Apoorva Saxena
- Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Apoorva Saxena is a molecular microbiologist and postdoctoral research associate at Iowa State University with over a decade of experience in pathogen detection, diagnostic assay development, and molecular epidemiology. Her research focuses on designing and validating high-throughput, cost-effective PCR workflows and lateral flow devices for the early detection of zoonotic and veterinary pathogens. She brings interdisciplinary expertise in qPCR, LAMP, RPA, and automation systems, and has contributed to projects involving SARS-CoV-2, Avian Influenza, PRRSV, and Escherichia coli.
Dr. Saxena’s prior work in India included the development of rapid diagnostic platforms and recombinant protein-based tools for pathogens such as Burkholderia mallei, Burkholderia pseudomallei, and Bacillus anthracis. She has led assay optimization and translational validation under high-containment laboratory settings and has served in leadership roles in federally funded and industry-sponsored projects. Dr. Saxena’s collaborative research has earned awards and competitive grants, and her work continues to advance diagnostics at the intersection of public health, animal health, and biothreat preparedness.
Contact
Education
- BSc in Biotechnology, Jiwaji University, India
- MSc in Biotechnology, Jiwaji University, India
- PhD in Biological Science, Bharathiar University, India
Work Experiences
| Timeline | Positions |
| 2012 | Project Trainee, ICMR-National JALMA Institute for Leprosy and Other Mycobacterial Diseases, India |
| 2013 - 2014 | Guest Assistant Professor, School of Studies in Biotechnology, Jiwaji University, India |
| 2015 - 2020 | Research Fellow, Defence Research and Development Establishment, DRDO, India |
| 2020 - 2023 | Senior Project Associate, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology, India |
| 2024 - present | Postdoc Research Associate, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University |
Research Interests
• High-throughput Diagnostics: Development and automation of 384-well and nano-well qPCR systems for rapid pathogen detection in veterinary diagnostics.
• Isothermal Amplification Techniques: Application of Loop-mediated amplification assay (LAMP), and Recombinase Polymerase Amplification assay (RPA-basic, Exo, Nfo) for point-of-care diagnostics of SARS-CoV-2 and high-risk biothreat agents.
• Lateral Flow and Biosensor Platforms: Design of electrochemical sensors, LAMP, and RPA-based lateral flow assays for multigene detection of pathogens.
• Zoonotic & Emerging Pathogens: Molecular detection and surveillance of pathogens including B. mallei, B. pseudomallei, SARS-CoV-2, PRRSV, and Avian Influenza viruses.
• Molecular Epidemiology & Biosecurity: Investigating biowarfare agents and creating molecular tools to aid rapid response and containment strategies.