jobopenings & #openpositions by #connecting with me on LinkedIn! #jobs #openpositions #Biotechjobs #microbiologyjobs #lifesciencejobs #MolecularBiologyJobs #careeroppurtunities #Labopportunities #ResearchJobs #LifeSciCareers #clinicalresearch #opportunities2024 #postdoc

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Am I at a disadvantage applying for biotech jobs while doing a postdoc? Depends who you ask. For every magical career guru out there, there’s an overgeneralized opinion that misses the nuance of your specific situation. They’ll even point to published studies that support their position, while ignoring contradictory evidence (it’s the opposite of hypothesis testing). In reality, no two postdocs or PIs are the same, are they? What I can tell you is that there are two common advantages to being a postdoc over being a graduate student. Here’s what they are. 1) You have more experience 2) You have your PhD - you can leave at any time What about the criticism that postdocs are for academics only? Kind of depends on the industry and the discipline. Life sciences are sufficiently complex that it’s not really possible to learn every relevant skill in your graduate training. As long as your postdoc is teaching you new technical skills, you can refute that argument easily. What are some disadvantages? There are disadvantages, but they aren’t unique to being a postdoc. They’re more about the lab you joined and the quality of your PI. Here are possible challenges you may face. 1) Your PI expects you to work unreasonable hours – so you don’t have time to apply for jobs 2) You’re not actually learning new hard skills, and your PI is just using you to bring new skills to their lab. 3) Your lab is suddenly out of funding and now you need to look for a new job What’s the common theme here? Poor leadership that’s exploiting a trainee role to get cheap labor. What’s the biggest risk? In general (but not always), the more famous your PI, the more likely it is that their leadership abilities are missing the mark. Why is that? The academic system tends to incentivize metrics that can be maximized through bad behaviors that come at the cost of integrity and business ethics. It’s not always the case, but I have seen it enough times to tell you it’s not a coincidence. Either way – you can debate whether it is an advantage or disadvantage to do a postdoc, or you can ask yourself “why do I want to leave?” If your why is strong enough, it doesn’t matter if it’s an advantage or disadvantage. What matters it that you need to find a way to execute. Whatever that looks like for you, go do it because even if you do it wrong, it’s still more likely to work than sitting at your bench pontificating about why your life didn’t turn out the way you wanted it to. There’s a whole world out there, and you’re not too old to go get what you want. What are you going to do today to take one step forward toward your dream? #biotech, #biotechjobs, #scientist

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Quality research, tech transfer, and industry-academia collab is not cheap. $14–17K (₹12–15 lakh p/a) for professors and senior technology transfer leaders at eminent institutions will attract washed-out and bitter talent. Recently, I spoke with 3 excellent colleagues—PhDs and postdocs from institutions ranked globally with med school in the top 5. These idealistic individuals have become blackpilled about the future of research in India, especially at private institutions or philanthropically funded CoEs within IIXs. First, I must apologize to public IIXs, which I often criticize, because they are orders of magnitude more professional and honest than others. One colleague shared that their institution demands 2 SCOPUS-indexed papers every 2 years, or they dock an already low faculty salary. These sky-high expectations come with no serious resources for research, no salary support to attract PhD students, and only 1/2 the compensation provided by IIXs to their faculty and research scholars. A similar structure exists at the new philanthropically funded CoEs at IIXs, although they offer 7th CPC salaries (~2x of those at eminent private institutions). The expectations remain equally unrealistic (with constant threats for termination): Constant flow of papers, big results, industry-connect, but with minimal initial startup funds or resources to attract students. I fully support high expectations—we must aim for Nature/Cell papers, create serious startups, and secure external funding. However, LOL, to think that ₹20 lakh ($23K) startup grant is sufficient to achieve such outcomes. World-class research demands world-class resources. Unfortunately, this seems difficult for leadership to understand, because they themselves haven’t produced anything of note. Academia can never compete with industry salaries. However, expecting professors to produce industry-relevant research, train highly skilled and industry-ready students, compete with the world’s best, publish in Nature/Cell/Science, and secure external research grants—all while paying them ₹12–15 lakhs (without benefits, compared to ₹24–40 lakh at IITs)—is unrealistic. Why would anyone pursue a degree that leads to such poor prospects? This might be justifiable if there were job security and low pay were offset by long-term employment, but these positions lack tenure or stability. I hold immense respect for this eminent private institution, which has withstood the test of time. However, even they seem delusional in believing they can hire someone with a CA background, MBA from a top college, dynamic personality, and a proven track record of launching successful startups—all for a princely ₹15 lakh ($17K) CTC. Comparable positions and talent in the US demand at least $200K. Are we even serious about attracting talent? I remain ultra-bullish on India, and opportunities to create wealth by impacting biotech and therapeutics. However, we have to be realistic and focus on quality not quantity.

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🎙️ Delighted to share the honor of delivering the inaugural lecture on “Computational Approaches in Drug Discovery and Repurposing” at the “Hands-on Training on Computational and Systems Biology Approaches for Drug Repurposing”, June 27, 2024 event hosted by the Department of Biosciences, Indrashil University! 🌟 📸 Sharing some snapshots from the engaging session! 📊🧬 #DrugDiscovery #ComputationalBiology #DrugRepurposing #Bioinformatics #gujaratbiotechnologyuniversity #GBU #MScbiotechnology  #science #Chemistry #biosciences #Microbiology #biotechnology #students #biotechnology #biology #biotech #biochemistry

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I recently had a graduating scientist ask about doing an industrial postdoc at a biotech company. I know most people say "skip the postdoc", and when it comes to academia I usually agree. But industrial postdocs are a different story. Industrial postdocs can be an excellent path for continuing the research side of R&D in pharmaceutical companies. They are also more likely to be open to visa sponsorship. But you still have to be careful to not just take any opportunity. For example, I found a postdoc opportunity that seemed like it could be a good option for one of my clients. But before I sent it to her, I decided to dig a little deeper. I discovered that the company had ~100 employees and was relatively new. They had plans to go public, but scrapped those plans due to some financial missteps in the past. The low number of employees, newness of the company, and scrapped IPO plans are all red flags for a company to ask for a postdoc. Given their history, what they are really doing is looking for cheap labor. I didn't send the opportunity to my client. So what's the main takeaway? If you do an industrial postdoc, make sure it's at a large (1000+ people) pharmaceutical company with a robust history of R&D and a sustainable business profile with a diverse revenue-generating product portfolio. You're too valuable to be someone else's cheap labor. #scientist #biotech, #biotechjobs

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Delighted to share a very thought-through #alternativeprotein review titled "#Oat protein: Review of structure-function synergies with other #plant proteins" by Jennifer McLauchlan providing a comprehensive multi-scale understanding of structure-function relationships of #oat proteins. Summarized findings in this review by Jennifer (#PhD student at University of Leeds) in collaboration with Dr. Arwen Tyler, Dr. Buddhapriya Chakrabarti and Prof. Caroline Orfila reveal that #oat protein structure actually differs from most other cereals since its major Osborne fraction is globulin, although intuitively you would not think that as it is classed as a cereal protein. Whilst at the amino acid scale, oat was previously reported to strongly resembled rice glutelin, its folded quaternary state is in fact homologous to that of 11S legumins from pea and soy. Whilst studies have focused on #oat protein modification empirically in literature, there is a lack of fundamental understanding of oat protein functionality compared to legumes (e.g., surface tension measurements at the oil-water interface, lack of scattering). Finally, there are currently limited rheological and no tribological or adsorption studies using #oat proteins. We believe these are necessary to provide quantitative understanding of mouthfeel attributes when incorporating #oat proteins into #alternativeprotein rich food formulation. Really exciting times and eager to explore and contribute in the #alternativeprotein space which is absolutely essential to enable scientific evidence-based innovations. Big thank you EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Soft Matter for Formulation and Industrial Innovation and Oatly for funding this fundamental research. If you are interested in #oat proteins, do not look any further :), check out this exciting #openaccess review paper to know what we really know so far from literature https://lnkd.in/dWKRr7U3.

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Single-cell immune repertoire analysis https://lnkd.in/eg4gjsJp added to my repo https://lnkd.in/eVVNzsea

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#openposition alert for  Junior research fellow and research assocoate at Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD),Hyderabad See the post/link below for detailed information To #stayinformed on the latest #jobopenings & #openpositions by #connecting with me on LinkedIn! #jobs #openpositions #Biotechjobs #microbiologyjobs #lifesciencejobs #MolecularBiologyJobs #careeroppurtunities #Labopportunities #ResearchJobs #LifeSciCareers #clinicalresearch #opportunities2024 #postdoc

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Do you want to be a part of helping execute the paradigm shift in drug discovery? If you're interested in exploring all of the amazing #computational opportunities in our new Computational Sciences (gCS) organization in Genentech's world-class R&D organization gRED please visit the the link below. When you invent an entire industry you've proven that you truly are about the BIG ideas. At Roche, we truly are doing now what patients need next. To find out more about Computational Sciences at Genentech please visit: https://lnkd.in/gBm9gq3T #artificialintelligence #machinelearning #deeplearning #ai #llm #nlp #generativeai #genomics #computationalbiology #computationalchemistry #structuralbiology #proteins #drugdiscovery #drugdevelopment #medicine #weareroche

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The paper from Prof. Darrell Irvine's group at MIT discusses the development of a novel cancer vaccine strategy. The research highlights the challenge in creating vaccines that direct dendritic cells (DCs) to generate strong, tumor-specific cellular immunity, a critical aspect for cancer treatment. To overcome this, the authors engineered virus-like particles (VLPs) that display a DC-SIGN-selective aryl mannose ligand and encapsulate Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonists. These VLPs are designed to induce type 1 cellular immunity, which promotes tumor-specific Th1 CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The study demonstrates that these tailored VLPs reprogram DCs, enhancing the immune response towards cellular immunity, which is essential for effective tumor control. In a murine melanoma model, vaccination with these glycan-modified VLPs led to robust tumor control, significant T cell infiltration into tumors, and protection against tumor recurrence. The research shows that selective engagement of DC-SIGN, combined with TLR7 signaling, promotes dendritic cell activation and offers a promising framework for advancing cancer vaccines and immunotherapies.

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Welcome to CSUBIOTECH Created in 1987, the California State University (CSU) Biotechnology (CSUBIOTECH; https://lnkd.in/gddjG2BF) has the mission of providing vision, leadership and support for biotechnology education and research throughout the CSU to promote biotechnology and economic development in California. The strategic goals of CSUBIOTECH are to promote innovative biotechnology education and research across the CSU system and provide leadership in training California's biotechnology work force. This will enable CSU faculty to become better scholars and instructors, and for undergraduate, graduate and returning students to advance their careers and become leaders in the biotechnology sector in California and across the nation. It will also allow CSUBIOTECH to extend, develop and expand relationships with regional and industrial partners, and enhance general education across the CSU and California for better understanding of biotechnology issues, challenges, and opportunities. CSUBIOTECH provides grants and awards, organizes the annual CSU Biotechnology Symposium, promotes industry-responsive curricular innovations, and serves as a liaison between the CSU and government, regional and biotechnology industry partners, including philanthropic partners. Within CSU, CSUBIOTECH promotes biotechnology workforce development by supporting innovative coursework, real-world research experiences, and core resources for students and faculty across all 23 CSU campuses. The program is cross-cutting involving students, faculty and administrators from life sciences, physical sciences, health sciences, engineering, mathematics, agriculture, business and computer science departments and divisions, and more across the system, including the Chancellor’s Office. In 2008 CSUBIOTECH developed its first three-year strategic plan, approved by the CSU Chancellor to articulate the community’s purpose, values, and goals, while also framing annual operations. In March 2016 CSUBIOTECH was authorized to continue operations as a system-wide affinity group under Executive Order 1103. CSUBIOTECH is administered and managed by an Executive Director, based at SDSU, who reports to the CSU Chancellor through a 6-person Presidents’ Commission (drawn from Presidents of the 23 campuses). The Program Office at SDSU is staffed by an Administrative Support Coordinator, two Administrative Analysts, and a Student Program Assistant. The Program Office is advised and supported by an 18-member Strategic Planning Council comprising faculty and deans from some campuses and external representatives from industry, Govt and non-profit sector, and a 92-member-Faculty Consensus Group comprising of biotechnology faculty representatives and deans from all CSU campuses. Altogether, over 1,000 CSU students, faculty, deans, and administrators interact with the CSUBIOTECH program office yearly.

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