Akshayasri Nithyanandham

Research Associate with 1.5+ years of experience in CRISPR functional genomics, iPSC disease modeling, and molecular assay development. Built an 883-guide CRISPRi library achieving over 1000x coverage and 1.23 billion colonies/ug DNA, including recovery from a critical cloning failure through troubleshooting. Generated reproducible molecular datasets across 100+ iPSC samples and executed transfection, lentiviral and assay workflows under GCP, GLP and ELN documentation standards.

Research Associate - NYU Langone Health - Institute for Systems Genetics (Davoli Lab) - New York, NY

(2025-05 - 2026-05)

• Built an 883-guide CRISPRi library using BsmBI-v2 digest and Gibson Assembly across 7 pooled reactions, achieving over 1000x coverage and 1.23 billion colonies/ug DNA to enable scalable perturbation studies in stem cell models.
• Recovered a critical cloning workflow through a 4-plate diagnostic control strategy that identified vector preparation as the root cause, restoring the project within one troubleshooting cycle and preventing a multi-week delay.
• Modeled Down syndrome pathology across 100+ iPSC samples using cell-based assays, generating reproducible neuronal differentiation datasets validated by RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence for TUJ1, PHOX2B, and RET, and flow cytometry.
• Generated reproducible gene expression datasets by processing 100+ RNA and DNA samples using QIAzol extraction, cDNA synthesis and RT-qPCR analysis.
• Executed 20+ transfection and lentiviral production workflows in collaboration with cross-functional teams, ensuring reproducibility through rigorous documentation, consistent assay conditions and institutional biosafety compliance.

Graduate Lab Directing Assistant - NYU Tandon School of Engineering - New York, NY

(2025-08 - 2026-05)

• Reduced documented laboratory errors by 38% across 30+ research labs through implementation of SOPs, safety checklists and standardized workflows.
• Maintained 100% inspection readiness across two semesters by strengthening compliance, organization and laboratory operating practices.

Graduate Lab & Course Assistant, Advanced Molecular Biology - NYU Tandon School of Engineering - New York, NY

(2024-08 - 2025-01)

• Guided 100+ students per session in PCR, SDS-PAGE, Western blot, ELISA, Golden Gate, and sterile techniques; implemented standardized checklists that reduced lab errors by 30%, from 10 per week to 7.
• Optimized reagent prep, cutting weekly class setup from 90 minutes to 60 minutes.

Master of Science - Biotechnology - New York University (2026-05)

Bachelor of Technology - Biotechnology - Rajalakshmi Engineering College (2024-05)