Meet the team
Meet the team
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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:
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,
PHD SCHOLARS
Mullai V R (March 2022 onwards)
Mullai V R (March 2022 onwards)
4th-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)
P V Arun Prasanth (January 2023 onwards)
3rd-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)
Amrita Bhattacharya (January 2023 onwards)
3rd-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)
Hrithik Kumar (August 2023 onwards)
3rd-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)
Nisha Singh (August 2023 onwards)
3rd-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.
MAJOR PROJECT STUDENTS
Shreya Senthil Kumar
Shreya Senthil Kumar
5th-year BS-MS Biology Major
Contact: shreyasenthilkumar21@iisertvm.ac.in
Shreya is driven by an interest in deciphering how pathogens manipulate host cell machinery and evade immune detection—processes that have important implications in combating antimicrobial resistance. An avid reader, she enjoys thrillers and mysteries, including those by Jeffrey Archer, Ken Follett, and John Grisham. Outside of science and books, she finds joy in watching movies and is always on the lookout for a compelling narrative.
J DEVIKA
J DEVIKA
5th-year BS-MS Biology Major
Contact: jdevika21@iisertvm.ac.in
Devika has a deep interest in exploring the field of host-pathogen interactions, particularly the evolutionary mechanisms that bacteria use to survive within the host and how host cells respond to infection. Outside the lab, she loves dancing, watching series and exploring new places.
Nayana Harilal
Nayana Harilal
5th-year BS-MS Biology Major
Contact: nayanaharilal21@iisertvm.ac.in
After her iGEM adventures, Nayana fell for the beautiful and chaotic mix of disciplines in biology. Driven by that curiosity, she found her way into our lab where she continues exploring the world of science. Outside the lab, she’s either chasing authentic cuisines, sketching quirky little illustrations or planning her next adventure.
Maryam Thomas
Maryam Thomas
5th-year BS-MS Biology Major
Contact: maryamthomas21@iisertvm.ac.in
Maryam is fascinated by the pathophysiology of diseases, with a keen interest in understanding how disruptions at the cellular and molecular level lead to complex disease outcomes. Outside the world of lab coats and hypotheses, she finds joy in drawing cartoon characters, flowing through yoga stretches, vibing to music like it’s therapy, and binge-watching series with plot twists as dramatic as cytokine storms.
Junior Research Fellow
Jennifer Albert
Jennifer Albert
Contact: jennifer.albert@iisertvm.ac.in
Jennifer holds an MSc in Microbiology from St. Joseph’s University, Bangalore. Her research explores host-pathogen interactions and immune modulation, with a special interest in Mycobacterium and its complex dialogue with the immune system.
By day, she’s decoding life one molecule at a time. By weekend, she’s off climbing peaks, chasing waterfalls, or diving into the deep blue—literally. Whether it’s pipettes or pythons (the hiking kind!), she's is always up for an adventure. Nature fuels her curiosity, science feeds her soul, and yes, she cell-fishly loves both.
Interns
Ashish Kumar Gupta
BS-MS Biology Major
Tania Elizabeth Manoj
BS-MS Biology Major
R Raghav
BS-MS Biology Major
Rose Mary Joseph
BS-MS Biology Major
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