Dr. Ashretha Latha Ashok Kumar

Guided students on NMD & VMD for improved data management, monitoring effectiveness and suggesting improvements. Evaluated drug targeting strategies for COVID-19 using Autodock, VMD & NMD. Analyzed FACS data using FlowJo and consolidated using GraphPad Prism. Encouraged creative thinking and motivated students by addressing individual strengths and weaknesses based on standardized testing results. Pursued Master of Business Administration foundation course during the break.

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Brocker Extensive hands-on experience to handle S2 biosafety samples by performing in vitro and in vivo experiments using an LCMV mice model. Conducted independent research with a high throughput machine learning approach to distinguish between different stages of dying T cells during LCMV infections. Co-ordinated with colleagues to gather research and publish findings.

Managed 3 projects simultaneously, involving design and troubleshooting of molecular and cellular-based assays, data interpretation, and application of new concepts to move projects forward. Developed and executed in vivo Phagocytosis assay involving knock out mice models and elucidated potential therapeutic strategy for Lupus. Collaborated with a team of Biophysicists and Molecular Biologists to investigate Phagocytosis defects in Lupus mice models using Proteomics and Confocal imaging.

Performed in vitro experiments using around 50 blood samples from healthy & filarial patients. Achieved in the characterization of immunomodulatory responses of filarial proteins from Brugia malayi and probiotics from Lactobacillus sp. Established in silico drug targeting strategies for Chikungunya and Filariasisusing In silico analysis. Acquired skills in computational drug designing tools such as AUTODOCK, GOLD, MODELLER, and Cheminformatics tools.