Mohan Vivekanandan has 5 years of experience in bioanalytical assay development and quality control for biotherapeutics and vaccines. He has a PhD in Biochemistry and expertise in protein characterization, stability testing, method development and validation. His most recent role was as a Research Scientist at Theragen Biologics where he developed ELISA and other assays to characterize a novel Fab protein. He is looking for a challenging career in a progressive organization.

1. Mohan Vivekanandan, PhD
Profile (Update date:
20/3/20)
Scientist with 5 years of work experience in bio-analytical and assay development for antibody based bio-therapeutics
and vaccines. Strong knowledgein designing andexecuting stability studies, Quality controlprocedures, and developing
analytical/biophysical assays. Expertise in bio-molecular interaction and thermodynamics studies, protein biophysical
studies, HPLC methods for protein characterization and aggregation analysis. Looking for a challenging career in a
progressive organization.
Education
Ph.D., Biochemistry
University of Houston, TX, USA August 2009 - August
2014
M.S (by Research) June 2006 – July 2009
Anna University, Chennai
B.Tech, Biotechnology
PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore June 2001 - May
2005
Awards
1. Best poster award at 27th International Symposium on Preparative and Process Chromatography (PREP),
Boston, 2014
2. Best poster award at the 3rd
Bioscience Graduate Society Symposium, University of Houston, 2012
Fellowship
1. Cleared Junior research fellowship exam (CSIR-JRF NET), Council of scientific and industrial research (CSIR),
India, 2008.
Work Experience
Research Scientist Dec 2019 – Present
Theragen Biologics, Chennai
Team lead in bio-analytical lab. Performed characterization and stability testing of novel Fab (antigen binding
fragment) for treating diabetic retinopathy.
1) ELISA based technique for quantification of Fab protein for process optimization of DSP and USP process and
purified proteins
2) Performed competitive assay based Affinity ELISA to determine theoretical EC50
3) Performed kinetic Turbidometric assay to estimate Endotoxin levels in Drug substance and drug product
4) Studying purity and integrity of Fab using various HPLC: RP-HPLC, SEC-HPLC and IEX-HPLC
Sr. Scientist Oct 2014 – July 2019
Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine
1) Quality control:
• Developed and performed method validation of biophysical and biochemical assays (RP-HPLC, SEC-HPLC) as
per ICH/FDA guidelines
• Performed stability testing (long term regulated and accelerated studies) on recombinant vaccines
2) Biophysical/Analytical method development:

2. • Developed biophysical and biochemical methods for protein purity analysis and quantification
• Performed routine characterization of in-process samples, Drug substance and Drug product to study protein
purity and integrity
• Development of direct protein quantification assay for Alhydrogel formulated proteins using fluorescent
immuno-assay
Additional projects:
Upstream Process development:
• Expression and purification of recombinant SARS RBD protein from P. pastoris with 80 % recovery in 10L scale
fermenter
Performed reproducibility studies for evaluation of the optimized process which resulted in successful cGMP
production
Identifying the origin for decrease in potency of Becaplermin during storage (Contract project):
Performed IsoThermal Calorimetry (ITC) to study the nature and energetics of interaction between thickener
(carboxymethyl cellulose) and human Platelet derived growth factor. Designed experiments, performed ITC, and
performed data analysis.
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Houston, Texas, August 2009 –
August 2014
1) Kinetics of anti-IgE-aptamer IgE antibody interaction:
• Developed study design and performed characterization and kinetic studies of anti IgE aptamer-IgE antibody
interactions using fluorescence anisotropy technique and stopped flow technique
• Performed ITC for determination of Kd and binding stoichiometry of IgE aptamer-IgE antibody
2) Evaluating performance of cluster charge Ion-exchange chromatography using single molecule techniques:
• Designed and developed experiments including an agarose based ion exchange resin
Skills
Molecular biology and biochemistry: Western blot, ELISA, Quantitative HCP slot blot assay, Iso-electric focusing
gel, and quantification of alhydrogel formulated proteins.
Biophysical/Analytical: HPLC and UPLC based analysis of purity and integrity, OLIS Fluorometer (fluorescence
anisotropy and stopped flow kinetics), Isothermal Titration calorimetry and protein melting curve analysis using
CD spectroscopy, DLS particle size estimation, and MALDI mass spectrometry.
Professional Training
1. Completed 2-day comprehensive certificate course (1.5 units), Regulatory compliance in the pharmaceutical
industry, at National Center for Therapeutics manufacturing (NCTM), College Station, TX, USA
2. Completed certificate course (1 unit) on Vaccine adjuvants and delivery system at Baylor college of Medicine,
May 27, 2015
3. Organized and presented a certificate course on Quality control in Vaccine development, April, 2016
Activities/Leadership
Secretary, Bioscience Graduate Society, University of Houston, August 2011-June
2012
Publications
1. Chen WH, Chag SM, Poongavanam MV, Biter AB, Rezende W, Seid CA, Hudspeth EM, Pollet J, McAtee CP,
Strych U, Bottazzi ME, Hotez PJ, Optimization of the production process and characterization of the yeast-
expressed SARS-CoV recombinant receptor-binding domain (RBD219-N1), a SARS vaccine candidate, J Pharm Sci.,
2017 Aug;106(8):1961-1970

3. 2. Lydia Kisley, Mohan-Vivekanandan Poongavanam, Katerina Kourentzi, Richard C. Willson, Christy F. Landes,
pH-dependence of single-protein adsorption and diffusion at a liquid chromatographic interface, J. Sep. Sci., 2015,
1–7
3. Mohan-Vivekanandan Poongavanam, Kisley L, Kourentzi K, Willson RC, Ensemble and Single-Molecule
Biophysical Characterization of D17.4 DNA Aptamer-IgE Interactions, Biochim Biophys Acta., 2015.
4. Adhikari, M; Strych, U; Kim, J; Dhamane, S; Mohan-Vivekanandan P; Hagström, A; Kourentzi, K; Conrad, J;
Willson, R Aptamer-phage reporters for ultrasensitive lateral flow assays., Anal. Chem. 2015 Dec 1;87(23):11660-5
5. Lydia Kisley,Jixin Chen, Andrea P. Mansur, Sergio Dominguez-Medina, Eliona Kulla, Marci Kang, Bo Shuang,
Katerina Kourentzi, Mohan-Vivekanandan Poongavanam, Sagar Dhamane, Richard C. Willson, Christy F.
Landes, High ionic strength narrows the population sites participating in protein ion-exchange adsorption. J
Chromatography A., 2014 May 23;1343:135-42.
6. Lydia Kisley, Jixin Chen, Andrea P. Mansur, Bo Shuang, Katerina Kourentzi, Mohan-Vivekanandan
Poongavanam, Wen-Hsiang Chen, Sagar Dhamane, Richard C. Willson, and Christy F. Landes, Unified
superresolution experiments and stochastic theory provide mechanistic insight into protein ion-exchange
adsorptive separations, PNAS, 2014 Feb 11;111(6):2075-80.
7. Kanakaraj I, Chen WH, Poongavanam MV, Dhamane S, Stagg LJ, Ladbury JE, Kourentzi K, Strych U, Willson
RC, Biophysical characterization of VEGF-aHt DNA aptamer interactions, Int J Biol. Macromol., 2013 Jun;57:69-75
8. Daniels CR, Kisley L, Kim H, Chen WH, Poongavanam MV, Reznik C, Kourentzi K, Willson RC, Landes CF,
Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy study of protein transport and dynamic interactions with clustered-charge
peptide adsorbents, J Mol. Recognition, 2012 Aug;25(8):435-4.
Presentations and Posters
Oral Presentations
“Studying protein transport and adsorption/desorption kinetics on IEX adsorbents using a single-molecule
approach”. 245th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 7, 2013.
Selected Posters
1. Best Poster award: Mechanistic Insights into Protein IEX Separations using Single-molecule, Super-resolution
Imaging.27th International Symposium on Preparative and Process Chromatography (PREP 2014), Boston, July
2014
2. Best Poster award: “Studying protein transport and adsorption/desorption kinetics on IEX adsorbents using a
single-molecule approach”. 3rd
Bioscience Graduate Society Symposium, University of Houston, 2012