Research Group

Dr. Padmaja Prasad Mishra (Principal Investigator)

PhD: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay (2006)

Post-Doc: Lehigh University, USA (2006-2007).

Pennsylvania State University (2007-2011)

My adventurous single molecule activity started during my Post-Doctoral research at The Pennsylvania State University, USA (2007-2011). Now, I am 'immobilized' at Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics since 2011.

Email: padmaja.mishra[at]saha.ac.in, Extn: 1634

Dr. Srabani Karmakar (SERB Collaborator)

I completed PhD from Bose Institute in 2011 on Protein Biophysical Chemistry. My PhD work was on small molecule binding interaction studies with a human recombinant oligomeric chaperone protein α-crystallin, a major eye lens protein. I have worked in TIFR, Mumbai on protein engineering of thermostable bacterial Cytochrome P450 CYP175A1 from 2011 to 2013. I have again worked on structure function studies of alpha-crystallin and studied significance of different regions of the protein during 2013 to 2015 in University of Missouri Columbia, USA. I am now working as an Assistant Professor in Department of Biotechnology, Techno India University, West Bengal from February, 2016.

I joined SMB Lab from December 2018 in a collaborative SERB-TARE project to study molecular mechanism of the protein aggregation in myofibrillar myopathy caused by mutations in αB crystallin protein and its modulation by peptide chaperones. I am studying oligomeric status by FCS and will study binding interaction of peptide chaperones to the α-crystallin by smFRET.

Email: snat14@gmail.com, Extn: 1225/1227/1229

Dr. Soma Mondal (DBT-Post-Doctoral Fellow)

I completed my PhD from Bose Institute, Kolkata in 2019 on Structural and Biophysical Aspects of G,C-rich Nucleic Acids. I stepped into SINP to explore the world of 'Single Molecule' from July 2018.

My current research aims to unravel the dynamicity of various DNA structures and intermediates (Bubble, Holliday Junctions, Fork DNA etc.) under cell mimicking conditions (using 'Molecular Crowders') at single molecule level. Additionally, I am also looking into the effect of molecular crowding on enzymatic activity in DNA damage and repair using smFRET.

Email: soma.mondal@saha.ac.in, Extn: 1225/1227/1229

Debayan Purkait (Senior Research Fellow)

I completed my M.Sc. in Bioinformatics & Biotechnology from Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB), Bangalore in the year 2016. I have drifted through various fields of science from Ecology and Evolution to Epigenetics and Structural Biology during my Master's study. I have spent pretty significant amount of time doing Structural Biology which I did enjoy a lot and I was sure to pursue my PhD in this field. Then, in August 2017, I almost accidentally 'discovered' (much like Christopher Columbus !) this exciting field of Single Molecule Biophysics.

My current research focuses on understanding the DNA unwinding mechanisms of ATP-driven tiny molecular motors known as Helicases. I also work with DNA architectural proteins to understand their mechanism of action at single molecule level.

Email: deb.purkait@saha.ac.in, Extn: 1229/1227

Debolina Bandyopadhyay (Senior Research Fellow)

My BS and MS degree is in Biological Sciences from IISER Kolkata. I set forth for PhD at SINP in the year 2017. My research work involves unveiling the helicase activity of RecG on various DNA constructs at single molecule level. Additionally, I am looking at the dynamics of Non-Watson-Crick bonds within nucleic acid polymer. When not in the lab you will find me reading novels or asleep.

Email: debolina.bandyopadhyay@saha.ac.in, Extn: 1229/1227

Manali Basu (Junior Research Fellow)

I completed my M.Sc. in Physical Chemistry from West Bengal State University in 2017. Before joining SINP in August 2019, I worked at CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CGCRI), Jadavpur.

My current research in this lab focuses on exploring the therapeutic and diagnostic potentials of nucleic acid aptamer based G-quadruplexes. Apart from nucleic acids, I also like exploring new places and people.

Email: manali.basu@saha.ac.in, Extn: 1229/1227

Farhana Islam (Junior Research Fellow)

I did my M.Sc. in Zoology with specialization in Molecular and Reproductive Endocrinology from Lady Braboune College, University of Calcutta.

I joined SINP in August 2019. My current research aims to understand the mechanism of action of Integration Host Factor (IHF) using smFRET.

Email: farhana.islam@saha.ac.in, Extn: 1229/1227

Dr. Subhas Chandra Bera

Year of Completion of PhD: 2017

Current Designation: Post-Doctoral Fellow, IZNF – Interdisciplinary Center for Nanostructured Films, Germany.

Dr. Tapas Paul

Year of Completion of PhD: 2017

Current Designation: Post-Doctoral Fellow, Johns Hopkins University, USA.