Anita Shrestha
Oxford
Summary
My research focus and interest are on the transcriptional regulation of reproductive development in Arabidopsis thaliana. I have extensive experience in genotyping, phenotyping, microscopy, histology, and a good amount of experience in molecular cloning, plant and bacterial transformation, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, CRISPR-Cas, and RNA sequencing analysis. I am a driven and self-motivated personality who enjoys both teamwork and self-initiative, and I have a strong desire and curiosity to learn new techniques.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
PhD Graduate Assistant
University of Mississippi
Oxford
08.2019 - Current
Graduate Research Assistant at the Department of Biology, University of Mississippi (August 2019 - present).
- Histology of Arabidopsis fruits at different developmental stages to assess the development of reproductive tissues, including ovules and the female reproductive tract.
- Use of the fluorescent and confocal microscope to analyze pollen tube growth in hand-pollinated pistils, aiming to understand the factors that affect fertilization, and seed yield.
- Use of molecular techniques, including PCR and RT-qPCR, to assess the difference in reproduction regulatory genes in mutants, as compared to the WT.
- Hands-on experience and knowledge in molecular techniques, including CRISPR-Cas, molecular cloning, and bacterial and plant transformation, with successful results.
- Analysis of RNA sequencing data.
Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Mississippi (2021–present).
- Teaching Assistnat, 2021-present: Introduction to Biology, Genetics, and Cell and Molecular Biology
Research Assistant
Kalapas Biotech Pvt. Ltd.
Kathmandu
03.2017 - 07.2019
Research Assistant
- Plant tissue culture: tissue culture from different types of samples: nodal tissue culture of strawberry, potato, and paulownia, and tissue culture of banana shoot tip (sucker).
- Optimization of the surface sterilization protocol for different experimental samples, optimization of growth media for the propagation of strawberries, paulownia, potato, and banana, optimization of growth conditions (humidity, temperature, and light intensity) for the growth of propagated tissues in the growth chamber, and optimization of growth conditions for propagated tissues in the soil and transplantation.
- Mentorship: Mentoring the interns, conducting hands-on training on ELISA, plant tissue culture, and transplantation, and growth regulation of plants in soil.
Education
Master of Science - Biological Sciences
University of Mississippi
University, MS08-2024
Bachelor of Science - Biotechnology
SANN International College
Nepal01-2016
Ph.D. - Biological Sciences
University of Mississippi
University, MSSkills
- Molecular biology technologies: CRISPR-Cas, molecular cloning, bacterial and plant transformation, immunohistochemistry, SDS-PAGE and Western blot, protein extraction, and protein purification using hydrophobic interaction chromatography, LacZ staining, confocal microscopy, biological software analysis techniques (ImageJ, Photoshop, and RStudio), and RNA sequencing analysis
- Biological software analysis techniques: ImageJ, Photoshop, and RStudio
- Bioinformatics: RNA sequencing analysis
Accomplishments
1. A. Shrestha, S. Ojha, H. Malone, K. T. Anderson, K. Childers, S. J. Liljegren. STM regulates septum fusion, ovule number and seed yield of Arabidopsis fruit. University of Mississippi, The University, USA (Manuscript in progress).
2. M. Kafle, A. Pandey, A. Shrestha, B. Dhital, S. Chipalu, S. Basi. 2017. Induced abiotic stress: prospects for powdery mildew resistance in tomato plants. Journal of Plant Physiology and Pathology 6:1. doi: 10.4172/2329-955X.1000175
Research Talks
- A. Shrestha, S. J. Liljegren. Analysis of reproductive development in Arabidopsis thaliana. (3 minutes Pitch) 2024 Graduate Student Council Research and Creative Achievement Symposium, University of Mississippi, The University, USA, March 2024.
- A. Shrestha, S. J. Liljegren. Analysis of reproductive development in Arabidopsis organ boundary mutants. (Invited speaker) Research Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology (RIBB), Lalitpur, Nepal, January 2024.
- A. Shrestha, S. J. Liljegren. Analysis of reproductive development in Arabidopsis organ boundary mutants. (Poster presentation) Plant Biology 2023, Savannah, Georgia, USA, August 2023
- A. Shrestha, K. Anderson, K. Childers, H. Malone, S. J. Liljegren. Roles of STM and ATH1 in Arabidopsis gynoecium development. (Oral presentation) International Conference by Biotechnology Society of Nepal (ICBSN-2022). Virtual. December 2022.
- A. Shrestha, K. Anderson, K. Childers, H. Malone, S. J. Liljegren. Roles of STM and ATH1 in Arabidopsis gynoecium development. (Poster presentation)The 31st International Conference on Arabidopsis Research (ICAR). Virtual. June 2021.
- M. Kafle, A.Pandey, A.Shrestha, B. Dhital. Induced abiotic stress: prospects for powdery mildew resistance in tomato plants. (Poster presentation) 2nd International Conference on Bioscience and Biotechnology, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Nepal, February 2018
- M. Kafle, A.Pandey, A.Shrestha, B. Dhital. Induced abiotic stress: prospects for powdery mildew resistance in tomato plants. (Poster presentation) World DNA Day, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Lalitpur, Nepal, April 2017.
References
Dr. Sarah Liljegren, sjliljeg@olemiss.edu, +1 (858)722-2871
Dr. Bradley Jones, jonesbw@olemiss.edu, 662-915-1700
Dr. Yongjian Qiu, yqiu@olemiss.edu, (662) 915-3276
Timeline
PhD Graduate Assistant
University of Mississippi
08.2019 - Current
Research Assistant
Kalapas Biotech Pvt. Ltd.
03.2017 - 07.2019
Master of Science - Biological Sciences
University of Mississippi
Bachelor of Science - Biotechnology
SANN International College
Ph.D. - Biological Sciences
University of Mississippi
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