Karatatiwant (Karat) Singh Sidhu

About Me: Welcome to my personal portfolio. I'm Karatatiwant Singh Sidhu, but you can call me Karat. I am an analytical biochemist and bioinformatician with a strong focus on metabolomics, proteomics, and mass spectrometry. My work primarily revolves around the development of analytical methods for small molecules and the application of these methods to biological systems. Beyond laboratory work, I bring strong computational skills in R and Python, which I apply to data analysis and tool development.

Educational Background: I began my academic pursuits in Biotechnology at Panjab University, Chandigarh, India, earning my B.E. from the University Institute of Engineering and Technology in 2015. Continuing my education, I pursued an M.S. in Biotechnology at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, graduating in 2017. My academic training provided a solid foundation in both the theoretical and practical aspects of analytical chemistry and molecular biology, preparing me for advanced research in mass spectrometry and biochemical analysis.

Graduate Research: During my graduate studies, I focused on analytical chemistry and biochemistry, gaining extensive experience with Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometers and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Equipment. I refined my skills in a high-throughput BSL-2 lab at the Center for Translational Research in Aging and Longevity under Dr. John Thaden, where we developed and quantified small molecules and metabolomics assays. My work involved conducting pump infusions and integrating LC chromatograms to develop methods for clinical testing, focusing on measuring robustness, linearity, and inter-day stability.

Research Focus: My research interests primarily center around metabolomics, proteomics, and small molecule analysis, often incorporating stable isotopes for enhanced precision, facilitated by LC/MS/MS technology. A key contribution includes developing a novel method for determining cell volume in cell culture experiments using stable isotopically labeled phenylalanine internal standards within the normal LC-MS/MS metabolomics workflow—addressing the issue that measuring metabolite amount alone can lead to skewed results when cell size changes due to experimental conditions. My work has also contributed to understanding metabolic impairment and pathway elucidation in various biological contexts.

Current Work: For the past five years, I've had the privilege of contributing to the University of Vermont Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, housed within the Vermont Center for Immunobiology and Infectious Disease (VCIID). Working closely with Dr. Dwight E. Matthews, I utilized High-Resolution Mass Spectrometers (HRMS) and Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) to elucidate metabolic pathways in vivo and in cell culture settings, fostering advancements in cell culture and metabolism research. As a Research Technician within the Immunobiology COBRE, I've contributed to multiple peer-reviewed publications, including research on the differential effects of the cystic fibrosis lung inflammatory environment on mesenchymal stromal cells and studies on mitochondrial ATP's role in cancer chemoresistance.

Feel free to explore my work further and please don't hesitate to reach out.