I joined Miratul Muqit’s lab as a post-doc to gain experience of the signalling networks linked directly with common human diseases such as neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s. Here, I will be working towards understanding the regulation and downstream biology of the PINK1 kinase and Parkin ubiquitin E3 ligase that are mutated in familial forms of Parkinson’s disease.

I obtained my PhD (2016) from International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi where I delineated the signaling pathway regulating the fundamental process of blood-stage egress/release of malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum under supervision of Dr. Chetan Chitnis and Dr. Shailja Singh. The findings from my study led to identification of key antigens relevant for malaria drug as well as vaccine development research.

After completing my PhD, I received the prestigious DST INSPIRE Faculty award and grant (2016) from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), India for studying the importance of cellular signaling and actin cytoskeleton dynamics in pathogenesis of lower eukaryotic parasites. Working Independently at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) under mentorship of Prof. Alok Bhattacharya and Prof. Samudrala Gourinath, I could identify an important adaptor protein, Eh14-3-3 Protein 3 (EhP3), in the cytoskeletal and phagocytic network of dysentery-causing parasite Entamoeba histolytica.

Recently, I also received the INSA Young Scientist Award 2020 from Indian National Science Academy for my research contributions towards understanding the biology of these important pathogens.