About me
EXPERIENCE
2022-2023
Lecturer
Uppsala University
I currently teach topics involving innovation management, entrepreneurship-intrapreneurship, and technology-based business development to master's students from diverse streams of science, technology, and business at Uppsala University.
2022
ERASMUS Trainee
PROJECT GmbH, Germany
As part of my master's thesis in management and an intern with Project GmbH, Germany, facilitated through an EU-funded ERASMUS Traineeship, I tried my hand at intrapreneurship. I actively explored the firm's existing workflow and proposed new business models concerning the digitization of real estate financial instruments in Germany.
2017-2020
Post-doctoral researcher
Uppsala University, Sweden
& UPPA, Pau, France
In this postdoctoral stint, I was responsible for developing sustainable methods of processing marine-based raw materials into medical-grade, chemically functionalized biomaterials for applications in cell-guided tissue regeneration. I used green chemistry to generate water-soluble polymer materials with controlled degradation and high bio-compatibility.
2016-2017
Post-doctoral researcher
Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Sweden
I was responsible for developing methods to process pig-gastric mucins into functionalized biomaterials using click chemistry. I used different chemical and biological platforms to validate the change in the structure of the mucin backbone and evaluated their functionality as biomaterials with cell lines. In addition, I established an assay to modulate the thickness of the mucin layer thickness in cell cultures. These attributes in biomaterials are of prime importance for gut-regenerative application in the clinic.
EDUCATION
2020-2022
INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING & INNOVATION MANAGEMENT
Master's Degree
Uppsala University
A management program focused on industrial innovation, business and project management, industrial finance, industrial economics, and technology-based business development. My master's thesis focused on digitalization in the real estate sector, focusing on business models surrounding financial products in real estate investments.
2010-2015
Doctoral Degree
Uppsala University
CHEMISTRY - POLYMER SCIENCE
My doctoral thesis focused on developing and biologically evaluating hyaluronic acid-based biomaterials with intended application in bone regeneration. My thesis summarizes work published in four primary articles looking at material-tissue interaction for building new bone and its destruction (osteoporosis). This thesis also won a European Biomaterials Award ( Julia Polak Award, 2018)
2006-2009
MOLECULAR & MICROBIOLOGY
Master's Degree
University of Central Florida
I acquired skills in modifying oligonucleotides for cell delivery. Further, I modified surfaces with polymers to study the effects of extra-cellular proteins on adherence and functional changes in primary hippocampal neurons.
2002-2004
Master's Degree
Pune University
CHEMISTRY
Major in Chemistry with a specialization in physical chemistry. My thesis evaluated the surface area of pores in polymer scaffolds using mercury porosimetry.
1999-2002
Bachelor's Degree
Pune University
CHEMISTRY
Major in Chemistry with minors in Zoology, Geology and Botany
1. Verónica Zubillaga-Maragnon, Asier M. Salaberria, Sujit Kootala, Teodoro Palomares, Ana AlonsoVarona, Jalel Labidi, Susana C.M. Fernandes. Chitin nanoforms provide mechanical and topological cues to support growth of human adipose stem cells in chitosan biocomposite matrices.
Biomacromolecules. 2018 Jul 9;19(7):3000-3012
2. Kootala, Sujit; Filho, Luimar; Srivastava, Vaibhav; Linderberg, Victoria; Moussa, Amani; David, Laurent; Trombotto, Stéphane; Crouzier, Thomas. Reinforcing mucus barrier properties with low molar mass chitosans.
Biomacromolecules. 2018 Mar 12;19(3):872–882
3. Kootala S, Zhang Y, Ghalib S, Tolmachev V, Hilborn J, Ossipov D. Control of growth factor binding and release in bisphosphonate functionalized hydrogels guides rapid differentiation of precursor cells in vitro.
Biomater. Sci., 2016,4, 250-254
4. Kootala S, Tokunaga S, Hilborn J, Iwasaki Y. Anti-resorptive Functions of Poly (ethylene sodium phosphate) on Human Osteoclasts.
Macromolecular Bioscience Volume 15, Issue 12, pages 1634– 1640, December 2015
5. Kootala S, Ossipov D, van den Beucken J. J, Leeuwenburgh S, Hilborn J. BisphosphonateFunctionalized hyaluronic acid show selective affinity for osteoclasts as a potential treatment for osteoporosis.
Biomat. Sci., vol 3, pg 1197, 2015.
SKILLS
TECHNICAL SKILLS
1
Business
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Business Models
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New Business Development
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Strategic analysis
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Product Development
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Product Integration
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Lead Generation
2
Science
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Polymer Synthesis & Characterization
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Analytical Chemistry
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Biochemistry
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Materials characterization
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Drug delivery
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Microscopy
3
IT
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Data analysis
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Microsoft Office
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Project Management
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Basic Python
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Linux
SOFT SKILLS
LANGUAGE SKILLS
​I am an active listener and a self-professed bookworm. I thoroughly enjoy public speaking and have honed this skill through various stints, such as being a student body representative and giving elevator pitches or conference talks. Currently, I am a teacher, and I am passionate about disseminating knowledge.
English - Advanced
Swedish - Intermediate
Hindi - Advanced
Marathi - Advanced