Mahalakshmi Pandian recently completed her MPhil from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and currently works as a Research Assistant under Mohammad Mirkhalaf Valashani. With over 5 years of experience, she specializes in designing biomaterials for infectious disease and tissue engineering.
Her MPhil research involved material characterization and antibacterial efficacy of coated titanium implants. She also helped develop large animal infection models.
During her master’s in India, she received the GATE Scholarship and worked on self-healing hydrogels, chitosan-based bandages, and chitin-based injectable hydrogels. She has GLP and GMP training, focusing on bioactive molecule-loaded bandages for wound healing.
Post-master’s, she worked as a Senior Research Fellow on bioceramic-loaded cryogels for bone regeneration and coordinated phase 2/3 COVID-19 vaccine trials at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences. She secured a 10 million INR grant for clinical trials and public health initiatives.