Rohin
K. Iyer
50
Clayhall Crescent, North York, ON, Canada, M3J 1W6
Home:
416-636-5097 Mobile:
647-291-5097 Email:
rohin_iyer@yahoo.com
Objective:
To obtain a career in the area
of Biomedical Engineering, building on my extensive research- and
course-related experience as well as my academic foundation in Biomedical
Engineering.
Personal
Traits:
·
Highly
motivated; natural leader; excellent interpersonal, team and independent working
skills.
·
Superior
ability to grasp difficult concepts and deal with new challenges; critical
thinker/problem-solver
Education:
·
Candidate
for BA. Sc. (Engineering Science –
Biomedical Engineering) University of Toronto (April 2005)
·
Secondary
School (Honours) - William Lyon Mackenzie C.I. [Gifted Program] Completed: June
2001
Overview
of Skills/Expertise
·
Comprehensive
understanding of tissue
engineering with
relevant experience in tissue engineering and cellular bioengineering
methodologies.
·
Extensive
in
vitro and
ex
vivo laboratory
experience
with both cell-free and mammalian cell-based systems, including murine embryonic
stem cells, human osteoblastic and osteosarcoma-2 cells, bovine chondrocytes,
and human serum samples.
·
Excellent
familiarity with use of scientific
equipment
including: UV spectrophotometer, centrifuge, fume hood, biosafety cabinet, flow
cytometer, Cellomics ArrayScan HCS, phase contrast microscope, haemocytometer,
autoclave, pipettes and micropettes
·
Demonstrated
proficiency in numerous biological assay
techniques
including: ALP, methylene blue and XTT assays (cell viability/proliferation),
RNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction, gel electrophoresis,
immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry and Cellomics ArrayScan (cell quantitation
and characterization).
·
Well-versed
with theory of molecular
and cellular biology,
human
physiology,
and biochemistry,
particularly enzyme-substrate kinetics, receptor-ligand binding and trafficking,
and drug metabolism.
·
Fluency
with computer hardware and software, including spreadsheet (Excel),
wordprocessing (Microsoft
Word),
presentation (Powerpoint)
scientific software (MATLAB,
Maple,
Cellomics software), graphic design and desktop publishing (Acrobat,
Photoshop, LaTeX),
Internet (HTML
and Webpage design)
and programming (C,
C++, visual basic).
·
Excellent
written
and oral communication skills;
proven leadership, interpersonal, team and independent working skills; Ability
to deliver powerful presentations to large audiences; Skilled in writing
detailed technical reports/manuscripts/literature reviews, and preparing and
analyzing data.
Research
Experience
|
Undergraduate
Thesis – Stemcell Bioengineering Laboratory Refs:
Dr. Peter W. Zandstra, Ph.D. candidate: Ryan Davey University
of Toronto – Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical
Engineering |
Sept
2004 – Present |
|
Responsibilities/Skills
Gained: §
Thesis
title: Dynamics of Wnt signalling in Embryonic Stem Cell
Fate. §
Experience
in growth and maintenance of murine ES cell cultures; quantifying
Wnt/B-catenin signalling response of ES cells through Oct4 expression and
B-catenin expression in a temporal, spatial and quantitative fashion;
analysis and quantification of threshold levels needed for stimulation as
well as transient and steady state signalling kinetics/dynamics of
receptor-ligand interactions. | |
|
IBBME
Summer Student - CIHR BioEngineering of Skeletal Tissues
Team
BESTT) Refs:
Dr. Robert M. Pilliar1, Dr. Rita A.
Kandel1,2 1University
of Toronto – Institute
of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering 2Mt.
Sinai Hospital – Department of Pathology and Laboratory
Medicine |
May
2003 – Aug 2003 |
|
Responsibilities/Skills
Gained: §
Analysis
of changes in gene expression due to mechanical stimulation of in vitro-formed articular
cartilage tissue through polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and gel
electrophoresis. §
Experience
with tissue engineering methodologies; specifically, growing articular
cartilage tissue in vitro using
bovine chondrocytes on porous, biodegradable calcium polyphosphate
substrates and mechanical stimulation of samples. | |
Research Experience
(continued)
Summer Research StudentRefs:
Dr. A. Venket Rao1, Dr. Leticia G.
Rao2 1University
of Toronto – Faculty of Medicine – Fitzgerald
Building 2Calcium
Research Laboratory - St. Michael’s Hospital |
May
20011 May
20021,2 |
|
Responsibilities/Skills
Gained: §
Analysis
of oxidative stress markers in Serum samples and Osteosarcoma cells
(SaOS); carrying out assays for oxidative stress markers such as SH-groups
(thiols) and TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) in serum and
cell samples; performing cell proliferation assays including ALP (alkaline
phosphatase) assay and cell number (Methylene Blue) and protein
assays. | |
Relevant
Courses and Laboratories
BME496
Molecular and Cell Bioengineering II
Receptor-ligand
interactions, cell growth, adhesion, differentiation and migration, signal
transduction. Gene therapy,
cellular and tissue engineering.
Laboratories in tissue engineering, stem cell bioengineering and
mathematical modeling in MATLAB.
BME510
Regenerative Medicine (in progress)
Developing
biomedical devices and tissue engineered constructs through regenerative
approaches and an understanding of human physiology, pathology and
disease, immune response and developmental biology. MSE452
Biomaterials (in progress) Development
and modification of natural, synthetic and hybrid biomaterials/polymers
for medical implantation; promoting cell infiltration, minimizing immune
response; hydrogels, orthopaedic implants. CHE466
Bioprocess Engineering
Application
of microbiology, biocatalysts, and biological agents, such as cells,
enzymes or antibodies to bioreactor design/analysis and
bioseparation/fermentation processes. Beer fermentation design
project. MIE439
Biomechanics (in progress) Application
of mechanical engineering and heat/mass transfer principles to
cytoskeletal, respiratory, circulatory, muscle and bone
biology. BME395
Molecular Bioengineering I
Fundamentals
of molecular and cellular biology; structure-function relationships in
biomolecules (proteins, enzymes, sugars, nucleic acids). Application and manipulation of
biomolecular function and cellular biology to tissue engineering.
BME350
Physiological Control Systems Theory
of linear control with physiological systems including neuromuscular,
cardiovascular, and endocrine control systems.
CHE393
Biotransport Phenomena Momentum,
heat and mass/energy transfer in biomedical systems; Differential analysis
of laminar viscous flow, heat conduction and diffusion, and convective
transport. Laboratory in SDS-polacrylamide gel electrophoresis. |
BME205 Engineering
Biology Use
of engineering approaches to model cell growth and metabolism, transport
across cell membranes, protein structure, homeostasis, and nerve
conduction to solve biotechnological problems. BCH210 Introductory
Biochemistry Protein/carbohydryate
structure, function, and metabolism, protein engineering and mutagenesis,
enzyme-substrate chemistry and kinetics, biological membranes and
antibiotics, metabolism and bioenergetics. PCL201
Pharmacology/Pharmacokinetics
(in
progress) Drug
absorption, distribution, biotransformation and elimination; drug
interactions and regulatory considerations CHE390 Physical & Inorganic
Chemistry Fundamentals
of physical and inorganic chemistry with emphasis on biological systems
and nanoscience; atomic orbitals, molecular structure-function, periodic
trends, chemical kinetics and complexation/coordination chemistry,
bio-inorganic chemistry CHE391
Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Theory,
structures, properties and reactions of organic chemicals/biomolecules
with reference to their interactions within biological environment.
Industrial organic chemistry, biochemical compounds and relevant
biochemical reactions.
MSE350
Materials Science and Engineering Materials
science and engineering with emphasis on structure-property relationships
and selection of materials in design; natural/man-made and
crystalline/amorphous materials/polymers. Electromagnetic properties of
materials/metals/semiconductors.
ECE355
Signals and Systems Continuous
and discrete time signals and systems; linear time-invariant systems,
Fourier Analysis, linear filtering, sampling and modulation techniques for
communication systems. |
Publications and
Presentations
·
IBBME
Summer Student Program – Final Report (2003) **
o
Iyer
RK, Wong JS, Seguin CA, Waldman SD, Kandel RA, Pilliar RM. “Effect of Mechanical Stimulation
on Gene Expression in Cartilaginous Tissue Formed In Vitro” (**Available
upon request)
·
IBBME
Summer Student Seminar Series – Presentation (June
2003)
Available upon request
·
Honours
and Awards
·
Scholarships,
Bursaries And Fellowships
·
Teaching
Assistantships
·
Volunteer/Paid
Work Experience
·
Extracurricular
Activities
·
Letters
of Recommendation