Swanand did his MSc by research at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai. He studied the role of Norepinephrine receptors in modulating adult hippocampal neurogenesis and depressive-like behavior. He was particularly interested in fast-acting antidepressant treatments. Swanand did Ph.D. at the Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Switzerland. During his Ph.D., he chose to tread a slightly unconventional path, working on cell cycle regulation in post-mitotic neurons and by studying the role of astrocytes in modulating behavior. He later worked as a scientist at the Brain Mind Institute, EPFL, Switzerland for two years, before starting his own lab at IISc. He is currently studying the role of astrocytes in mood-related behavior. 

I am Vaishali Vasu, a second-year Ph.D. student in Neuroscience at IIT Dharwad, working under the supervision of Prof. Swananda Marathe. My research broadly focuses on understanding how antidepressant on early-life works at molecular level and what is the behavioral consequences on adulthood. 

Before joining IIT Dharwad, I completed my M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Lachoo Memorial College of Science and Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and carried out my dissertation project in cancer biology at the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, BHU Varanasi.

Outside the lab, I enjoy playing badminton and carrom, and sketching in my free time.

MSc in Life Sciences from BabaSaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, Uttarpradesh, Qualified CSIR NET - LS Dec 2025, GATE 2025. Currently pursuing PhD (August 2025) in Neurobiology Under the guidance of Prof. Swanand Marathe. 

I've joined the research team as a senior project associate. My research focuses mostly on studying astrocyte subpopulations, understanding their physiological role, and the response to stress and antidepressant therapies. My past research experience involves studying the biology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the tuberculosis-causing pathogen (PhD: CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow; postdoc: Weill Cornell Medicine, New York). 

I am Sakesh, a Neuropharmacologist specialized in GPCR modulation in the context of neuroscience. Completed my PhD at the CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, focusing on dopamine receptor (D5R) pharmacology for early drug discovery related to cognitive and working memory disorders. Following this, I began my postdoctoral research in Neuroscience at IIT-Dharwad, BSBE department, applying cutting-edge technologies to study the role of astrocytes in mood-related disorders.

Email ID: ra.sakeshphd.iitdh@ac.in