GRoup leader

Foreword

I am computational biologist by training and have around 12 years of experience. I have a broad expertise in different fields of computational biology spanning across biological scales. I have used various techniques like constraint-based modeling, kinetic modeling, omics data integration into biological networks, statistical regression models, machine learning, genomics, transcriptomics and bioinformatics.

I am a former alumnus of CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India where I did my PhD under the guidance of Dr. Ram Rup Sarkar. During my PhD, I predominantly worked on understanding both the genotype (comparative codon usage) and the metabolic phenotype (constraint-based modeling of genome-scale metabolism) of the eukaryotic parasite Leishmania (causative organism of Leishmaniasis) to decipher stage and species-specific adaptations of the parasite in the host environment. I also worked on other projects involving the development of machine learning pipelines, kinetic modeling of biochemical pathways and population dynamics in various biological systems.

During my postdoctoral research, I shifted gears to work on a more complex biological system - human endothelial cells (EC) and their roles in pathological angiogenesis (in tumors, macular degeneration) in Prof. Peter Carmeliet's lab, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium. Prof. Carmeliet is one of the world's most renowned vascular biologists and I was fortunate to work with him. I developed genome-scale metabolic models for different EC types by integrating high-throughput (bulk and single-cell) ‘omics’ datasets to predict anti-angiogenic metabolic targets and designed experiments to validate them in in vitro human umbilical vein ECs and in vivo (laser-induced ocular injury) mouse models. Apart from my own project, I also collaborated in many different projects involving single-cell omics data analysis, network inference and machine learning.

On the basis of research experience and contributions, I was offered a Staff scientist position at my postdoctoral lab to head a team of bioinformaticians and develop machine learning models for predicting novel immunosuppressive and anti-proliferative genes in endothelial cells in various biological contexts.

During this period, I was also awarded the DBT - Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship, a fellowship that offers a chance to return back to India and setup your own lab. I got simultaneously selected for an Assistant Professor position at IIT - Hyderabad. At IIT-Hyderabad, my research group is looking forward to work on exciting topics that unravel biological mechanisms / pathways from biological omics data using systems biology approaches. If you are interested in working or interacting with our group, feel free to email me. We welcome out-of-the-box, unconventional thinking that can lead towards disruptive science.

Achievements 

1. Reviewer for the prestigious journal in the Nature publishing group, "Scientific Reports"

2. Topic Editor, Special Issue on "Bacterial Population Heterogeneity, Stress Response and Antibiotic Tolerance", Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 2025

3. Invited as Plenary Speaker at the International Conference on "Global Collaboration in Pharmaceuticals: Bridging Borders, Breaking Barriers" held at JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty, India, 15 - 17 March, 2024 [2024]

4. Selected as a Young Investigator for Young Investigator’s Meeting (YIM) – March 2024, held at Bhopal organized by IndiaBioScience and IISER-Bhopal [2024].

5. Reviewer for the prestigious journal in the Nature publishing group, “npj Systems biology and Applications”

6. Invited member of Board of Studies (BoS) at Department of Biotechnology, Woxsen University [2023]

7. Organized the ACM Summer School on "Algorithmic Techniques in Computational Biology", 14th- 24th June, 2023 along with CSE and AI departments at IIT Hyderabad [2023]

8. DBT - Ramalingaswamy Re-entry Fellowship 2021-22 for a period of 5 years from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India [2022]

9. Keerthi Sangoram Memorial Endowment Award for Best Research Scholar in the area of Biological Sciences by CSIR-NCL Research Foundation, India [2018]

10. Award for the Best Poster at the 1st IBSE International Symposium held at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, India  [2018]

11. NCL-RF Agnimitra award for the Best Poster in Biological Sciences category, during National Science Day at CSIR-NCL, India  [2016]

12. ISCB/InCOB International Travel Grant obtained for attending the 15th International Conference on Bioinformatics (InCOB), Matrix Biopolis, Singapore [2016]

13. Best poster and oral presentation (Special Mention) at the “CDAC conference for Accelerating Biology, Catalyzing evolution, 2015”, India [2015]

14. Bioinformatics National Certificate (BINC) Ph.D Fellowship (All India Rank 23), conducted by Department of Biotechnology, Government of India (DBT) [2012]

15. G. N. Ramachandran Fellowship for consistently ranking amongst the top 5 students in each semester of M.Sc. Bioinformatics [2010 -  2012]

16. The Indian Academy of Sciences (IAS) Summer Research Fellowship to pursue internship at Indian Institute of Science, India [2011]

BT IITH responsibilities 

1. Website in-charge, BT IITH website

2. Department representative of alumni relations, BT IITH

3. Member of DUGC, BT IITH

4. Faculty Advisor, 1st Year B.Tech.

5. Coordinator for Ph.D. admissions, BT IITH, July 2024

6. Coordinator for Ph.D. admissions, BT IITH, Oct 2024

7. Coordinator for M. Tech. (SS) admissions, BT IITH, July 2025

Course work @ IITH

1. BT3203: Machine Learning for Bioinformatics (5th Semester, 3rd Year B.Tech. program) 

2. BT4143: Biological Data Analysis (8th Semester, 4th year B. Tech. program)

3. BT5010: Systems Biology (8th Semester, 4th year B. Tech. program, elective for M.Tech and PhD) 

4. BT3123: R and Python for Biologists (3rd Semester, 2nd year B. Tech. program)

Guest Lectures @ other institutes

1. AI403: Machine Learning for Bioinformatics (3rd, 4th Year B.Tech. program) course for IIIT Raichur students (Hybrid mode)

Invited Talks

1. "Systems biology approaches to identify metabolic enzyme targets in diseases", Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on “Recent Frontiers in Disease Biology: Latest Innovations and Biotechnological Solutions”, 21 - 25 July 2025, organized by Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Haryana, Gurugram (AUH)

2. “Merging machine learning with systems biology to discover essential enzymes in metabolic networks”, Discussion Meeting on Machine learning for molecular sciences (ML4Science), 06 – 09 February 2025, The Tripura Castle, Shillong, Meghalaya organized by multi-institute Machine learning-oriented scientists spearheaded by TIFR Hyderabad

3. “Dissecting metabolic adaptations of proliferating cells using systems biology: A story about endothelial cells",  'Workshop on Computational Oncology: Modeling and Experiments' December 9th to 10th, 2024. (Venue: IIT Hyderabad)

4. "Exploring the metabolic mechanisms of endothelial cells in angiogenesis: A systems biology perspective", Emerging Trends in Translational Bioinformatics (ET2B), 5-7 December 2024 (Venue: BIT Mesra)

5. "Modeling molecular networks of microeukaryotic parasites", "Computational Systems Biology Meeting From Cell to Organism and from Lab to Clinic", 12-13 July 2024 (Venue: IIT Madras)

6. "Machine learning approaches to discover metabolic gene targets: A systems biology perspective", International Conference on "Global Collaboration in Pharmaceuticals: Bridging Borders, Breaking Barriers", 15 - 17th March 2024 (Venue: JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty, India)

7. "Systems biology approaches to dissect metabolic adaptations in biological systems", International Conference “One Health: Biotechnology as a catalyst for sustainable development”, 7th - 9th December 2023 (Venue: School of Life Sciences, JSS AHER, Mysuru)

8. “Unearthing the metabolic basis of angiogenesis: A systems biology perspective”, “Modelling and Tackling Complex Biological Systems” meeting, 13 - 14th October 2023 (Venue: Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai, India)

9. "Making sense of the whole: Computational systems biology approaches to decipher metabolic mechanisms", ACM Summer School on “Algorithmic Techniques in Computational Biology”, 14th - 24th June 2023 (Venue: IIT Hyderabad)

Training offered

1. Training to College / University teachers on "Introduction to Systems Biology and its application to metabolic adaptations" as part of a "Refresher Course in Biological Sciences" under the aegis of UGC- Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre, University of Mumbai, 25th June 2024 (Venue: K. J. Somaiya College of Science and Commerce, Mumbai, India) 

2. Training Masters / PhD students on "Transcriptomics principles and Data analysis" at the workshop on "NGS data analysis and it's application in Livestock Research", 24th May 2024 (Venue: DBT-National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, India). 

Conferences organized

1. The 'Workshop on Computational Oncology: Modeling and Experiments' was successfully held from December 9th to 10th, 2024. This cutting-edge event showcased the latest advancements in modern oncology, featuring insightful sessions and expert discussions. Participants engaged in thought-provoking talks and collaborative exchanges, making it a valuable experience for all involved.

2. Organized the ACM Summer School on "Algorithmic Techniques in Computational Biology", 14th- 24th June, 2023 along with CSE and AI departments at IIT Hyderabad [2023]