current Lab members

Kausik Chakraborty

Scientist, CSIR-IGIB. DBT-Wellcome Trust India Alliance Senior Fellow.

I am interested in data analysis and development of new assays to monitor and quantitate cellular proteostasis.

Devi Prasanna Dash

PhD. Joint post-doctoral fellow with Dr. Debasis Dash's Lab

I am interested in identifying novel proteostasis modulators using Laboratory Adaptive Evolution experiments in S. cerevisiae.

Nishtha Bhargava

Senior Research Fellow, CSIR-IGIB, PhD student AcSIR.

I am working towards the deciphering the role of exosomes in coordinating inter-cellular proteostasis signals.

Deepika Gautam

Senior Research Fellow, CSIR-IGIB, PhD student AcSIR.

Deepika has an M.Sc. in Biotechnology and is currently in her 6th year of Ph.D. Her primary research interest lies in unraveling the intricate process of chaperonin dependent protein folding. Also, a deep understanding of how single point mutation within a protein substrate can exert a substantial influence on the protein folding process, resulting in the encounter of various barriers during this process. Her research involves employing biophysical techniques to delve into the thermodynamics of protein folding. Her primary focus centers on the chaperoning activity of molecular chaperonins like hHsp60/10 and yHsp60/10. Specifically, she aims to investigate how these molecular chaperonins modulate the protein folding dynamics of their substrates. Additionally, she explores the influence of small molecules on the protein folding of these substrates. I am keen on understanding the diverse mechanisms that small molecules employ to impact protein folding pathways. She is an amazing artist when she is not trying to fold proteins!

Akanksha Sharma

Senior Research Fellow, CSIR-IGIB, PhD student AcSIR.

Proteostasis problems may be signaled through different Transcription Factors in the yeast S. cerevisiae. Using focused genetic screens and protein biochemistry I am identifying the transcriptional signals that are involved in signaling proteostasis defects and their role in regulating proteostasis-altering metabolism.

Vikramaditya Singh

Senior Research Fellow, CSIR-IGIB, PhD student AcSIR.

He had done his Integrated M.Sc. in biochemistry from CURAJ, Rajasthan. For his doctoral studies, he is interested in understanding the contribution of metabolites to proteostasis and how altered metabolites can change the ability of a cell to handle misfolded protein stress. Furthermore, he is also trying to understand, can changing metabolite pool in certain ways, help cells to achieve better stress handling capacity. Apart from the lab work, Vikramaditya loves to travel and explore places, playing sports, exploring new music and food joints and cracking jokes brings him joy.

Email – vikram.singh.igib@gmail.com, singh3348@gmail.com ; X(Twitter) -@Iamvicky_singh

Zainab Zaidi

Senior Research Fellow, CSIR-IGIB, PhD student AcSIR.

Zainab received her bachelor’s degree from Delhi University and completed her master’s studies at Jamia Millia Islamia University. For her doctoral studies, she is dedicated to investigating the mechanisms of acquired thermotolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and identifying novel modulators of cellular proteostasis. Her research is centred on exploring inter-organellar communication under proteotoxic stress conditions, with a specific focus on elucidating the contribution of mitochondria in maintaining cytosolic proteostasis. Outside the lab, she enjoys unwinding by watching Korean dramas and relishing burgers.

Twitter handle: @ZainabZaidii email: zainab.zaidi@igib.in, znbzaidi14@gmail.com

Aseem Chaphalkar

Senior Research Fellow, CSIR-IGIB, PhD student AcSIR.

Starting as an M.Sc. dissertation trainee in early 2017, Aseem worked as a project assistant for about two years before joining as a Ph.D. student. He worked on various projects in the lab- E. coli proteostasis, biophysical characterization of different GFP mutants, and development of a screen for treatment molecules against sickle cell anemia to name a few. His Ph.D. work looks at various mechanisms of proteome stability using thermal protein aggregation as a tool. Outside the lab, Aseem is a Marathi writer, an athlete, and a trained Hindustani classical vocalist.

Manisha Kochar

Junior Research Fellow, CSIR-IGIB, PhD student AcSIR.

Hsp60/10 chaperones have been conserved across the tree of life. Manisha is interested in unravelling the structural changes that occur during the allosteric cycle of Hsp60/10 and its homologs, and deciphering the role of its cavity charges on protein folding. When not in the lab, you'll find her sketching, reading or enjoying music on mountain tops or beaches.

Email: manishak@igib.in Twitter: @ManishaKochar

Kedar Padia

Junior Research Fellow, CSIR-IGIB, PhD student AcSIR.

I am interested in developing assays to measure proteostasis in mammalian cell culture models. I plan to use this monitor the differences in proteostasis between different individuals.

Soumen Kundu

Junior Research Fellow, CSIR-IGIB, PhD student AcSIR (Joint student with Dr. Swarnendu Bagh).

Soumen was born in Bankura, West Bengal, India. While he spent most of his early years in Balarampur (hometown), he lived in Bankura for five years for his higher secondary and in Purulia for three years for graduation. He obtained a bachelor's degrees in Zoology at Sidho Kanho Birsha University, and master's in Zoology (with a specialization in genetics and molecular biology) at Visva Bharati University. Currently, he is living in Delhi for his PhD from CSIR-IGIB, working under Dr. Kausik Chakraborty. His research interests primarily in identifying determinants of proteins that are being degraded through mitochondria. Apart from research, he enjoys exploring places, photography, trekking, cooking etc.

Shikha Rao

Junior Research Fellow, CSIR-IGIB, PhD student AcSIR.

Introducing Shikha Rao as the newest PhD member of the lab. She completed her masters in Biotechnology from GJUS&T, Hisar. She is interested in understanding cellular proteostasis in S. cerevisiae. Apart from the lab she loves to travelling in her free time.

Inderpreet Singh

Project Fellow

Inderpreet works on ways to quantify misfolded protein load in Mammalian Cells culture models. He uses these tools to find effectors of proteostasis in Mammalian cell lines. He is also assisting Kedar Padia in Chemical Genetics based CRISPR screen to identify pathways involved in response to proteostasis stressors in HEK293T cells.

Md. Aaquib

Project Fellow

I am a Project Associate at our metabolomics and proteostasis lab. My primary interests lies in understanding the intricacies of proteostasis and the mechanisms of molecular chaperones. As one of the lab's protein purification experts, I contribute significantly in purifying proteins for biophysics studies and other experiments. Beyond the lab, I'm fueled by a passion for science fiction, and cosmology, and I indulge in my love for movies, non-fiction books, and sketch artistry.

Koushika Chandrasekaran

Joint project fellow with Dr. Chetana Sachidanandan

I am exploring the real-time redox potential dynamics in zebrafish using ROGFP sensors, focusing on deciphering the cellular redox signaling of ER stress related zebrafish models. 

Pradeep Kumar

Project Fellow

I am the lab manager and help in financial management of the projects and lab administration.

Mukesh Kumar

Lab Attendant

I help the lab in day to day activities including autoclaving, making media and maintaining a functional lab.