Investigating genetic regulation in the human placenta, while sipping on my flat white.
Big fan of ggplot2 and Jazz music. Jack-of-all-Trades kinda person


About Me

A PhD Candidate in the Medical Genetics Graduate Program at The University of British Columbia, I currently reside in the lovely and vibrant city of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada.

My research interests lie in developmental, cardiovascular, and population genetics. My curiosity is driven by wanting to elucidate the genetic differences that exist between populations of different ancestries.

I firmly believe that the more you give, the more you get, and as such, I try to give back as much as I can to the community.

I’m an avid bibliophile, coffee enthusiast, and culinary aficionado. I also make and sell custom genetics-themed graphics and merchandise on Etsy!


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View my latest Academic CV

Last updated: March 2024


Latest Highlights:


Skills

Research Background: Genomics and bioinformatics - developmental/embryonic genetics, cardiovascular genetics, epidemiology, lung and liver cancer, RNA, biostatistics

Programming: R/RMarkdown/R Shiny, Linux/BASH, HPC, Git/GitHub, Jupyter

Database Usage: NCBI, OMIM, GEO, UCSC Genome Browser, ClinVar, GeneCards, UniProt, GTex, miRBase, RNACentral

Genomics Analysis Tools: IGV, PLINK, GEMMA, miRMaster

Data Types: GWAS Summary Statistics/SNP (UK/China Kadoorie/Japan Biobanks), RNA sequencing (total and small), single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), DNA methylation (850/450K)


Education


PhD in Medical Genetics

University of British Columbia, Canada
(2019 - )


Thesis Project: Characterizing small non-coding RNAs in the Human Placenta.
Dr. Wendy Robinson - BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute | Lab Website
Dr. Wan Lam - BC Cancer Research Centre | Lab Website


Publications / Awards / Communications


Awards:

  • 4 Year Doctoral Fellowship (4YF) Award (2020-2024) – University of British Columbia

  • The James Miller Memorial Prize - Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia

  • President’s Academic Excellence Initiative PhD Award (2020-2024) – University of British Columbia

  • International Tuition Award (2019-2024) – University of British Columbia

  • Diversity Scholar 2022 - RStudio PBC

  • Trainee Travel Grant 2022 - BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute

  • Virtual Knowledge Exchange Grant 2021 – BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute

Pubs:

  1. Martinez VD, Cohn DE, Telkar N, Minatel BC, Pewarchuk ME, Marshall EA, Price ME, Robinson WP, Lam WL Profiling the Small Non-Coding RNA Transcriptome of the Human Placenta.. 2021. Sci Data; 8, 166.

  2. Cohn DE, Barros-Filho MC, Minatel BC, Pewarchuk ME, Marshall EA, Vucic EA, Sage AP, Telkar N, Stewart GL, Jurisica I, Reis PP, Robinson WP, Lam WL. Reactivation of multiple fetal miRNAs in lung adenocarcinoma. 2021. Cancers, 13, 2686.

  3. Marshall EA, Telkar N, Lam WL. Functional role of the cancer microbiome in the solid tumour niche. 2021. Current Research in Immunology; 2: 1–6

  4. Rees WD, Telkar N, Lin D, Peloni C, Fathi A, Kobor M, Zachos N, Steiner T. An in vitro chronic damage model impairs inflammatory and regenerative responses in human colonoid monolayers. 2022. Cell Reports; 38(3)

  5. Telkar N, Stewart GL, Pewarchuk ME, Cohn DE, Robinson WP, Lam WL. Small Non-Coding RNAs in the Human Placenta: regulatory roles and clinical utility. Frontiers in Genetics 2022; 13.

  6. Minatel BC, Cohn DE, Pewarchuk ME, Barros-Filho MC, Sage AP, Stewart GL, Marshall EA, Telkar N, Martinez VD, Reis PP, Robinson WP, Lam WL. Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms deregulate the CRL2pVHL complex in hepatocellular carcinoma. 2022. Frontiers in Genetics; 13.

  7. Forder A, Stewart GL, Telkar N, Lam WL, Garnis C. New insights into the tumour immune microenvironment of nasopharyngeal cacinoma.. 2022. Current Research in Immunology; 3: 222–227.

  8. Forder A, Zhuang R, Souza VGP, Brockley LJ, Pewarchuk ME, Telkar N, Stewart GL, Benard K, Marshall EA, Reis PP, Lam WL (2023). Mechanisms Contributing to the Comorbidity of COPD and Lung Cancer. International Journal of Molecular Sciences; 24(3):2859

  9. Brockley LJ, Souza VGP, Forder A, Pewarchuk ME, Erkan M, Telkar N, Benard KH, Trejo J, Stewart MD, Stewart GL, Reis PP, Lam WL, Martinez VD (2023). Sequence-Based Platforms for Discovering Biomarkers in Liquid Biopsy of Non- Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Cancers; 15(8), 2275

  10. Souza VGP, Forder A, Brockley LJ, Pewarchuk ME, Telkar N, de Araújo RP, Trejo J, Benard KH, Seneda AL, Minutentag IW, Erkan M, Stewart GL, Hasimoto EN, Garnis C, Lam WL, Martinez VD, Reis PP (2023). Liquid Biopsy in Lung Cancer: Biomarkers for the Management of Recurrence and Metastasis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences; 24(10):8894

  11. Souza VGP, Forder A, Telkar N, Stewart GL, RF Carvalho, Mur LAJ, Lam WL, Reis PP (2023). Identifying New Contributors to Brain Metastasis in Lung Adenocarcinoma: A Transcriptomic Meta-Analysis.. Cancers 2023, 15(18), 4526

  12. Souza VGP, Forder A, Pewarchuk ME, Telkar N, , RF Carvalho, de Araújo RP, Stewart GL, Vieira J, Reis PP, Lam WL (2023). The Complex Role of the Microbiome in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Development and Progression. Cells 2023, 12(24), 2801

  13. In-revisions - Souza VGP, Telkar N, Lam WL, Reis PP. Comprehensive Analysis of Lung Adenocarcinoma and Brain Metastasis through Integrated Single-Cell Transcriptomics

  14. Submitted - Rolf N, Liu LYT, Leclair P, Lorentzian AC, Atre T, Farrokhi A, Telkar N, Casazza W, Vercauteren SM, Lange PF, Maxwell CA, Lim CJ, Reid GSD (2024). Immunophenotype shifts during childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) relapse progression result from changing abundance levels of phenotypically distinct subpopulations

  15. Submitted - Telkar N, Stewart GL, Minatel BC, Cohn DE, Benard K, Souza VGP, Pewarchuk ME, Martinez VD, Reis PP, Robinson WP, Lam WL. Reactivation of human fetal microRNAs in liver cancer

  16. Submitted - Telkar N, Hui D, Peñaherrera MS, Yuan V, Martinez VD, Stewart GL, Beristain AG, Lam WL, Robinson WP. Profiling the cell-specific small non-coding RNA transcriptome of the human placenta

Communication:


MSc in Genetics of Human Disease

University College London, London, England
Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, London
(2017 - 2018)


Dissertation: Comparing the Genetic Architecture of Lipid Traits between Populations
Supervisor: Dr. Karoline Kuchenbaecker


Publications / Awards / Communications:

Polygenics Risk Scores published on EMBL-EBI’s PGS Catalog



BSc in Biomedical Genetics

University of Newcastle upon Tyne, England
(2014 -2017)


Dissertation: Genome-wide RNAi Screening to identify new genes involved in Mitochondrial Disease


University Profile



Publications / Awards / Communications

Awards:

  • Genes and Development Summer Studentship 2016 – The Genetics Society UK

  • Faculty of Medical Sciences Undergraduate Research Scholarship 2016 – Newcastle University

  • Commendation Award – Newcastle University Student Research Scholarships and Expeditions 2016

  • Second Place Poster Award 2016 – Newcastle University Faculty of Medicine

  • ncl+ Award – Newcastle University (for extracurricular achievement)

Pubs:



Professional Experience


Fellow: Scientific Lead - MedTech

Nucleate Genesis, Canada (October 2023 - )

  • Part of the final 18 cohort, working within a cross-continent team of three (UPenn, Georgia Tech) to build a pseudo MedTech venture
  • 12-week intensive and hands-on curriculum including venture ideation, IP, derisking, product-market fit culminating in a pitch competition


Founding Member / Vancouver Lead

Nucleate: Canada Chapter, Canada (October 2023 - )

  • Recruited for establishing this trainee-run, non-profit biotech organisation pan-Canada: Strategizing Nucleate programming that will best suit graduates within the Canadian ecosystem, fostering partnerships with life sciences firms in Canada, securing sponsorships and advisors
  • Locally in Vancouver: Sourcing university-based and professional champions for the Chapter, partnering with university tech transfer and innovation offices, team recruitment, and program planning


Investment Associate

Front Row Ventures, British Columbia, Canada (October 2023 - )

  • Canada’s leading student-founder focused VC firm with a presence on 20+ university campuses across Canada
  • Deal sourcing within the BC student-startup ecosystem and extensive due diligence to bring ventures till final-decision Investment Committee meetings


Biomedical Data Analyst

BenchSci, Toronto, Canada (April 2022 - October 2023)

  • Labelling biomedical data for the platform’s ML training model (>100k labels till date)
  • Annotating scientific publication figures for image to text (vision) training
  • Contributing to the platform’s UX design as part of the internal Discovery and Validation team


BioInnovation Scientist Trainee

adMare BiInnovations, Canada (April - June 2023)

  • Hands-on training about the Canadian life sciences industry, scaling small molecule and biologics discovery, pre-clinical and clinical development, and therapeutics commercialization


Co-Chair

Trainee Omics Group (TOG) Committee, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (September 2021 - Present)


Biostatistics Expert

BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada (Jan - June 2021)

  • Developed open access videos and resources focused on the statistical terms, concepts, and analyses undertaken in health research at all educational levels (beginner, intermediate and advanced) for the BCCHR 2021 Summer Student Research Program
  • Created an Introduction to Biomedical Data Analysis hands-on R tutorial
  • Videos available on the BCCHR website


Teaching Assistant

University of British Columbia, Canada (Sept - Dec 2020)

  • TA for the graduate MEDG 520 Advanced Human Molecular Genetics course in the Department of Medical Genetics.
  • Instrumental in restructuring the course and assignment format for the year
  • Facilitated in transitioning this in-person, discussion-based course to a virtual environment (chose the platform for teaching and guided instructors through its usage)
  • Held real-time online tutorials on topics most requested by the students (as well as one-on-one meetings and discussions)
  • Named "the best TA he's ever worked with" by the Head of the Medical Genetics Graduate Program : “Nikita always responded promptly and thoughtfully to requests for advice. Her input and assistance helped guide the learning process. She did everything I think a good teacher should, and went above and beyond the time and effort I would expect from a TA. She was the best part of the course.”


Visiting Scholar

MIT-ADT School of Bioengineering Sciences and Research, Pune, India (Feb - July 2019)

  • Invited Visiting Lecturer (3 lectures) in Genetics for the Bachelor of Technology-Bioengineering undergraduate program


Founder

ScribblezbyNiki (June 2021 - )

  • Designing genetics/science-inspired merchandise sold on Etsy
  • Each order has received 5-star reviews

SPIRITFUL (April - September 2019)

  • Started a business selling original artwork, handling all workflow from procuring raw material, assembly, marketing, to shipping
  • 60% profit margin, 25% of profits directed to the HelpAge India NGO - a non-profit focused on the elderly


Biosciences Administration Assistant

Department of Neuroscience, University College London (Nov 2017 - Jan 2018)

  • Responsible for sorting and filing a large amount of incoming PhD applications

Community Involvement


Advisory Committee Member

Department of Medical Genetics, UBC (2019 – Present)


Research Mentor

Newcastle University and UBC (2015 – 2016 / 2020 – Present)


Executive Consultant

UBC Medical Genetics Graduate Student Association (January 2021 – Present)

  • Assisting the board with executive decisions and planning events at this departmental social and outreach association
  • Recruited panelists and moderated the Alumni Panel at the annual welcome event (received public acknowledgment), directed a fundraiser (raised ~$300), developed the website


Marketing and Social Media Lead

UBC Undergraduate 3 Minute Thesis Committee (2020 – 2021)


Volunteer

Geneskool, Genome British Columbia (October 2019 – October 2020)

  • Conducted in-person interactive activities focused on introducing and educating students (ages 10-12) about genetics and its applications at local schools in Vancouver
  • Committee Member at the Girls and STEAM Symposium 2019 hosted by BC Science World


Vice President

Newcastle South Asian Society (2016 – 2017)

  • Second-in-charge in this cultural society committee and responsible for delegating and supervising tasks
  • Oversaw event management – Corresponding with services and sponsors, locating venues, recording inventory, maintaining finances
  • Events arranged for up to 20 to 500 guests
  • Publicity Officer (2015 – 2016) – Management of all social media accounts of the committee, main email correspondent, digitization of all posters and tickets.

Workshops


Building Production-Quality Shiny Applications

rstudio::conf(2022), Washington D.C.

  • Chose this complimentary workshop awarded under RStudio’s Diversity Scholarship
  • Lead by Eric Nantz, this workshop taught best-practices to write UI and Server-side code for Shiny for R web application development


Graduate Instructional Skills Workshop

Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology, UBC

  • 4-day workshop (24-hour) consisting of teaching practice, theory application, and topical sessions specifically relevant for Teaching Assistants. Delivered 3 short lectures on the genetics of the ABO blood groups
  • Feedback from fellow team member: "Nikita, your students will be lucky to have you, you make everything so easy to understand.”



Extras

  • Judges’ Choice Award - GrasRoots Case Competition 2021, University of British Columbia
  • UCL Business Game 2017 – University College London
  • News Reporter – Health Science Inquiry, 2019 – 2020: Published a Photo Essay ‘A Week in the Life of a Geneticist’ in their 2020 issue.