People

Principal Investigator

Arnab Barik

arnabbarik@iisc.ac.in

Curriculum vitae

Google Scholar

Assistant Professor, Center for Neuroscience, IISc

Adjunct Faculty, TCG-CREST, CHINTA

EMBO Global Investigator

Arnab did his B.Tech in Biotechnology at SRM University, Chennai, and his PhD in Neuroscience with Dr Lin Mei at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta. During his PhD, he worked on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of neuromuscular junction development and maintenance. Next, Arnab wanted to explore another facet of the peripheral nervous system - somatosensation - specifically, what are the neural circuits underlying the sensation and perception of somatosensory information from the periphery. To pursue his interests in somatosensation, he moved to the National Institutes of Health to work in the laboratory of Dr Alexander Chesler. In his postdoctoral work, he identified a specific population of neurons in the parabrachial nucleus as being essential for generating affective responses to pain. In 2020, he joined the Center for Neuroscience as a principal investigator and plans to study the molecules, cells, and circuits that drive responses to pain and itch.

Project Assistant

Nila Pattaliparambil Babu

nilababu@iisc.ac.in

Nila completed her integrated BS-MS dual degree from Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune. In her Master’s project she worked on the changes in Corticotropin Releasing Hormone in larval frog brain exposed to predation risk. She became interested in neuroscience during her Master’s project. Outside of the lab, she enjoys music, cooking and watching dramas.

Project Assistant

Srividya Subash

subashsrividya@gmail.com

Srividya completed her B.E. in Biotechnology from Sir M. Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology, Bangalore, and earned her Master's in Neuroscience from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. As part of her Master's research, she studied the impact of FMRP deficiency on human iPSC-derived microglia in Fragile X Syndrome. Her interest in neuroscience began during a school visit to IISc’s open day. She wants to explore the dynamics of neural circuits and how they contribute to complex behaviours. Outside the lab, she enjoys watching documentaries, listening to murder-mystery podcasts, and discovering new coffee spots around the city.

Project Assistant

Debstuti Basu

debstuti.basu2023@vitstudent.ac.in

Debstuti completed her Master’s in Biotechnology from VIT Vellore. She joined the lab as a Master’s thesis intern to understand the role of dopamine in itch processing and is currently working as a Project Associate. Her fascination with neuroscience was deeply shaped by reading books on the brain during her Master’s days. A quote by David Eagleman, “If you could perceive reality as it is, you would be shocked by its colorless, odorless, tasteless silence. Outside your brain, there is just energy and matter,” seeded a deep quest in her to understand how the complex functioning of the brain makes us who we are. She strongly feels that individuality is built upon the memories that we accumulate; in fact, the selective encoding of experiences into memory has always fascinated her. Besides academics, she finds interest in classical music, theatre, and cooking.

Graduate Student

Jagat Narayan Prajapati

jagatnarayan@iisc.ac.in

Jagat did his B.Tech in biotechnology from M.N.N.I.T Allahabad. He developed his interest in science and engineering, so he further did M.S.(R) from IIT Delhi in Biochemical Engineering & Biotechnology Department. During his masters, he worked on the skeletal muscle myosin II in vitro motility system. He wanted to pursue his further research interest in neuroscience. Jagat joined CNS in October 2020. He is currently working on molecular level changes in chronic itch and pain in different brain regions. He loves story-telling and reading stories. In his spare time, Jagat explores Hindu mythology and philosophy.

Graduate Student

Yatika

yatika2021@iisc.ac.in

Yatika obtained her BSc Honors degree from the Department of Biochemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh. She pursued her Masters in Biochemistry from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh. In her master's, she worked on a Single nucleotide polymorphism study of Glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia. She became interested in neuroscience during her bachelor's in her neurobiochemistry course. She enjoys playing badminton, cricket, and practicing yoga.

Graduate Student

Mousmi Rani

mousmirani@iisc.ac.in

Mousmi has completed her integrated B. Tech and M. Tech in Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology from IIT (BHU), Varanasi. Her interest in neuroscience started in her master’s project, where she worked on delineating the role of gut microbiota in modulating the gut-brain axis under chronic pain conditions. Further, she wants to explore and understand how different structures in the brain function and interact to determine nocifensive behaviors. Apart from academics, she loves listening to music and watching anime.

Graduate Student

Smriti Koul

smritikoul@iisc.ac.in

Smriti completed my Bachelor’s in Biochemistry from Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi University, and pursued a Master's in Biotechnology at Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi. Her thesis's research topic was "The role of the red nucleus in fine motor output" at IISc Bangalore.

The mere contemplation of the idea that the world one perceives is entirely different from someone else's continually captivates her about neuroscience. Beyond her academic pursuits, Smriti has a keen interest in travel.

Graduate Student

Abhilash Loi

abhilashloi@iisc.ac.in

Abhilash obtained his Integrated BS-MS dual degree from the National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar. During his Master’s project, he investigated the Neuroanatomical characterization of Kisspeptin in the brain of African Catfish. He is deeply engaged in the exploration of neuroscience, with a focus on uncovering the intricate mechanisms that underlie brain function and behavior. Apart from research, his dopaminergic neurons are fired when he plays kabaddi, cricket, and badminton, as well as while watching anime and thrillers.

Graduate Student

Tenzin Ogyen Bhutia

tenzinbhutia@iisc.ac.in

Tenzin completed his Masters in Biotechnology at the Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, where he worked in the structure elucidation and mechanism of bacterial proteins. He was interested in neuroscience and more so after a talk given by Prof. David Julius on the behavioral and physiological studies of TRPV1 in temperature and pain. He is interested in the brain circuits that govern pain and itch using chemogenetics in mice. Apart from academics, he prefers playing football and playing chess.

Graduate Student

Aayusha Holkar

aayushah@iisc.ac.in

Aayusha completed her Integrated master's in biotechnology from VIT Vellore. Her master's thesis focused on sex-specific differences in depression using a vicarious social defeat stress model, which gave her experience in molecular and behavioural neuroscience techniques. Driven by a deep fascination with how the brain functions, from psychological processes to underlying biological circuitry, she joined the Centre for Neuroscience to explore these intersections further. Her research interests focus on understanding the brain from a network and circuitry perspective, with an emphasis on how the connectome shapes individual identity and behaviour. Outside academics, she enjoys stand-up comedy, travelling, reading psychology, and dancing.

Graduate Student

Subhakanta Sethi

subhakantas@iisc.ac.in

Subhakanta completed his B.Tech in Biotechnology from Andhra University, followed by an M.Tech in Medical Biotechnology at IIT Hyderabad. His master's thesis focused on "investigating the anti-amyloidogenic effects of polyphenols on aggregating protein implicated in ALS", developing a strong foundation in molecular biology and biophysical techniques. Driven by a strong interest in brain function and neurodegenerative mechanisms, he joined the Centre for Neuroscience to pursue neuroscience research. Outside academics, he enjoys cooking, playing badminton, gardening and keeping ornamental fish.

Research Intern

Alice Rose Boniface

alicerobo37@gmail.com

Alice is a BS-MS dual degree student from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali. She is currently pursuing her Master’s thesis at the Centre for Neuroscience, IISc. She has long been fascinated by the workings of the brain and has enjoyed exploring this interest through various academic and lab-based experiences, including an internship at the National Brain Research Centre, Manesar. Apart from science, she enjoys listening to music, dancing, and exploring different cuisines.

Research Intern

Anushka Bhaskar

nushbhaskar.08@gmail.com

Anushka Bhaskar is a BS-MS dual degree student from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata. She is currently doing her master's thesis at the Centre of Neuroscience in IISc Bangalore. She’s fascinated by how the brain makes us who we are -our thoughts, emotions, memories, and quirks. It's a mix of curiosity, compassion, and a drive to make sense of the most complex thing we know: “ourselves”.

Research Intern

Chandan Ganesh

chandangr@iisc.ac.in

Chandan is a final-year BS student at IISc, studying the neurobiology of pain and central pain circuits at CNS, IISc. He's intrigued by how the brain predicts the present, what we feel as "now" is just a fast and brilliant neural guess. A brain-bound and relentless traveler, he's driven by ADHD-fueled passions from heavy lifting to poetry to diving deep into diverse philosophies.

Research Intern

Meenakshi KA

mka21ms159@iiserkol.ac.in

Meenakshi is a BS-MS student of IISER Kolkata, currently doing her final year thesis in CNS, IISc. Her interest in the brains intricate workings began with questions like how memories form, why do some fade while others are lost and if they can be retrieved. Her curiosity soon broadened to understanding how neural circuits regulate sensory experiences. Beyond research, she enjoys photography, swimming and reading novels.

Research Intern

Nahida Jabin

ms21253@iisermohali.ac.in

Nahida is a final year BS-MS student at IISER Mohali. Her thesis focuses on tachykinin signaling in brain circuits of aversion and pain at CNS. She has explored neuroscience through internships at NIMHANS, working on dream analysis and brain connectivity. Her academic interests include sleep research and neurological and psychiatric disorders, with a particular focus on advancing personalized treatment strategies. Outside academics, she enjoys volunteering, art, travelling, and re

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