Group

Sourav Chowdhury

PI

Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, BITS-Pilani Hyderabad Campus, India (since 2024 May)

Affiliate Faculty, Associate Fellow, Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Program in Therapeutics Sciences (HiTS), Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts USA

Long Term Associate (Research), Faculty Fellow, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Massachusetts USA

Post Doctoral Fellow, Harvard University (2018-2024)

Ph.D. Biophysics/Biophysical Chemistry, CSIR Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (2019)

Sourav worked as a graduate/doctoral student with Krishnananda Chattopadhyay and obtained his Ph.D. in biophysics/biophysical chemistry from CSIR Indian Institute of Chemical Biology in 2018/19. He transitioned to Harvard University in July 2018, as a post-doctoral fellow to work with Eugene Shakhnovich at the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology. From 2021 Sourav is also an Associate at the Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology Consortium (LSP) at Harvard Medical School. Sourav is currently as Assistant Professor at the Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani, Hyderabad Campus. He is also a Long-Term Associate (Research) at the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University and an Affiliate Faculty at the Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School.

A Shivram (Co-Advised by Aneesh Chivukula, BITS-P Hyderabad)

A Shirvam, is currently pursuing PhD at BITS Pilani, Hyderabad campus, and holds an M.Sc. in Medical Biotechnology. Shivram’s research focuses on predicting protein mutations by analyzing data from known mutations. This work aims to unravel the mechanisms behind antimicrobial resistance and uncover new drug targets to combat it. Outside the lab, Shivram loves to channel his energy into the gym, indulge in thrilling badminton matches, and explore new cultures and landscapes through travel.

Track: Computer Science and Information Systems. One Health Trust Sponsored Doctoral Program.

Deeptanshu Pandey

Deeptanshu Pandey holds both a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. in Zoology Honours, with a specialization in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function, from the University of Calcutta. His research interests are centered on integrating ecological models with protein evolvability, evolutionary systems, and biophysics, aiming to bridge these interdisciplinary fields. Beyond academia,as his off time engagement, Deeptanshu is an avid participant in athletic pursuits such as sprinting and cricket, and he also devotes time to writing poetry and a novel enthusiast.

Track: Biological Sciences Doctoral Program.

Danny Muzata  (Co-Advised by Prajna Upadhyay, BITS-P Hyderabad)

Danny holds a BSc in Biomedical Sciences, MSc in Tropical Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis from the University of Zambia, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Bioinformatics. Currently, he is pursuing a Ph.D. in Data Science for Global Health at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in India, focusing on understanding the evolutionary dynamics of essential folate pathway proteins in Plasmodium falciparum and their implications for antimalarial drug resistance. Danny’s research interests include computational biology, bioinformatics, Data Science for Health, antimicrobial resistance, vector-borne diseases, infectious disease modeling and simulation. In his free time, Danny enjoys playing chess, football, and pool.

Track: Computer Science and Information Systems. One Health Trust Sponsored Doctoral Program.

Moli Rani

Moli Rani holds an M.Sc. in Biotechnology from South Asian University, New Delhi, India. With research experience in neuroinflammation, particularly the role of Prostaglandin E2 in macrophage COX-2 expression. Currently, she is pursuing a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at BITS Pilani, Hyderabad, focusing on the evolutionary dynamics of Dihydrofolate Reductase in Toxoplasma gondii. She is deeply interested in infectious disease biology. Outside the lab, she enjoys gardening and reading novels.

Track: Biological Sciences Doctoral Program. BITS Overseas Graduate School Program.