SEESHA R. TAKAGISHI, PhD

San Francisco, CA | seesha.takagishi@gmail.com | (847) 942-2394 | Google Scholar | seeshatakagishi.art

 

I am a San Francisco-based scientist and artist working across research, illustration, and data visualization. I currently am working as a translational scientist at Genentech. I received my PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UCSF, where I used optogenetics to study transcription, using a blend of experimental and computational approaches. I also work as a freelance illustrator; my past clients include Zocalo, the MLS USMNT, and Combap Mart. I received my BS in Biochemistry with a minor in Mathematics from University of Washington in 2015.

 

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Scientist

Genentech, Translational Medicine-Oncology, September 2024-present.

• Designed and executed in vitro experiments to validate biological and therapeutic hypotheses derived from clinical experiments; elucidated mechanisms of resistance to AR-targeted therapies.

• Engineered cell lines to model adaptive mechanisms of resistance to AR-targeted therapies.

• Characterized engineered prostate cancer cell lines.

• Collaborated with the prostate cancer team to analyze and interpret data.

• Communicated findings effectively with the team and contribute to scientific discussions.

• Characterized preclinical assets in the context of identifying pharmacodynamic (PD) biomarkers.

​

Graduate Student Researcher

UC-San Francisco (Hana El-Samad Lab), September 2018-June 2024

• Independently designed and conducted studies to examine the impact of dynamic transcription factor nuclear translocation patterns on gene expression.

• Adapted an optogenetic tool from yeast for 3 mammalian cell lines, to control the nuclear translocation of the transcription factor NFAT1.

• Conducted high-throughput RNA-Seq experiments and collaborated with bioinformaticians to conduct multivariate (3 cell lines, 5 drug perturbations, 3 timepoints) NGS data analyses

 

Research Technologist

Northwestern University (Marc Mendillo Lab) December 2015-July 2018

• Dissected the role of the transcription factor HSF2 in cancer by RNA-Seq in 11 cancer cell lines

• including breast, prostate, and lung cell lines.

• Managed RNA-Seq library prep and sequencing for 5 members of lab ($15k/batch).

• Analyzed HSF1 and HSF2 chromatin occupancy with ChIP-Seq in 2 cell lines.

• Built stable cell lines with HSF1/2 knockout by CRISPR-Cas9 mediated gene editing.

• Initiated lab bioinformatics pipeline

  

FREELANCE ILLUSTRATION EXPERIENCE

Science Media Manager, Feb 2024-Aug 2024, Sindy Tang Lab, Stanford University 
•    Created scientifically accurate illustrations and engaging web content, enhancing understanding of complex biological concepts for "Nature's Tiny Marvels". 
•    Managed social media platforms to amplify reach and impact of biological research. 
•    Utilized creative storytelling and superhero analogies to make biological systems relatable. 
 

​

Major League Soccer (MLS) - World Cup USMNT Roster Announcement

• Commissioned by MLS to design an Instagram post unveiling Kellyn Acosta's selection for the World Cup USMNT roster in 2022.

• Collaborated with Acosta’s agent to craft an illustration paying tribute to Acosta's Japanese American heritage and his historic representation on the World Cup team.

 

Combap Mart - "Neighborhoods" T-shirt Project

• Illustrated Little Tokyo for the "Neighborhoods" t-shirt, a celebration of the Asian American diaspora in Los Angeles, capturing its cultural vibrancy and historical significance.

• Incorporated feedback from Combap Mart to visually depict Little Tokyo’s unique identity, cultural vibrancy, and historical significance.

 

TECHNICAL PROFICIENCIES: Programming: Python, Java, R, Bash. Design: AI, Affinity Designer, Procreate. Video Editing: CapCut

​

EDUCATION

• PhD, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, UC-San Francisco, 2018-2024

• Post-bacc Certificate, Programming, Northwestern University, 2016-2017

• BSc, Biochemistry; Minor, Mathematics, University of Washington, 2011-2015

 

HONORS & AWARDS

• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, 2020

• Stone Award (3 awarded/67 posters), Lurie Cancer Center Symposium, 2017

• Best Undergrad Poster, South Lake Union Research Symposium, 2014

 

SCIENTIFIC OUTREACH & VOLUNTEERING

• Member, Carry the One Radio, 2019-2021

• Volunteer, Science Education Partnership, 2020

• Volunteer, Girls 4 Science, 2017-2018

​

​

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS + POSTER PRESENTATIONS

 

PUBLICATIONS

Osimiri LC, Bonny AR, Takagishi SR, Luecke S, Riehs N, Hoffmann A, El-Samad H, Optogenetic control of RelA reveals effect of transcription factor dynamics on downstream gene expression, Biorxiv (2022) doi: 10.1101/2022.08.03.502739, (preprint).

 

Amici DR, Ansel D, Metz K, Smith R, Phoumyvong C, Gayatri S, Srivastava S, Chamera T, Edwards S, Brockway S, Takagishi S, O'Hara B, Cho B, Ah Goo Y, Kelleher NL, Ben-Sahra I, Foltz DR, Li J, Mendillo ML, C16orf72/HAPSTR is a molecular rheostat in an integrated network of stress response pathways, PNAS (2022). doi: 10.1073/pnas.2111262119

 

Smith RS*, Takagishi SR*, Amici DR, Metz K, Gayatri S, Alasady M, Wu Y, Brockway S, Taiberg SL, Khalatyan N, Taipale M, Santagata S, Whitesell L, Lindquist S, Savas JN, Mendillo ML, HSF2 cooperates with HSF1 to drive a transcriptional program critical for the malignant state, Sci Adv (2022). doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abj6526

 

Akaike T, Qazi J, Anderson A, Behnia FS, Shinohara M, Akaike G, Thomas H, Takagishi SR, Lachance K, Park SY, Tarabadkar ES, Iyer JG, Blom A, Parvathaneni U, Vesselle H, Nghiem P, Bhatia S. High Somatostatin receptor expression and efficacy of somatostatin analogues in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma, Br J Dermatol (2021). doi: 10.1111/bjd.19150

 

Brockway S, Wang G, Jackson JM, Amici DR, Takagishi SR, Clutter MR, Bartom ET, Mendillo ML, Quantitative and multiplexed chemical-genetic phenotyping in mammalian cells with QMAP-Seq, Nat Comm (2020). doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-19553-8

 

Lewis CW, Qazi J, Hippe DS, Lachance K, Thomas H, Cook MM, Juhlin I, Singh N, Thuesmunn Z, Takagishi SR, McEvoy A, Bhatia S, Paulson KG, O’Malley RB, Wang CL, Nghiem P, Patterns of distant metastases in 215 Merkel cell carcinoma patients: implications for prognosis and surveillance, Cancer Medicine (2020). doi: 10.1002/cam4.2781

 

Amici DR, Jackson JM, Metz KA, Ansel DJ, Smith RS, Brockway S, Takagishi SR, Srivastava S, O’Hara B, Cho B, Goo YA, Kelleher NL, Ben-Sahra I, Foltz DR, Mendillo ML, Coessential Genetic Networks Reveal the Organization and Constituents of a Dynamic Cellular Stress Response, bioRxiv (2019). doi: 10.1101/847996, (preprint)

 

Vandeven NA, Lewis C, Makarov V, Riaz N, Paulson KG, Bestick A, Doumani R, Marx T, Takagishi S, Chan TA, Choi J, Nghiem P, Merkel cell carcinoma patients presenting without a primary lesion have elevated markers of immunity, higher tumor mutation burden and improved survival, Clinical Cancer Research (2017). doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-17-1678

 

Takagishi SR, Marx TE, Lewis C, Shantha E, Juhlin ID, Blom A, Iyer JG, Liao JJ, Tseng YD, Fu T, Nghiem P, Parvathaneni U, Post Operative Radiation Therapy Is Associated with a Reduced Risk of Local Recurrence Among Low Risk Merkel Cell Carcinomas of the Head and Neck, Advances in Radiation Oncology (2016), doi: 10.1016/j.adro.2016.10.003

 

Parvathaneni, U. , Shetti, M. , Berg, D. , Takagishi, S. , Laramore, G. , Schmults, C. , Jambusaria- Pahlajani, A. , Hess, S. , Heyboer III, M. and Liao, J. (2016) Treatment Recommendations among Radiation Oncologists in the Treatment of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Perineural Invasion. Journal of Cancer Therapy, 7, 824-835. doi: 10.4236/jct.2016.711082.

 

POSTER PRESENTATIONS & ABSTRACTS

Takagishi S, Osimiri L, Weinberg Z, El-Samad H. “Characterizing the Regulatory Significance of Dynamic Transcription Factor Inputs.” Poster. QBio Conference. Kapolei, HI (Feb 2022).

 

Takagishi S, Osimiri L, El-Samad H. “Characterizing the Regulatory Significance of Dynamic Transcription Factor Inputs.” Poster. Tetrad Program Retreat. San Francisco, CA (Sep 2020).

 

Takagishi S, Wu Y, Metz K, Alasady M, Mendillo M. “Lineage-specific adaptations in response to heat shock factor loss result in opposing effects in human cancers.” Poster. Lurie Cancer Center Symposium. Chicago, IL (Jun 2018).

 

Takagishi S, Metz K, Wu Y, Alasady M, Mendillo M. “The role of HSF2 in human malignancies.” Poster. Experimental Biology Meeting (ASBMB). San Diego, CA (Apr 2018).

 

Takagishi S, Metz K, Wu Y, Alasady M, Mendillo M. “The role of HSF2 in human malignancies.” Poster. Midwest Stress Response and Molecular Chaperones Meeting. Chicago, IL (Jan 2018).

 

Takagishi S, Metz K, Wu Y, Alasady M, Mendillo M. “The role of HSF2 in human malignancies.” Poster. Northwestern BMG Department Retreat. Chicago, IL (Nov 2017).

 

Takagishi S, Metz K, Wu Y, Mendillo M. “The role of HSF2 in human malignancies.” Poster. Lurie Cancer Center Symposium. Chicago, IL (Jun 2017).

 

Takagishi S, Metz K, Wu Y, Mendillo M. “The role of HSF2 in human malignancies.” Poster. Northwestern Research Day. Chicago, IL (Apr 2017).

 

Takagishi S, Metz K, Wu Y, Mendillo M. “The role of HSF2 in human malignancies.” Poster. Midwest Stress Response and Molecular Chaperones Meeting. Chicago, IL (Jan 2017).

 

Wu Y, Takagishi S, Metz K, Mendillo M. “HSF2 binds HSF1 to drive a Robust Transcriptional Program in Cancer.” Poster. Northwestern BMG Department Retreat. Wilmette, IL (Oct 2016).

 

Takagishi S, Marx T, Lewis C, Shantha E, Juhlin I, Blom A, Iyer J, Fu T, Liao J, Tseng Y, Nghiem P, Parvathaneni U. “Role of Post-Operative Radiation Therapy in Stage IA Merkel Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck.” Poster presented by mentor. Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium. Scottsdale, AZ (Feb 2016).

 

Parvathaneni U, Takagishi S, Marx T, Lewis C, Shantha E, Blom A, Iyer J, Fu T, Liao J, Tseng Y, Nghiem P. “Role of Postoperative Radiation Therapy in Favorable Stage IA Merkel Cell Carcinoma.” Poster presented by mentor. American Society for Radiation Oncology. San Antonio, TX (Oct 2015).

 

Takagishi S, Shantha E, Parvanthaneni U, Nghiem P. “How Should We Use Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsies in Head and Neck Merkel Cell Carcinomas?” Talk at the Skin Oncology Noon Conference (Seattle Cancer Care Alliance). Seattle, WA (July 2015).

 

Anderson A, Qazi J, Shantha E, Takagishi S, Iyer J, Blom A, Behnia F, Vesselle H, Nghiem P, Bhatia S. “Therapeutic targeting of somatostatin receptors in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma: A retrospective case series.” Abstract. American Society of Clinical Oncology conference. (May 2015).

 

Takagishi S, Marx T, Lewis C, Shantha E, Juhlin I, Blom A, Iyer J, Tseng Y, Liao J, Fu T, Nghiem P, Parvathaneni U.  “Merkel Cell Carcinoma is an Aggressive Skin Cancer: Can Some Patients Be Treated with Surgery Alone?” Poster. SLU Research Symposium. Seattle, WA (May 2015).

 

Takagishi S, Marx T, Lewis C, Shantha E, Juhlin I, Blom A, Iyer J, Tseng Y, Liao J, Fu T, Nghiem P, Parvathaneni U. “Merkel Cell Carcinoma is an Aggressive Skin Cancer: Can Some Patients Be Treated with Surgery Alone?” Poster. UW Undergraduate Research Symposium. Seattle, WA (May 2015).

 

Takagishi S, Marx T, Parvathaneni U, Lewis C, Blom A, Iyer J, Nghiem P. “Merkel Cell Carcinoma is an Aggressive Skin Cancer: Can Some Patients Be Treated with Surgery Alone?” Poster. UW Medicine South Lake Union Research Symposium. Seattle, WA (May 2014).

 

Takagishi S, Marx T, Parvathaneni U, Lewis C, Blom A, Iyer J, Nghiem P. “Merkel Cell Carcinoma is an Aggressive Skin Cancer: Can Some Patients Be Treated with Surgery Alone?” Poster. University of Washington Undergraduate Research Symposium. Seattle, WA (May 2014).