Sandhya Lab

Meet the team

Sandhya Ganesan

Assistant Professor and DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance Intermediate Fellow

Dr. Sandhya Ganesan gained a strong foundational knowledge and interest in biotechnology through her undergraduate studies at the Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University. She obtained her PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School in 2014. Her doctoral training under the guidance of Drs. Kate Fitzgerald and Neal Silverman focused on understanding how mammalian innate immune pathways sense and respond to pathogens. In particular, she investigated the detection of pathogens by pattern-recognition receptors, activation of multi-protein complexes called inflammasomes and secretion of the soluble cytokine, Interleukin-1β (IL-1β). This work mapped out the pathway that connects recognition of the fungal pathogen, Candida albicans and its cell wall components by the receptors Dectin-1 and Complement Receptor 3 (CR3) with the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, caspases 1 and -8 leading to IL-1β production (Ganesan et al. J Immunol 2014, Tomalka et al. PLoS Pathog 2011, Hise et al. Cell Host Microbe 2009). To understand the infection process from a pathogen-perspective, her postdoctoral work in Dr. Craig Roy’s lab at Yale University, focused on human defense mechanisms against pathogens that employ sophisticated mechanisms to adapt to the intracellular environment of host cells. Using a siRNA-based screening approach and the model bacterial pathogen, Coxiella burnetii that replicates uniquely in lysosomal organelles, they identified that restriction of intracellular C. burnetii requires the host factors Indoleamine Dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and Syntaxin 11 (STX11) induced by IFNγ signaling pathway (Ganesan and Roy. PLoS Pathog. 2019 and manuscript in preparation). As an independent investigator, she envisions her group to identify the molecular mechanism underlying STX11 function and other novel host and pathogenic factors that influence the outcome of an infection.
Professional recognition:

Member of the Editorial Board for the journal Infection and Immunity (IAI)
Milstein Abstract Award, Cytokines meeting 2021 (2021)
American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Trainee Abstract Award- IMMUNOLOGY2020TM (2020)
Invited seminar, registration and travel funding for Gordon Research Seminars, Microbial Toxins and Pathogenicity, Waterville Valley, USA (2018)
2016-present Peer-Reviewer for Bio-protocol, Infection and Immunity, Clinical and Vaccine Immunology,

Scientific Reports, Nutrition, Research square and Dove Medical Presshttps://publons.com/researcher/1257915/sandhya-ganesan/

Post-doctoral fellow

Dr. Swarupa Mallick

Contact:

Swarupa completed her B.Sc and M.Sc in Microbiology from Vidyasagar University. Then she moved to National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, to pursue her doctoral degree where she studied the regulatory mechanisms of dauer larvae development in Caenorhabditis Elegans upon Salmonella Typhimurium infection. This study makes her curious to explore how the tiny bug can modulate host physiology for their own benefit. Outside lab, she loves to do gardening, baking and explore new cuisines.

PhD Scholars

Mullai V R (March 2022 onwards)

5th-year Graduate Scholar (DBT-SRF Fellow)

Contact: mullaivr22@iisertvm.ac.in

Mullai completed her Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai and did M.Sc. Agriculture in Plant Biotechnology at Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur. She loves to draw, crochet and read novels. She also enjoys travelling and trying new hobbies.

P V Arun Prasanth (January 2023 onwards)

4th-year Graduate Scholar (CSIR-SRF Fellow)

Contact: arun23@iisertvm.ac.in

Arun completed his B.Sc in zoology from Loyola College, Chennai and did M.Sc. Biochemistry from Hyderabad Central University, Hyderabad. As an introvert, he is accompanied by fantasy novels as his friend and is recently addicted to K-dramas. He is passionate about Immunology research and is mainly focused on autoimmunity. At Host-pathogen Interaction Lab, he is exploring intracellular pathogens manipulation in cells.

Amrita Bhattacharya (January 2023 onwards)

4th-year Graduate Scholar (DBT-SRF Fellow)

Contact: amrita23@iisertvm.ac.in

Amrita completed her Bachelor's and Master's in Chemistry from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. She finds it fascinating how microbes not only find ways to evade our immune system but also develop resistance to antibiotics.

When not in the lab, Amrita loves dancing, travelling and baking. She also really likes to doodle.

Hrithik Kumar (August 2023 onwards)

4th-year Graduate Scholar (SRF Fellow)

Contact: hrithikkumar23@iisertvm.ac.in

Hrithik rejoined the lab for his PhD after completing the Master's degree in Biological Science from IISER Thiruvananthapuram, July 2023. His interest in research ignited during his undergraduate courses at Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi. He enjoys keeping busy and being productive. His long-term goal is to pursue an academic position and lead his own research lab.

For him, balancing the centrifuge tubes is more important than balancing life!

Nisha Singh (August 2023 onwards)

4th-year IPhD Biological Science

Contact: nishasingh23@iisertvm.ac.in

Nisha graduated with a Bachelor's in Biomedical Science from Shaheed Rajguru College, University of Delhi, in 2023. Her time there sparked a profound interest in the intricate dynamics of pathogenesis and immunology. Driven by her passion for research, she is poised to make meaningful contributions to the ever-evolving landscape of science.

Beyond the lab, she delights in watching sitcoms, exploring new experiences, and savoring diverse cuisines.

Master's Project Students

Ashish Kumar Gupta

5th-year BS-MS Biology Major

Contact: ashish22@iisertvm.ac.in
Ashish is interested in understanding the molecular interplay between hosts and pathogens and how these interactions shape infection outcomes. His research journey has allowed him to build experience in both wet-lab experimentation and computational biology, and he enjoys integrating these complementary approaches to tackle biological questions from multiple perspectives. He is particularly interested in working at the intersection of these two domains and is always eager to learn new techniques that bridge them.
Outside the lab, he can usually be found hiking in the mountains, travelling to new places, playing volleyball, or getting lost in a good book. He enjoys exploring nature just as much as exploring scientific questions and is always looking forward to the next adventure, whether it’s on a trail or in the lab.

Kritika Kanwal

2nd-year MSc Biology Major

Contact: kritikakanwal25@iisertvm.ac.in
Kritika earned her Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology and Chemistry from St. Joseph's University, Bangalore. She hopes to contribute to uncovering the mechanisms that govern infectious diseases. Outside the lab, she enjoys psychological thrillers and documentaries, listening to alternative rock, sketching, and is perpetually rewatching Kill Bill in admiration of Uma Thurman's performance. She firmly believes that everything happens for a reason.

Neeraja A

5th-year BS-MS Biology Major

Contact: neerajaa22@iisertvm.ac.in

Curious about the molecular interplay between hosts and pathogens, Neeraja is interested in understanding how intracellular bacteria manipulate host cell machinery to establish infection. Outside the lab, she enjoys listening to music, drawing, reading, and diving into new creative adventures.

Tania Elizabeth Manoj

5th-year BS-MS Biology Major

Contact: tania22@iisertvm.ac.in

Fascinated by the complex battle between hosts and pathogens, Tania is intrigued by how microbes evolve clever strategies to survive within their hosts—and how those very tricks can be turned against them. She has also been trying her hand at exploring the dry-lab side of biology. Outside the lab, she unwinds with a game of football, a good book, or whatever new side quest catches her attention that week.

Integrated-PhD Scholars

Chhandasik Dasgupta

2nd-year IPhD Biological Science

Contact: chhandasik25@iisertvm.ac.in
Chhandasik Dasgupta joined the Integrated PhD program in Biological Science at IISER Thiruvananthapuram in 2025. Having completed his B.Sc. in Microbiology at Calcutta University, he is fascinated by the complexity of host-pathogen interactions, particularly how microbes evade the immune system.
When not in the lab, he loves watching movies or web series on weekends and diving into mystery or thriller books. During lighter weeks in the lab, he enjoys playing various indoor and outdoor games.

Nabarupa Sadhya

2nd-year IPhD Biological Science

Contact: nabarupasadhya25@iisertvm.ac.in

Nabarupa is passionate about understanding host-pathogen interactions and the immune mechanisms that govern infection and disease, driven by a curiosity to unravel the complex interplay between pathogens and the immune system. Outside the lab, she enjoys expressing creativity through painting and crafts. She loves getting lost in a good thriller book, exploring new places through travel, binge-watching captivating series, and listening to music that complements every mood. She believes that science fuels curiosity, while art, books, and travel keep it alive.