Choudhary Ahmed

ViroCarb Inc. Toronto, Ontario

Senior Scientist 2023

Jan 2023 – Dec

• Lead the screening of over 150 compounds for broad-spectrum antiviral and cell viability (toxicity)

properties, identifying over 5 potent antiviral compounds and significantly advancing the company's

mission to combat viral diseases.

• Designed and developed new methods resulting in the increase in efficiency and accuracy of antiviral

drug testing against several viruses including HIV & SARS-CoV2

• Established a lentiviral-mediated CRISPR-based drug target identification platform, RNA purification

by AKTA and other HPLC system, gene and protein expression by RT-qPCR, SDS-PAGE and Western blot,

FACS and immunoprecipitation.

University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario

Industrial Postdoctoral Scientist Aug 2021 – Dec

2022

• Designed & implemented high-throughput screening assays for testing novel compounds against HIV

and Coronaviruses, resulting in the identification of 3 lead compounds and the generation of

compound libraries

Plasmid production, cloning, and gene/protein function assays.

• Developed 3 different cell lines for stable expression of Cas9 nuclease for whole genome CRISPR

library screening

• Developed and implemented FACS and IF-based assays for HIV coronavirus detection.• Developed 3D cell culture-based lung organoids viral gene expression assays to determine the 3D cell

model use in drug development

Formulation & solubility testing of compounds at room temperature.

University of Connecticut & SUNY Albany Postdoctoral Research Scientist 2020

Storrs & Albany, CT & NY

May 2019 - Dec

• Established molecular virology/cell biology lab from scratch for in-vitro cell-based assays

• Developed HPLC, probe-capture and sucrose density-based RNA/DNA isolation assays for the Mass

Spec-based RNA post-transcription modification identification and sequencing

• In-house High-throughput DNA/RNA purification assay development for Hamilton’s Nimbus liquid

handling robot

Mondelez International, Hamilton, Canada Jan 2018 – April 2019

Food Production and Packaging Associate

Preparing the production and assembly line for products.

Maintaining the products and packaging according to QA standard

Maintaining cleanliness, personal hygiene, updated training, equipment maintenance, material

control, and batch record keeping complying and adhering to GMP standards and practices.

Pre-PhD Experience Pakistan 2004-2012

Helped Multiple academic and industry laboratories from start to finish

Established multiple molecular biology, microbiology and biochemistry diagnostic laboratories

Introduced and implemented multiple advanced assays for infection disease assay

Applied multiple cell culture, molecular biology, biochemistry and microbiology techniques like cell

manipulation, RT-qPCR, nested PCR, ELISA and electrophoresis in routine testing and training.

Down-stream processing including HPLC, centrifugation, filtration, and activity assessment.

PhD in Molecular biology & Virology

Certificate in Regulatory Affairs