Lab members

Swati received her Ph.D. from Tufts University in Boston and did her postdoctoral research at the Harvard School of Public Health. There she worked on the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum and used molecular techniques in combination with new genomics technologies. She has been at IIT Bombay since 2003 where she continues to study the malaria parasite and a related parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Her lab combines molecular biology, cell biology, and bioinformatics to identify parasite-specific pathways as targets for therapeutic intervention. 

Swati has served in administrative positions in the institute: Professor-in-Charge of the IITB-Monash Research Academy and Dean (International Relations). She is currently the faculty nominee on the Board of Governors of IIT Bombay. She is an independent director on the Board of IPCA Laboratories and a member of the Executive Committee of Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai.

COURSES TAUGHT BY SWATI

Sofia's research focuses on trafficking pathways to the apicoplast and the functional role of proteins that are targeted to both the apicoplast and mitochondrion  in Toxoplasma gondii.

Sofia is from Gwalior and loves to play on the institute's Ultimate Frisbee teams.

Co-supervisors- Prof. Prasenjit Bhaumik (IITB) and Prof. David A Jans (Monash University)

Enrolled at the IITB-Monash Research Academy, Diksha's project focuses on the importins alpha and beta from apicomplexan parasites. The project involves understanding the interaction between these two proteins with the aim to screen small molecule inhibitors for potential therapeutic interventions. She is also working on solving the structure of parasite importin alpha proteins.

Diksha is from Delhi and is a source of foodie information during the lab celebrations.

Anupama works on the translational regulation of bradyzoite stages in Toxoplasma gondii. She is testing the role of a novel translation initiation factor in bradyzoite differentiation. 

Anupama has lived in north and south India and has now come to the west of the country.  She is enjoying her time in Mumbai as well.

Geetanjali is setting up techniques to study protein-protein interactions in Toxoplasma gondii, with a particular focus on apicoplast trafficking. She is identifying endoplasmic reticulum proteins that interact with the trafficking sequences of apicoplast proteins.

Geetanjali is from Delhi and misses its street food. 

Aberam is working on novel regulators of bradyzoite differentiation in T. gondii. 

Aberam is from Malaysia and has done his undergraduate degree in India. The lab is happy that he joined and broke the all-women streak that was going on for a while. 

Disha is working on nuclear import in T. gondii, emphasizing understanding its role in biology and as a potential drug target.

Disha is from Kolkata and enjoys the cultural activities on campus. 

Neha is working on some of the novel apicoplast trafficking proteins that we have discovered in the lab using protein-protein interaction screens.

Neha is from Orissa and did a great job as one of the "master of ceremonies" during out department convocation. 

Anirban is working on apicoplast biology in T. gondii, understanding trafficking pathways and characterizing novel proteins in these pathways.

Anirban is from Kolkata and is a foodie who loves to try new dishes. 

Nirjhar is a joint student with Prof. Sanjeeva Srivastava.