CYNTHIA MARIAN REBECCA FRANCIS

[email protected] • 509-338-8393 • 1401 NE Merman Drive, Pullman, WA-USA

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Motivated molecular biosciences researcher with extensive experience in RNA-seq analysis, gene knockdown techniques, and mouse model phenotyping. Proven ability to characterize reproductive tissue phenotypes and optimize molecular protocols. Skilled in cell culture, molecular cloning, and bioinformatics analysis, with a strong track record of contributing to impactful research projects in pregnancy establishment and inflammatory responses.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Graduate Research Assistant

03/2024 - Present

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY , Pullman, USA

• Research Focus: Uterine stromal insulin signaling regulation in pregnancy establishment

• Involved in characterizing the ovarian and uterine phenotype of the Foxl2-Cre mouse model

• Performed RNA-seq analysis on mouse uterine tissues during early pregnancy time point

• Skilled in harvesting mouse reproductive tissues

• Worked with siRNA-mediated gene knockdown in t-HESC cell line

Project Associate 2

05/2023 - 07/2023

THE INSTITUTE FOR STEM CELL SCIENCE AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE , Bangalore, India

• Research Focus: Inflammatory and regenerative response to urinary tract infections in the urethra

• Involved in generating stable transduced cell lines

• Involved in optimizing the Uropathogenic E.coli (J96 transgenic strain) inoculum for transurethral installation in mice

• Coordinating lab maintenance, ordering supplies and maintenance of inventory

Project Associate 1

04/2022 - 04/2023

THE INSTITUTE FOR STEM CELL SCIENCE AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE , Bangalore, India

• Research Focus: Inflammatory and regenerative response to urinary tract infections in the urethra

• Optimized Uropathogenic E.coli (CFT073 and MTCC729 transgenic strains) inoculum for transurethral installation in mice

• Standardized electroporation and neon transfection protocol for urinary bladder epithelial cell lines (T24 and 5637 cells)

• Generation of transgenic Uropathogenic E.coli strains through electroporation

• Involved in optimizing lab protocols

• Mouse handling and tissue extraction (kidney, liver, spleen, lower urinary tract and female reproductive tract)

• Trained and assisted Ph.D. rotation students

• In-charge of lab maintenance, ordering supplies and maintenance of inventory

Project Assistant

04/2021 - 08/2021

INSTITUTE OF BIOINFORMATICS AND APPLIED BIOTECHNOLOGY , Bangalore, India

• Research Focus: Characterizing the biological role of pfRRM1 protein in plasmodium falciparum

• Induced pfRRM1 protein expression in bacterial systems

• Performed molecular cloning to develop SpCas9 constructs

Research Technician (Grade: 3)

07/2019 - 03/2020

RANGOS RESEARCH CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH – UPMC CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF PITTSBURGH , PA-USA

• Research Focus: Characterizing skeletal muscle phenotypes in Snyder-Robinson Syndrome

• Involved in optimizing spermine synthase protein expression from diseased mouse models using western blot

• Mouse handling and tissue extraction (brain, tibialis anterior, quadriceps & gastrocnemius) from wild type and disease models

• Performed grip strength analysis of wild types vs disease mouse models

• Lab management, ordered supplies, maintained inventory and trained lab personnel

Graduate Student Researcher

05/2018 - 04/2019

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH , PA-USA

• Thesis: Investigating circulating microRNA expression in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

• Characterized the differential expression of circulating microRNAs in SLE

• Performed in silico functional analysis for the differentially expressed SLE-relevant circulating microRNAs using DIANA mirPath v.3

Undergraduate Student Researcher

11/2016 - 05/2017

SRM UNIVERSITY , Chennai, India

• Thesis: Rapid identification of Neomycin Phosphotransferase-II (nptII) gene in RNAi-Transgenic tobacco using Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification

• Optimized the LAMP conditions for rapid detection of nptII gene

Minor Project Researcher

01/2014 - 01/2017

SRM UNIVERSITY , Chennai, India

• Minor Project: Identifying C/T polymorphism in Exon-17 of Insulin Receptor (INSR) gene in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) patients in South India

• Accessed the risk factors associated with PCOS based on the data collected from questionnaires for South Indian women aged between 18-25 yrs.

• Isolated gDNA of 20 PCOS patients and amplified the Exon-17 of INSR gene via PCR

EDUCATION

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Molecular Biosciences

08/2023

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY , WA, USA

Master of Science (M.S) in Human Genetics

04/2019

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH , PA, USA

Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Genetic Engineering

05/2017

SRM UNIVERSITY , Chennai, India