Team

Dr.Chandana Basu

I am a population geneticist and after spending almost a decade abroad joined BHU to start my journey that I had dreamt of i.e to have my own research group. My lab research interests revolve around understanding the phenotypic traits - how they differ across populations, how we acquire them, how it influences our biological fitness and which selective forces shaped them. My PhD involved study of two such traits - skin pigmentation and lactase persistence in South Asian populations. My work on indigenous populations of South Asia was the pioneer work on genetics of skin color in local Indian populations. Most importantly, our study inferred that the variants conferring to light skin and ability to digest milk in adulthood, is shared by Europeans and Indians. Our research mainly involves studying modern human genomes but also relating to information drawn from archaeology, linguistics, anthropology and evolutionary Biology. So it is indeed intriguing when you have a story that connects each evidence or piece of information and you can connect all the dots :). Currently, I am focussed on understanding the genetic basis of hair shape using mouse models. 

Contact email- chandana.basu@bhu.ac.in

 Twitter -@cbm2577




Shwetotpal Mrinal

I did my Graduation in Industrial microbiology with honors from Lalit Narayan Mithila University Darbhanga, Bihar, India. Then completed Post-graduation in microbiology from Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India. As a research scholar at the Centre for Genetic Disorders, Banaras Hindu University, I am currently working on the topic "Genetics of skin pigmentation". The major research interests are defining the role of different pigmentary genes in human skin, hair & eye colors in the South Asian population. The focus of this research is how different gene products regulate the different types of pigmentation patterns in humans including pigmentation-related disorders. So that it becomes easy to understand the diversity of different human populations, genetic similarity, migration patterns of modern humans, and evolutionary history.

Bhagyashree Choudhury

I received my BSc and MSc in Biotechnology, and during my six-month project term, I worked on raffinose protein estimation in several legumes using various techniques. After that, I took a specialization course in chromosomal genetics and molecular diagnostics, which opened a new door for me. I joined the Genophen lab in early January 2023 and expanded my research interest to understanding the genomics and diversity of high-altitude populations. Currently, I am working on analyzing the phenotypic characterization of populations residing in the Ladakh region, which will help to understand the perspective from both environmental and genetic perspectives of high-altitude adaptation. In addition to that, I am an avid manga reader and I worship food more than anything.


Pooja Rani

I completed my Bachelor's and Master's degree from Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University,Jaunpur UP specializing in Botany. After that, I enrolled in a specialization course in Chromosomal Genetics and Molecular Diagnostics at Banaras Hindu University. I became a member of the Genophen lab at the Center For Genetic Disorders at the beginning of the year 2023. I am deeply interested in understanding more about the mysterious origins of life. Currently, I am on working on the biobank and its current scenario in India. Apart from scientific brainstorming, I love listening to music, badminton energizes me, and I love travelling and exploring new cities because they are fascinating.   

HARI GOVIND DUBEY 

I did my Graduation in Zoology, Botany and chemistry from K.S Saket PG CollegeAyodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India. And now pursuing my post-graduation in M.Sc.Biotechnology from Dr Rammanohar Lohia Avadh University, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India. Currently, I am joined as a trainee at the Centre for GeneticDisorders, Banaras Hindu University.