Ayesha Sania

Molecular biologist and enzyme biotechnologist with Ph.D.-level research experience in recombinant protein production, enzyme engineering, biochemical characterization, therapeutic enzyme evaluation, structural biology preparation, low-cost bioprocess optimization, bioreactor operation, and industrial/food biotechnology. Specialized in thermostable L-asparaginases from thermophilic and hyperthermophilic organisms, with first-author peer-reviewed publications on enzyme engineering, structure-function analysis, and acrylamide mitigation. Experienced across the full research pipeline — from molecular cloning and protein purification, through therapeutic enzyme evaluation in cancer cell models, to structural biology preparation and bioinformatics-guided analysis.

Research Officer at School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab (2022-06 – 2025-02)

• Produced and characterized recombinant L-asparaginases from Thermococcus kodakarensis and Geobacillus thermopakistaniensis for therapeutic and industrial biotechnology applications.
• Designed and executed protein engineering strategies, including site-directed mutagenesis, to develop enzyme variants with improved catalytic activity, thermostability, and application performance.
• Purified recombinant enzymes using chromatographic workflows, including affinity, ion-exchange, and size-exclusion/gel filtration approaches.
• Developed biochemical assays to measure enzyme activity, substrate specificity, thermostability, kinetic behavior, and structure-function relationships.
• Designed and performed cancer cell-based assays to assess therapeutic enzyme potential across adherent and suspension cell lines.
• Performed MTT cytotoxicity assays, flow cytometry-based analyses, and gene-expression-based mechanistic interpretation after enzyme treatment.
• Led protein crystallization screening and prepared purified enzyme samples for structural biology workflows, including crystallization and cryo-EM-related preparation.
• Used molecular docking, AlphaFold/DynaMut-based analysis, and structural comparison to interpret enzyme-substrate interactions and rationalize activity/stability changes.
• Contributed to low-cost recombinant enzyme production, bioreactor-based process optimization, and food biotechnology applications including acrylamide mitigation.
• Prepared manuscripts, conference abstracts, presentations, and research reports in enzyme biotechnology, cancer therapeutics, and industrial applications.

Lecturer in Zoology at Apex Group of Colleges (2019-01 – 2020-02)

• Delivered undergraduate lectures and practical sessions in cell biology, genetics, animal physiology, microscopy, and basic biological techniques.
• Prepared course materials, laboratory manuals, quizzes, examinations, and scientific report-writing activities.
• Mentored students in experimental design, research assignments, scientific presentations, and modern biological concepts.

Ph.D. in Biological Sciences – University of the Punjab (2021 – 2025)

M.Phil. in Zoology – University of the Punjab (2019 – 2021)

M.Sc. in Zoology – University of the Punjab (2016 – 2018)