Lab Members 

Dr. Manivannan Subramanian, B.S., M.S., Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow

He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Mysore. He completed his Ph.D. at the National Centre for Biological Sciences in 2014, where he studied the interactions between IP₃ and insulin signaling in Drosophila. He conducted postdoctoral research in Dr. Joong-Jean Park’s lab at Korea University on dim-light effects in Alzheimer’s disease, and in Dr. Kweon Yu’s lab (KRIBB/KIST), where he identified UBE4B as a miR-9 target that promotes Tau degradation. He joined Dr. Singh’s lab in 2022, focusing on the role of defective proventriculus (Dve) and its miRNA-mediated regulation in retinal diseases and birth defects using the Drosophila eye model. 

Santosh Kumar, B.S., M.S., Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow

Santosh earned his undergraduate degree from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, and his M.S./Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Hallym University, South Korea, where he studied mesodermal development in Xenopus. He completed postdoctoral work in Dr. Eric Bellefroid’s lab at the University of Brussels on Dach1’s role in mouse cortical development. Since joining Dr. Singh’s lab in 2025, his research has focused on molecular mechanisms of eye development and craniofacial birth defects using the Drosophila eye model. He enjoys reading and trekking. 

Anjali Sangeeth, B.S., M.S. (Graduate)

Received her Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from Amrita School of Biotechnology. Pursued her MSc Biochemistry and Molecular Biology  from Central University of Kerala. Qualified UGC/CSIR exam  to pursue PhD in India. Worked in a Stem cells and Hematopoiesis lab at University of Hyderabad to study the role of long non coding RNAs during megakaryocyte development. Joined SIngh Lab at University of DAytona dn working on role of signaling pathways in Dorso-Ventral Patterning in eye.

Ms. Sunanda Yogi, B.S., M.S. (Graduate)

She graduated from Shaheed Rajguru College, University of Delhi, with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (Hons). Received Master's in Biochemistry at the School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad. She worked in a Biosensor lab on her dissertation project "Fluorescence probing of the respiring membranes using environment-sensitive rotor dyes" at the University of Hyderabad.  

Achyut Katti, B.S., M.S. (Graduate)

Achyut earned his B.Sc. (Triple Major: Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics) from Dayananda Sagar University, Bengaluru, and his M.Sc. in Human Genetics from SRIHER, Chennai. His master’s research examined how the CYP1A1m4 polymorphism affects gene expression in Indian children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He is now pursuing his Ph.D., investigating the roles of SATB1 protein domains in eye development and craniofacial disorders using the Drosophila model.  

Dr. Akanksha Raj, B.S., M.S., Ph.D., Post Doctoral Fellow (2019-2021)

Received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree  from Miranda House, Delhi. She got her PhD from Delhi University in 2017 studying nanoparticle toxicity using Drosophila model.  She joined Singh lab in 2018. Her research is focused on understanding the molecular basis of retinal diseases and birth defects using Drosophila eye model. 

Dr. Catherine Yeates, B.S., B.A., Ph.D., Post Doctoral Fellow (2019-2020)

Catherine  got a B.A. in Music and a B.S. in Biology from University of Iowa. She went on to complete a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Iowa, studying homeostatic plasticity. Joined Singh lab in 2018 and is working on DRosophila eye model of neurodegeneration. Outside of lab, Catherine enjoys drawing and hiking, often accompanied by her rambunctious dogs.  

Dr. Radhika Padma, B.S., M.S., Ph.D. , Postdoctoral fellow (2022-2025)

Received Her Master's (2009) and PhD (2016) in Genetics and Taught Genetics (2016-2019) from the University of Mysore, India. Worked as a Women Scientist at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal (2019-2022).Worked on the Evolution of the nauta-albomicans complex of Drosophila. In postdoctoral research, she worked towards profiling the chromatin landscape of two closely related Drosophila species. Joined the Singh lab (2022) and worked on miRNA based regulation of dve expression in Drosophila eye.  Published a paper in Development on miR-137 PMID: 40554764  

Dr. Meghana Tare (Ph.D., 2007-2013) , 

Genetic Mechanisms Involved in Axial Patterning and Neurodegeneration in Drosophila Eye 

Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, BITS Pilani,, India https://www.bits-pilani.ac.in/pilani/meghanatare/profile 

Dr. Oorvashi Roy Puli (Ph.D., 2009-2014),

Defective proventriculus (Dve), a Novel Role in Dorsal-Ventral Patterning of the Drosophila Eye                                                            Post Doctoral Fellow MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas                                                                                                              H. Lee Moffit Cancer Ctr. & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida

Ms. Erika Wittkorn (M.S., 2011-2013), 

Role of Growth Regulatory Pathways in Eye Development and Differentiation             DO Program, Ohio Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine,  Dublin Campus, Columbus, Ohio

Dr. Ankita Sarkar, (Ph.D., 2013-2018), 

Ph.D: Biology of neurodegenerative disease, Post Doctoral Fellow, Cornell, NY.

Presently, Senior Scientist at Rhenonix, Inc.

Dr. Abhijit Singh Mehta, B. Tech, M. Tech, (Ph.D., 2016-2019),                                                                                                                 Ph.D: Regeneration tool kit using fruit fly model     

Post Doctoral Fellow, UC Davis, (2019-) 

Currently: Assistant Professor (tenure track), University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley (UTGRV)

Dr. Neha Gogia, B.Tech, M.Tech, (Ph.D., 2014-2019)

Ph.D: Biology of neurodegenerative disease and development,                                         

Post Doctoral Fellow, Yale, CT.

Prajakta Deshpande, B.S., M.S., Ph.D. Biology, Genetics of neurodegenerative disorders   (Graduate) (2018-2023)     Currently:  Post Doctoral Fellow, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX .

Received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Hyderabad Central University, India. Worked as a project Assistant at the Centre for Human Genetics, Bangalore, India, and Molecular Biologist at Datta Meghe Inst. of Medical Sciences, India. She joined the Singh Lab in 2018. She is interested in understanding the molecular mechanism of human diseases and finding effective therapeutic treatments. 

Anuradha C.V., M.S. (Graduate) (2019-2025).                                                                                                                                                Currently: Post Doctoral Fellow, University of Michigan. Received her B.Sc.  Plant Biotechnology from Stella Maris College, followed by M.Sc. Human Genetics from Sri Ramachandra University, India. She worked in a cancer biology lab to explore the interaction between PAK1 (a Ser/Thr kinase) and STAT3 (a transcription factor). Currently, She is pursuing her doctoral degree to study the function of different domains of dve protein in eye development and growth using Drosophila eye model. 

Ms. Aditi Singh, B.S., M.S. 

Aditi Singh earned her B.S. degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Neuroscience (Magna cum Laude) and Master's in Graduate studies at the University of Dayton. She has worked on various projects in the Singh lab. Aditi has worked in the Singh lab since high school and as a summer student during her B.S. degree. She has worked on (i) the genetics of neurodegeneration and (ii) the long-term impact of COVID-19 on human health using neurodegenerative models. PMID: 27335537, PMID: 27335537, PMID: 37905889.