PI

Brief bio: 

Nitin graduated from IIT Kanpur in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in computer science. He then joined the PhD program in bioinformatics and systems biology at the University of California, San Diego. His thesis focused on developing computational tools for data analysis in protein mass spectrometry, and using these tools for high-throughput annotation of genes and proteins. A collaborative project on identification of neuropeptides introduced him to the field of neuroscience. After completing his PhD in 2009, Nitin spent a few months in the department of Psychology, and then moved to the National Institutes of Health to learn the techniques of experimental neuroscience. In July 2014, he joined the department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering at IIT Kanpur, where currently he is an associate professor. His lab focuses on understanding the brain mechanisms that determine an animal's innate behavioral preferences to different smells. A part of his lab also works on developing automated digital interventions for mental health problems, such as depression.  

My earlier research experience: 

As a post-doctoral fellow with Mark Stopfer at NIH, I used the locust model system to study information processing in the higher olfactory centers. In particular, I focused on the role of spike timing and oscillatory synchrony in carrying information about odors. Before this, I did a brief stint as a post-doc in the cognitive neuroscience lab of Adam Aron in the department of Psychology at UCSD. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation of the human brain, we studied the influence of urges on the motor system. I also collaborated with David Huber on testing a model of creativity.

In 2009, I received Ph.D. in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology working with Pavel Pevzner at UCSD, where I developed computational approaches for analyzing mass spectrometry data, and applied them to extract multiple types of information about the proteins present in a biological sample: their locations (gene annotation), cuts (neuropeptides, methionine excision, signal peptides, regulatory proteolysis) or modifications by various chemicals attachments (post-translational modifications). This work has contributed to the field of Proteogenomics.