ANITA VENKITESWARAN Female, 21

Years
ACADEMIC PROFILE
2006(Expected): B. Tech (Hons.) in Biotechnology & Biochemical Engineering I.I.T. Kharagpur
CGPA: 9.58/10.00
2002: Higher Secondary Examination (WB Board), South Point High School, Calcutta
Percentage: 94.00
2000: Secondary Examination (WB Board), Carmel High School, Calcutta
Percentage: 92.75

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
Scholarshi  Recipient of the Dr. Meghnad Saha Scholarship under the Jagadis Bose National
ps Science Talent Search
National Scheme (JBNSTS), 2002-03
and State  9th rank in Higher Secondary Examination, 2002 out of 200,000+ candidates
Level
 2nd rank in WBJEE Engineering Entrance Examination, 2002 out of 60,000+
Examinatio candidates
ns  24th rank in WBJEE Medical Entrance Examination, 2002 out of 20,000+
candidates
 20th rank in Secondary Examination, 2000 out of 600,000+ candidates -
considered for National
Scholarship on the basis of the same

Others  The Guidance Award for Academic Excellence by a Student awarded by The
Telegraph School Awards
for Excellence, 2002
 Among 30 participants selected for the CSIR Programme on Youth for Leadership in
Science, 2000

PUBLICATIONS
 Co-authoring a paper on the association of glutamate receptor genes (GluR1, GluR2, GluR3, GluR4,
GluR5, GluR6, GluR7, KA1 and KA2) with cognitive impairments in epileptic patients on topiramate, with
Dr. Anna Need, Dr. Rinki Singh, Dr. Sanjay Sisodiya and Prof. David B. Goldstein, which is in preparation
and expected to be submitted by the end of December 2005.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES
 Among 40 international participants selected to be a part of the Fourth Borsellino College on
Neurophysics conducted at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy from
27th September - 8th October 2004. Participated in a series of lectures and discussions with eminent
scientists in the field of neuroscience.
RESEARCH PROJECTS

Room No H-307, I.G. Hall of Residence,

E-MAIL – anitav1984@yahoo.co.in
I.I.T. Kharagpur-721302. PHONE NO:
+91-9434369072
ANITA VENKITESWARAN Female, 21
Years
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON, U.K.
Project &  A study of the association between GluR6 and KA1 gene polymorphisms and
Guide cognitive impairments in
epileptic patients on topiramate
 Prof. David B. Goldstein, Duke Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, U.S.A.
Project
Synopsis 
Identified tagging SNPs (using TagIT program) in candidate genes, GluR6 and KA1
coding for kainate receptors
and subsequently genotyped them using TaqMan-based allelic discrimination assays in a
cohort of epileptic patients
 Analyzed the data using a case-control approach, for individual tags (chi-squared test)
and haplotypes (haplo.score
Achievem
package) associated with the cognitive response of epileptic patients to topiramate
ents
 Recommended for PhD in Genetics and Genomics at Duke University by guide
 On invitation, presented study findings at Duke University, and co-authoring paper
on the same
(May - July 2005)
S.I.S.S.A, TRIESTE, ITALY (December
2004)
Project &  Neuronal basis of tactile perception by whiskers in rats
Guide  Prof. Mathew Diamond, Professor, S.I.S.S.A, Italy

 Learnt electrophysiological recording techniques to measure frequency and patterns of

neuronal firing, in active
Key and anaesthetized rats exposed to texture of various levels of roughness
Learnings  Learnt to devise experimental procedures for training rats to distinguish rough and
smooth surfaces using their
whiskers, and to analyze the neuronal data and interpret the results
N.C.B.S, T.I.F.R, BANGALORE
(May - July, 2004)
Project &  A functional ablation approach to identify the neural circuitry underlying
Guide different aspects of larval
locomotion in Drosophila melanogaster using the binary enhancer trap P
[GAL4] system
Project  Prof. K. VijayRaghavan, Director, N.C.B.S, Bangalore
Synopsis
 Characterized the expression of 64 Japanese GAL4 lines in Drosophila by crossing them
with UAS-Tau-GFP lines
and identified those GAL4 lines with expression regions in the CNS and PNS
 Crossed the identified GAL4 lines with UAS-TNT H/G (Tetanus Toxin) lines and recorded
hatching and
Achievem locomotion patterns to determine putative regions in the CNS responsible for peristalsis
ents in Drosophila larvae

 Recommended for the Fourth Borsellino College on Neurophysics conducted at

I.C.T.P. Trieste, Italy by guide

PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN AT I.I.T. KHARAGPUR

RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY (January
2003 onwards)

Room No H-307, I.G. Hall of Residence,

E-MAIL – anitav1984@yahoo.co.in
I.I.T. Kharagpur-721302. PHONE NO:
+91-9434369072
ANITA VENKITESWARAN Female, 21
Years
Project &  Partial amplification, cloning and sequencing of Beta Actin and GAPDH genes in
Guide Antheraea mylitta
 Prof. A. K. Ghosh, Professor, Department of Biotechnology
 Designed primers for Beta Actin and GAPDH (housekeeping genes) based on
conservation patterns observed
in human, mouse and Drosophila
Project  Isolated total RNA from silk gland tissue of Antheraea mylitta larva, converted the
Synopsis mRNA to cDNA and then
partially amplified it using the designed primers. Cloned the PCR product into a
suitable vector followed by
transformation, selection of recombinant colonies, plasmid extraction, digestion and
subsequent sequencing
to generate the required gene probes
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY LABORATORY (September
2003 – May 2004)
Project &  Growing hairy roots in Nicotia tabacum and Cucumus sativus as an indicator
Guide of expression of
recombinant FGF8b in those plants
 Prof. S. Dey, Head, Department of Biotechnology
Project
Synopsis  Prepared electro-competent cells of Agrobacterium rhizogenes and electroporated
suitable binary vector
containing FGF-8 into the cells
 Aseptically produced tobacco and cucumber seedlings and transformed them with
Achievem Agrobacterium rhizogenes to
ents establish hairy root lines

 Project adjudged the “Best JBNSTS (Jagadis Bose National Science Talent Search)
Project” in 2004
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Room No H-307, I.G. Hall of Residence,

E-MAIL – anitav1984@yahoo.co.in
I.I.T. Kharagpur-721302. PHONE NO:
+91-9434369072
 ANITA VENKITESWARAN Female, 21
Years
 Steering Committee Member, Kshitij 2006, the annual I.I.T. Kharagpur techno-
management festival.
Leading a team of 50 peers and juniors responsible for sponsorship, publicity and
Positions overall management of
of the festival.
Responsib  Head, Publicity Team, Kshitij 2005. Led a team of 36 peers and juniors
ility responsible for revamping and
restructuring the events. Achieved a participation of 1500 out-station college
students, as compared to the
previous best of 300. Achieved international participation for the first time ever.
 Governor, English Technology Dramatics Society, I.I.T. Kharagpur 2004-2005.
Dramatics Responsible for directing
the Freshers’ Production and familiarizing newcomers with the finer nuances of
dramatics.
 School Pupil Leader, Carmel High School, 1999-2000. As the first nominated
school pupil leader in
the history of the school, was responsible for bringing in novel concepts in school
events, especially the
Christmas production and conceptualizing the inter-school festival

 Best Actress, Open I.I.T. English Dramatics Competition, 2003-04

Debating  Played lead role in the play “And then there were none” written by Agatha Christie,
which was adjudged the 2nd
Best Play in the Open I.I.T. English Dramatics competition, 2003-04

 Winner, Open I.I.T. Debate, 2003-04

 Best Speaker, Debate Competition, 2001 organized by Yuva Parishad Manch and Right
Now
 Winner, National Debate Competition, 2000 organized by N.C.E.R.T, India and UNFPA

 Bronze Medal, Inter-School Regatta (Rowing Competition), 1999 organized by the

Lake Club, Kolkata

Others
 Conferred the Senior Diploma in Bharat Natyam by Bharatha Natya Kalalaya and
Sarba Bharatiya
Sangeet-O-Sanskriti Parishad, 1997-98
 Silver Medal, West Bengal State Dance Talent Search Competition, 1995
REFERENCES
1. Prof. David B. Goldstein, Head, Centre for Population Genomics and
Pharmacogenetics,
Duke Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, Duke University, U.S.A.
Email: d.goldstein@duke.edu
2. Prof. S. Dey, Head, Department of Biotechnology, I.I.T. Kharagpur, India
Email: sdey@hijli.iitkgp.ernet.in
3. Prof. A.K.Ghosh, Professor, Department of Biotechnology, I.I.T. Kharagpur,
India
Email: aghosh@hijli.iitkgp.ernet.in
4. Prof. Mathew Diamond, Professor, S.I.S.S.A, Trieste, Italy
Email: diamond@sissa.it
LIST OF COURSES UNDERTAKEN

Room No H-307, I.G. Hall of Residence,

E-MAIL – anitav1984@yahoo.co.in
I.I.T. Kharagpur-721302. PHONE NO:
+91-9434369072
 ANITA VENKITESWARAN Female, 21
Years

Bio-  Biochemistry, Microbiology, Thermodynamics & Biochemical Reaction

sciences Engineering, Cell and Molecular Biology, Genetics, Industrial Microbiology and
Enzyme Technology, Drug Design and Development, Plant Cell and Tissue
Chemical Culture, Protein Engineering, Bioinformatics, Bio-mechanics
Engineerin
g  Transport Processes, Phase Equilibrium Thermodynamics and Property
Estimation, Fundamentals of Food Engineering
Mathemati
cs
 Transform Calculus, Numerical Solutions of Ordinary & Partial Differential
Physics & Equations, Vector Analysis, Complex Analysis, Probability Theory and Statistics,
Chemistry Partial Differential Equations
Engineerin
g Subjects  Physics, Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry
IT
 Engineering Drawing and Graphics, Electrical Technology, Basic Electronics,
Humanitie Mechanics, Introduction to Manufacturing Processes
s
 Programming in C and Data Structures, Introduction to Internet

Manageme  English for Communication, Economics

nt
 Marketing Management

LIST OF COURSES BEING UNDERTAKEN

Bio-
sciences  Bioreactor Analysis and Design
Engineerin
g Subjects  Biomedical Instrumentation

Humanities  German

LIST OF COURSES TO BE UNDERTAKEN

Bio-  Immunology, Downstream Processing, Metabolic Engineering

sciences

Room No H-307, I.G. Hall of Residence,

E-MAIL – anitav1984@yahoo.co.in
I.I.T. Kharagpur-721302. PHONE NO:
+91-9434369072
ANITA VENKITESWARAN Female, 21
Years

Room No H-307, I.G. Hall of Residence,

E-MAIL – anitav1984@yahoo.co.in
I.I.T. Kharagpur-721302. PHONE NO:
+91-9434369072