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

SKILLS