Akshata Udyavar

Akshata Udyavar has a diverse and extensive work experience in the field of bioinformatics and cancer biology. Akshata is currently working as the Senior Director of Immunology and Translational Sciences at Actym Therapeutics, Inc. In this role, they lead the immunology and translational sciences department.

Prior to their current position, Akshata held the role of Director at Instil Bio from June 2021 to July 2022. At Instil Bio, they were responsible for overseeing various aspects of the company's operations.

Akshata has also been involved in reviewing articles for peer-reviewed journals since January 2014.

From August 2018 to January 2021, Akshata worked at Arcus Biosciences, where they held roles as a Research Fellow (Associate Director), Principal Investigator, and Senior Scientist. Their contributions included leading bioinformatics efforts for target discovery, biomarker discovery, and building a bioinformatics team to support preclinical and clinical development.

From September 2015 to August 2018, they worked at Genentech as an Associate Scientist in the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology/Oncology Biomarker Development department. Their responsibilities included analyzing clinical trial datasets, leading bioinformatics analyses for specific cancer biomarker sub-teams, and developing prognostic and predictive biomarkers.

Before joining Genentech, Akshata worked at Vanderbilt University Medical Center from 2010 to 2015. During this time, they served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Graduate Student in Chemical and Physical Biology, and Graduate Student in the Certificate Program in Molecular Medicine. Their research focused on cancer biology, protein measurements, computational predictive models, gene networks, and transcriptional regulatory networks.

Akshata also gained teaching experience as a Lecturer at Vanderbilt University, where they taught the Cancer Systems Biology course from an unspecified date to 2015.

Additionally, they worked as a Research Assistant at Vanderbilt University from June 2008 to January 2010, where they established high-throughput protocols and obtained datasets for mathematical modeling of cancer.

Akshata's earliest work experience was as a Graduate Student at St. Jude Children's Hospital - University of Tennessee Health Science Center from June 2006 to June 2008. Their research at St. Jude involved generating autoimmune single residue mutant chimeric antigenic T-cell receptors and studying their autoimmune properties.

Akshata obtained their Bachelor's degree from the University of Mumbai (Bombay College of Pharmacy) in 2006.

Overall, Akshata Udyavar has a strong background in bioinformatics, cancer biology, and translational sciences, with a track record of leadership, research, and teaching.

Akshata Udyavar has a strong educational background with a focus on biomedical sciences, cancer biology, and molecular medicine. Akshata completed their Bachelor's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences at Bombay College of Pharmacy from 2002 to 2006. Following that, they pursued a Master's degree in Biomedical Sciences at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center from 2006 to 2008.

Akshata then went on to attend Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, where they obtained their Ph.D. in Cancer Biology from 2010 to 2015. During their time at Vanderbilt, they also completed a Certificate program in Molecular Medicine at Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) - Vanderbilt University Medical Center from 2011 to 2013.

In addition to their formal education, Akshata has obtained several certifications. Akshata obtained a Certificate in Molecular Medicine from Vanderbilt University and Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Akshata also holds certifications in Strategic Thinking, obtained from LinkedIn in June 2022, and Therapy Pet Partner, obtained from Delta Therapy Dog Arc Society in 2012. Furthermore, Akshata has achieved the title of Master of Dance in Bharat Natyam from Art Society Bombay in November 1994.