Clinical Associate Professor
Postdoctoral Research – Columbia University (New York, USA)
PhD Biochemistry - Albert Einstein College of Medicine (New York, USA)
M.S. Biochemistry - Albert Einstein College of Medicine (New York, USA)
M.Sc. Biotechnology - Madurai Kamaraj University (Tamil Nadu, India)
B.Sc. Zoology (Honors), Chemistry and Botany (Minors) - Presidency College, University of Calcutta (West Bengal, India)
Mechanisms of regulation of gene expression by structured RNA molecules and RNA-protein complexes.
Characterizing post-transcriptional regulatory pathways implicated in oncogenesis.
Testing regulatory RNAs and small-molecules as novel therapeutic agents.
Susan G.Komen for the Cure® Postdoctoral Fellowship (2012-2015): Awarded to conduct Research Project titled, ‘Real-time probing of a pro-angiogenic translational switch in breast cancer’.
Selected by the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR), through competitive application, for the 2014-Translational Cancer Research for Basic Scientists Workshop.
Selected for Full Membership to American Association for advancement of Science (AAAS) through the AAAS Program for Excellence in Science (2006- 2010).
First rank and First Class with Distinction in M.Sc Biotechnology (2003), Madurai Kamaraj University; recognized with the following awards: Prof. E.R.B. Shanmugasundaram Endowment Gold Medal, Thiru K.Ayyamperumal Pillay Endowment Gold Medal, Dr. S. Subramanian Memorial Endowment Gold Medal, Prof. S.Krishnaswamy Memorial Endowment Cash Prize.
Lt. Col A.N. Bose Scholarship (2003) from the University of Calcutta (Kolkata, India) for continuing higher education abroad.
Postgraduate Fellowship (2001-2003) from the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, for pursuing M.Sc. Biotechnology; selected through All India combined Biotechnology Entrance Examination.
Ruehle, M.D., Zhang, H., Sheridan, R.M., Mitra, S., Chen, Y., Gonzalez, R.L., Cooperman, B.S., Kieft, J.S. (2015) eLife, Nov.2 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08146). “A dynamic RNA loop in an IRES affects multiple steps of elongation factor-mediated translation initiation.”
Mitra, S. (2014) Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1086 (RNA Folding - Methods and Protocols), Chapter 16: 265-288. “Detecting RNA Tertiary Folding by Sedimentation Velocity Analytical Ultracentrifugation”.
Chen, C., Mitra, S*., Jonikas, M.A., Martin, J., Brenowitz, M., Laederach, A. (2013) Biophysical Journal, March 19, Vol.104, Issue 6:1326-1337. “Understanding the role of three-dimensional topology in determining the folding intermediates of group I introns”. (* Co-first author)
Patel, V.L., Mitra, S., Harris, R., Buxbaum, A.R., Lionnet, T., Girvin, M., Levy, M., Almo, S.C., Brenowitz, M., Singer, R.H., Chao, J.A. (2012) Genes and Development, Jan.1, Vol.26, No. 1:43-53. “Spatial arrangement of conserved recognition elements identifies RNA regulatory networks”.
Mitra, S., Laederach, A., Golden, B.A., Altman, R.B., Brenowitz, M. (2011) RNA, August 2011; 17 (8): 1589-603. “RNA molecules with conserved catalytic cores but variable peripheries fold along unique energetically optimized pathways.”
Mitra, S. (2009) Methods in Enzymology, Vol.469, Chapter 10: 209-236. “Using Analytical Ultra Centrifugation to measure global structural changes during equilibrium folding of RNA molecules.”
Shcherbakova, I. and Mitra, S. (2009) Methods in Enzymology, Vol.468, Chapter 2: 31-46. “Hydroxyl-radical footprinting to probe equilibrium changes in RNA tertiary structure.”
Mitra, S., Shcherbakova, I.V., Altman, R.B., Brenowitz, M., Laederach, A. (2008) Nucleic Acids Research, May 13: 1-10. "High-throughput single-nucleotide structural mapping by capillary automated footprinting analysis."
Mitra, S. and Brenowitz, M. (2008) RSC Biomolecular Sciences, Vol.- Nucleic acid–metal ion interactions : (Chapter 7): 217-255. "Metal ions and RNA folding kinetics." [ISBN (online): 978-1-84755-876-3; ISBN (print): 978-0-85404-195-4]
Shcherbakova, I., Mitra, S., Laederach, A., Brenowitz, M. (2008) Current Opinion in Chemical Biology, Vol. 12: 1-12. “Energy barriers, pathways and dynamics during folding of large, multi-domain RNAs”.
Shcherbakova, I., Mitra, S., Beer, R.H., Brenowitz, M. (2008) Methods In Cell Biology, Vol. 84(Chapter 19): 591-617. “Following Molecular Transitions with Single Residue Spatial and Millisecond Time Resolution”.
Shcherbakova, I., Mitra, S., Beer, R.H., Brenowitz, M. (2006) Nucleic Acids Research, Mar 31;34 (6):e48. “Fast Fenton footprinting: a laboratory-based method for the time-resolved analysis of DNA, RNA and proteins.”