Aloka de Sa

Cell biologist and immunologist with a submitted split-site PhD  jointly at the University of Manchester and A*STAR Singapore Immunology Network, and prior experience as a Research Assistant at the University of Cambridge. Over the past six years, I have developed expertise in B cell biology and receptor signalling, along side experience with T cells, NK cells, monocytes and patient derived immune samples. Skilled in multi-parametric flow cytometry ( >30 colours, functional immune assays, genetic manipulation techniques (CRISPR, shRNA, and siRNA), biomarker assay development. Published in Nature Immunology, Journal of Cell Biology, Immunology and Immunity, with experience in international collaboration, postgraduate training and cross sector research environment. 

PhD in Cell Biology, University of Manchester, United Kingdom                                          

Martin Lowe , University of Manchester, United Kingdom

Kong Peng Lam , Singapore, Immunology Network ( SigN), Singapore

Thesis : The role of inositol- 5-phosphatase B ( INPP5B) in human B cell function

My doctoral research at the University of Manchester and the Singapore Immunology Network (A*STAR) investigated the role of INPP5B in regulating human B cell function, with a focus on BCR dependent processes such as activation, proliferation, class switching, differentiation to plasma cells, and cytokine production. The project involved extensive work with primary human immune cells and murine B cell models. 

Working in academia in the UK and in a corporate institute in for the government of Singapore exposed me to distinct research cultures. The academic environment strengthened my independence and critical thinking, while the institute emphasised collaboration, efficiency and structured project delivery. Adapting to a new country and work culture enhanced my resilience, adaptability and ability to thrive in diverse environments. 

Research and technical skills acquired

Multi-parameter flow cytometry (>30 colours) , FACS sorting,  phospho-flow, calcium flux, functional immune assays- activation, proliferation, cytokine production, cytotoxicity, degranulation, ADCC; Culturing B cell lines , LCLs, Ramos, and myeloma; molecular techniques DNA, RNA, isolation, PCR, qPCR, primer design, molecular cloning, CRISPR-Cas9 editing, shRNA and siRNA knockdown of immune cells; biomarker analysis using ELISA and Luminex; protein studies through western blotting for signalling, and phospho proteins; handling human samples including PBMC isolation; murine immunology including splenic B cell isolation, culture, murine flow cytometry and CRISPR editing; cell and tissue processing. MACS separation, sample; data analysis with Flow Jo, GraphPad Prism collaborated with statisticians and computational biologists for robust study design and analysis. 

Research Assistant, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom                                                                  May 2019 – July 2021

Christoph Hess and NIHR Cambridge BRC Phenotyping Hub, Department of Medicine

The CITID-NIHR COVID 19 BioResource 

Worked under Dr. Lorinda Turner in the Hess Lab and NIHR Cambridge BRC Phenotyping Hub as a part of the Immune Challenge platform. Responsibilities included the design, development, optimisation and GCP validation of flow cytometry , functional and cell-based assays to support immunology research. Onset of the pandemic, I contributed to Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Diseases (CITIID) BioResouce cohort, collaborating with Prof. Kenneth Smith, group on a longitudinal study of COVID-19 and primary immunodeficiency (PID) patients across disease severities, with a focus on deep immunophenotyping of patient samples at multiple time points. 

Research and technical skills acquired

PBMC Isolation, Deep immunophenotyping with > 30 colours, Signalling and phosphoflow flow cytometry assay, cell proliferation assays, Intracellular cytokine stimulation assay, cell stimulation and costimulation assays, sample protein preparation for mass spectrometry, sample preparation for mass cytometry (CyTOF), magnetic cell separation (MACS), Gel electrophoresis, PCR, qPCR, Western Blots, cell and  human tissue processing, plasma and serum processing for primary immunodeficient patients (PID) and COVID cohorts,  DNA and RNA isolation, confocal microscopy, data analysis using GraphPad Prism, FlowJo and FCS Express, R programming, Flow cytometry instrumentation Troubleshooting and QC.

M.Sc. Research project, King’s College London, United Kingdom                                               January – September 2018

Faruk Ramadani and Hannah Gould

As part of my MSc in Biomedical and Molecular Science Research, I spent 6 months in the laboratory of Dr Faruk Ramadani and Prof Hannah Gould investigating the role of p110δ Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase in the production of IgE.

Research and technical skills acquired

Tonsil tissue preparation, isolation PBMCs, negative selection of B cells, advanced cell culturing, flow cytometry, signalling, proliferation, class switching, Flow Jo, statistical analysis- GraphPad Prism 7 software

PhD, Immunology and Cell Biology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom                 2021- 2025

PhD submitted

M.Sc. in Biomedical and Molecular Science Research, King’s College London, United Kingdom           2017- 2018

Distinction