Sitara Roy
@sitararoy
Postdoctoral Scientist at Harvard University, developing prime editing to classify LDLR variants.
United StatesWhat I'm looking for
At Harvard University, I investigate gene regulatory networks behind cardiovascular and cardiometabolic disease using CRISPR-Cas9, base editing, and prime editing. I helped develop a high-throughput prime editing framework to classify LDLR variants and generated SCARB1 and ABCA1 knockout models to study cholesterol metabolism.
I combine scATAC-seq and RNA-seq to map chromatin accessibility and transcription factor binding at single-cell resolution. I also designed and optimized functional assays, including LDL uptake and cholesterol efflux, to measure the effects of gene perturbations in primary human cells.
At the University of California San Diego, I developed genome-editing strategies and, as first author of a Science Advances paper, described an improved gene-editing methodology using homologous chromosome-templated repair. Earlier, at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, I led GWAS and whole-gene sequencing in a stroke cohort and collaborated with clinical neurology teams.
As founding Chief Scientific Officer at KRYSP-R / GENE2GO, I directed gene-editing platform development and established documentation standards aligned with regulatory needs. My work spans functional genomics, translational research, and clinical biomarker science, and includes peer-reviewed publications and books.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Investigating gene regulatory networks underlying cardiovascular and cardiometabolic disease using CRISPR-Cas9, base editing, and prime editing in human immune cells, cardiomyocytes, cancer cell lines and mouse cells integrated with scATAC-seq (10x Genomics) and RNA-seq to map chromatin accessibility and transcription factor binding at single-cell resolution.
• Helped develop a high-throughput pri
Review Editor
Gene Journal ScienceDirect by Elsevier
Jan 2023 - Present (3 years 9 months)
Worked as Review Editor at Gene Journal ScienceDirect by Elsevier.
Review Editor
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
Jan 2023 - Present (3 years 9 months)
Worked as Review Editor at Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.
Review Editor
Frontiers in Genetics
Jan 2023 - Present (3 years 9 months)
Worked as Review Editor at Frontiers in Genetics.
Scientist
MetFlux Research
Jul 2022 - Jun 2023 (11 months)
• Analyzed patient-derived DNA-seq, RNA-seq, and clinical genomic datasets to inform mechanisms underlying heart failure, cardio-renal disease, and cardiometabolic disorders; generated analytical reports for clinical and research stakeholders.
• Integrated human genetic, transcriptomic, and clinical data to generate actionable insights for patient stratification, target identification, and transl
Chief Scientific Officer
KRYSP-R / GENE2GO
Sep 2021 - Jul 2022 (10 months)
Directed end-to-end gene editing platform development for an early-stage startup, from scientific strategy and experimental design to data quality oversight and regulatory-aligned documentation.
• Served as founding CSO and sole gene-editing expert, defining the entire scientific direction for a company focused on gene editing across human, animal, and plant systems.
• Led CRISPR-Cas9 and base ed
DARPA- and NIH-funded research on genome engineering, gene drive, disease modeling, and active genetics in Drosophila, mosquitoes, and mammalian cells.
• First author, Science Advances (2022): invented an improved gene editing methodology (Cas9/Nickase-induced allelic conversion via homologous chromosome-templated repair); conceptualized, designed, and executed all experiments and wrote the full m
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
Jul 2016 - May 2018 (1 year 10 months)
Mechanistic investigation of DNA damage response (DDR), chromatin dynamics, and DNA repair in human cells and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).
• Designed and implemented RNA FISH, DNA FISH, and live-cell fluorescence microscopy to quantify DNA damage, chromatin remodeling dynamics, and repair kinetics at high spatial and temporal resolution.
• Explored links between DNA repair pathways, mutagenes
Doctoral Student
Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology
Jan 2010 - Jan 2015 (5 years)
Clinical genomics and biomarker discovery in stroke genetics.
• Led GWAS and whole-gene sequencing in a 600-patient cohort to identify independent genetic risk factors (PDE4D, Prothrombin, E-selectin, CCL11) in coagulation and inflammatory pathways.
• ICMR-funded doctoral research on the genetic basis of stroke risk in South Asian cohort.
• Performed high-throughput DNA/RNA purification, primer d
Master Thesis Student
Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology
Jan 2008 - Jan 2009 (1 year)
Worked on characterization of proteins in Antarctic bacteria.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
Centre for cellular and Molecular Biology
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
Osmania University
Master's degree, Genetics
University topper, Gold medalist
Understanding US Patents: A Deeper Dive
Mar 2026
Harvard Catalyst | The Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center
Badge - Essential Skills for Conducting Clinical & Translational Research
Sep 2026
Understanding Intellectual Property
Mar 2026
CITI Program
CITI Information Privacy Security (IPS) for Research
Jan 2026 · Expires Jan 2027
Harvard Catalyst | The Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center
Certificate of Completion - Essential Skills for Conducting Clinical & Translational Research
Sep 2026
Morrison Foerster
Advanced Patent Law course 2026 by Morrison Foerster and the Harvard Griffin GSAS Biotech Club.
May 2026
Harvard University
Certificate, Bioinformatics certificate: Cell to Insights, An Introduction to R and Single-Cell RNA-Seq
2025 - 2025
The coursework focused on practical uses of R programming applied to Single-Cell RNA-Seq Analysis
Osmania University
Bachelor's degree, Genetics
2003 - 2006
University topper, Gold medalist
U.S. Centers for disease control and prevention
CDC Good Laboratory Practices for Molecular Genetic Testing
Jan 2026
U.S. Centers for disease control and prevention
CDC Introduction to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Proficiency Testing
Jan 2026
CITI Program
CITI Biomedical Research Investigators
Jan 2026 · Expires Jan 2029
CITI Program
CITI Biomedical Responsible Conduct of Research
Jan 2026
CITI Program
CITI Good Clinical Practice
Jan 2026 · Expires Jan 2029
Tech stack
Software and tools used professionally
Availability
Location
United StatesAuthorized to work in
Salary expectations
Social media
Job categories
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