Naveena Karki
Naveena Karki is Scientist at the Health and Environment Sequencing Facility.
Qualifications
Naveena earned her Graduate Diploma focused in Laboratory Technology from CPIT (Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology) and Bachelor of Sciences from University of Canterbury.
About
Naveena works with the team that is responsible for DNA sequencing to determine the precise order of nucleotides within a DNA molecule, and provides biological information used in health and environment sciences. She is heavily involved with DNA extraction using the Chemagic, DNA quantitation, and library preparation. Naveena is skilled in Janus Liquid Handler, Fragment Analyser System and Illumina next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology. Naveena specialises in serotyping of Shiga toxin- producing E. coli (STEC) and Salmonella: Multiple-Locus Variable number tandem repeat Analysis, biochemical testing and molecular testing of enteric pathogens. Before joining our Sequencing Facility, Naveena worked at ESR’s Enteric Reference and Leptospira Reference Laboratories (ERL). She worked with the team that provides national reference and surveillance laboratory services for human, animal food and environmental enteric bacterial pathogens. Naveena started her career in ERL in confirmatory testing of raw beef for export, for potentially pathogenic E. coli. She then expanded her skills into the Leptospira Reference Laboratory which provides screening and confirmatory tests for common Leptospira serovars found in New Zealand. Naveena is a strong quality advocate being and was the QA officer for ERL ensuring the team maintained the standards required for IANZ accreditation. Prior to joining ERL, Naveena was involved in ESR’s Water Group and worked in planning, design, implementation and analysis of research experiments. She enjoyed the multifaceted aspects of this role.