Postdoctoral Research Fellow / October, 2022 — May, 2024

Developing tools to study tau protein interactions in the Drosophila brain: Studied tau protein multimerization and aggregation in Drosophila models of neurodegenerative tauopathy and Alzheimers Disease including a split-luciferase-based tauP301L model via biochemistry immunofluorescence and in vivo luminescence methods. Established the proximity ligation assay (PLA) in whole Drosophila brains to detect tau-tau interactions in situ. Tested the effect of an antiretroviral drug on tau protein expression and interactions in the Drosophila brain. Identified dubious fly stocks and devised a genotyping scheme to verify them.

Ph.D. Candidate - Graduate Research Assistant / March, 2015 — June, 2022

Elucidating the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated protein quality control (ERQC) in the long-lived Caenorhabditis elegans rpn-10 proteasomal mutant: Based on ongoing research in the lab independently conceptualized and spearheaded the investigation of ERQC in the paradoxically long-lived and stress-resistant C. elegans nematode mutant of the 19S regulatory particle proteasomal subunit RPN-10RPN10PSMD4 i.e. the rpn-10 mutant. Generated and validated several C. elegans genetic strains in this study. Optimized and conducted fluorescence reporter-based and functional assays examining ER stress protein aggregation ubiquitin-fusion degradation (UFD) and survival as well as biochemical characterization and transcriptomic profiling to ascertain the mechanism. Analyzed 5 pharmacological agents and 30+ RNAi knockdown treatments under numerous assay conditions. Executed a rigorous forward genetic screen to determine novel ERQC factors as well as participated in a genome-wide RNAi screen to discover UFD modulators underlying the rpn-10 mutant phenotype. This study showed that the rpn-10 mutant exhibits a primed ER unfolded protein response (UPR) and improved ERQC involving the putative proteasomal scaffolding homolog ECPS-2ECPASECM29 which altogether support its lifespan and proteostasis benefits.

Junior Research Fellow (CSIR-JRF) / October, 2013 — May, 2014

MicroRNA regulation of metabolism and energy homeostasis in Drosophila melanogaster: Designed microRNA sponges for the preliminary study on the molecular and neuroendocrine circuitry underlying nutrient homeostasis in metazoans using the Drosophila model. Undertook laboratory management including procuring lab requirements maintaining fly stocks and assisting fellow members of this new research group.

Research Project Assistant / June, 2011 — May, 2013

Projects: (i) Role of the nuclear lamina in regulating global gene expression (ii) Role of the SATB family of proteins in the IGF signalling pathway Routinely performed cDNA synthesis PCR amplification molecular cloning CsCl-gradient plasmid DNA isolation and Western blot corroboration of gene expression for 20+ C. elegans and human nuclear membrane and chromatin organizer genes to study the protein interactions underlying aging processes. Maintained and transfected HEK293T cell lines with transient overexpression and knockdown constructs for various experiments. Improved co-immunoprecipitation protocols for proteins of interest.

M.Sc. Final Year Dissertation Project Student / January, 2011 — May, 2011

Projects: (i) Role of the nuclear lamina in regulating global gene expression (ii) Role of the SATB family of proteins in the IGF signalling pathway Routinely performed cDNA synthesis PCR amplification molecular cloning CsCl-gradient plasmid DNA isolation and Western blot corroboration of gene expression for 20+ C. elegans and human nuclear membrane and chromatin organizer genes to study the protein interactions underlying aging processes. Maintained and transfected HEK293T cell lines with transient overexpression and knockdown constructs for various experiments. Improved co-immunoprecipitation protocols for proteins of interest.

Third Year M.Sc. Project Student / June, 2008 — January, 2010

Studying potential antineoplastic activity of plants from the Western Ghats ecological niche: Screened indigenous medicinal and ethnobotanical plants to identify natural bioactive alternatives for cancer therapeutics: Worked in a 3-member team to treat HeLa and HL60 cancer cell lines with various plant extract fractions across a range of concentrations and determined IC50 values via cell viability assays.

Project Trainee / July, 2010 — September, 2010

Selected from a nationwide pool of candidates to participate in a short-term cell biology research project.