Principal Investigator

My research interests are applying Microbiology, Computational Biology, Evolutionary methods, and Next Generation Sequencing methods to solve challenges related to:

• Fermented Foods, Probiotics, Immune mechanisms, Disease Biomarkers, Autoimmunity.

• Environmental Pollutants, Waste treatment, Novel microbes. 

• Development of new Computational methods and AI/ML tools.

Ph.D. Scholar (2022 - present)

Sandhya has done her graduation and post-graduation in Microbiology from the University of Mumbai. Her previous work involved total lipids isolation from algae cells for biodiesel conversion as a cure for algal bloom due to eutrophication. She is currently working on a microbial approach for pollutant degradation as a process of bioremediation.

Ph.D. Scholar (2023-Present)

Harshita did her post graduation from JUIT, Waknaghat and graduation from University of Delhi. Her previous work involved biochemical characterization and application of phytase enzyme from Bacillus sub-species. Later, she worked on the testing of dairy products at the National Referral Centre for Milk Quality and Safety (NRCMQS) at National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal. She is currently working on fermented food products.

Ph.D. Scholar (2023-Present)

Rija completed her Masters in Biotechnology from North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong. She has previously worked on mice model to study inflammatory diseases. Her research interest revolves around health and diseases and is currently working on autoimmune diseases. Currently, she is in RIKEN-Yokohama, Japan as a Japan Science and Technology (JST-LOTUS) fellow. 

Ph.D. Scholar (2023-Present)

Shweta completed her MTech in Biotechnology from IIT Guwahati where she worked on the production of bioethanol using wheat straw by co-culturing fungi and yeasts. Thereafter, she worked as a JRF at BITS, Pilani. Currently, she is working on degradation of lignocellulosic waste.

Ph.D. Scholar (Dual degree) (2023-Present)

Vanshika is an M.Tech research and PhD student with a background in environmental biology and microbial consortia, where her work focused on understanding and developing functional microbial communities. She is currently pursuing her PhD with a focus on autoimmune disease and the mechanisms underlying immune dysregulation. Her research integrates immunology, metabolomics, metagenomics, bioinformatics, transcriptomics, and molecular biology to investigate disease mechanisms and identify potential biomarkers and therapeutic approaches. Through an interdisciplinary approach, she aims to better understand the complex interactions underlying autoimmune disease and contribute to improved strategies for disease research and management.

Ph.D. Scholar (2023-Present)

Pankaj completed his Master’s degree in Botany from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut. Currently, he is specializing in the field of Computational Biology. His doctoral research focuses on advanced microbial genomics, utilizing high-throughput sequencing technologies to meticulously map complex microbial landscapes. By developing robust bioinformatic pipelines for large-scale data analysis, he facilitates the extraction of meaningful biological insights from vast genomic datasets.

Ph.D. Scholar (2024-Present)

Neetu Negi is a PhD candidate in the Systems Biology Lab, focusing on microbiological solutions to pressing environmental challenges, with a specific emphasis on polymer degradation. She brings a diverse research background to her doctoral studies, having previously served as an SRF in the Systems Biology Lab on a SERB-supported COVID-19 surveillance project.  Neetu  holds a Master’s in Biotechnology from Banasthali Vidyapith, where she investigated gene expression in Glioblastoma cell lines. Her professional experience also includes impactful roles as a Mycobiologist at Azoth Biotech and a Technical Officer at ICMR-NICPR.

Ph.D. Scholar (2025-Present)

Devansh completed his Mtech Biotechnology from IIT Mandi. He previously worked on Inflammatory Bowel Disease using systems biology approach in Systems Biology Lab. Currently, he is enrolled in PhD and is working on other Autoimmune diseases. 

Ph.D. Scholar (2025-Present)

Stuti is a PhD scholar dedicated to the circular economy, turning waste into wealth through microbial innovation. Her expertise spans waste valorization, electromicrobiology, and microbial fuel cells. Her current work focuses on the bioprocessing of polyolefins and sustainable plastic waste valorization. Driven by a holistic approach to science and life, she balances her technical rigor with a passion for meditation and dance, reflecting a commitment to creativity and well-being.

Ph.D. Scholar (2026-Present)

Drishita Ganguly is a PhD scholar at IIT Mandi, with prior research experience as a Project Junior Research Fellow at IIT Roorkee. During her time at IIT Roorkee, she worked on the gut–brain axis and neurological disorders, exploring animal models, nutraceutical interventions, behavioural studies, molecular markers, and gut microbiome changes. She has a background in Biotechnology, with hands-on experience in molecular biology, microbiology, cell culture, immunodiagnostics, and bioinformatics. She is particularly interested in understanding complex biological systems through an interdisciplinary approach, bringing together experimental biology, microbiology, and computational analysis. Beyond research, Drishita has a strong love for the arts. She enjoys painting and singing, which have been a meaningful part of her life alongside her journey in science. She believes that curiosity and creativity extend beyond the laboratory, and finds joy in expressing herself through both science and art.

Ph.D. Scholar (2026-Present)

Harshit did his graduation & post-graduation in Biotechnology from Central University of Rajasthan. His previous work involved genome analysis and characterization of protease-producing bacteria, along with bioinformatics and enzyme assays. He also worked as a research intern at IIT Kanpur on protein extraction and characterization from chickpea seeds and functional hydrogel development. He is currently working on biohythane production, wastewater degradation and waste-to-value bioprocesses.

M.Tech Student (2025-Present)

Hari joined the Systems Biology lab in December 2025 as intern and is currently pursuing his M.Tech in Biotechnology. He completed his graduation in Biotechnology from Bannari Amman Institute of Technology. His research interests include NGS data analysis, and he is presently working in the area of autoimmune diseases for his Mtech project.

M.Tech Student (2025-Present)

Raxit completed his B.Tech in Biotechnology from Meerut Institute of Engineering and Technology, Meerut and has previous experience working with Animal cell culture. He joined the Systems Biology lab in may 2026 for his M.Tech project for which he is working on developing bioinformatics pipelines for epigenomic analysis of the gut-associated autoimmune disorders. His research interests lie at the intersection of computational biology, epigenomics, and microbiome research. Apart from research, his interest lies in trekking and chess.