• Girish is the Chair of the Biology Department (starting August 01, 2025).
• Girish is the Chair of the Biology Department (starting August 01, 2025).
• Karthik and Adheena will complete their final year MS project in the lab starting June 2025. Both have been trained in the lab, and expectations for exciting breakthroughs during the upcoming year are high. Karthik, with his green thumb for dissections, will tackle misfolding of VAPB in the brain, while Adheena will explore PGC migration.
• Karthik and Adheena will complete their final year MS project in the lab starting June 2025. Both have been trained in the lab, and expectations for exciting breakthroughs during the upcoming year are high. Karthik, with his green thumb for dissections, will tackle misfolding of VAPB in the brain, while Adheena will explore PGC migration.
• Gaadha, Apoorvaa, and Rishita have chosen to complete their MS research projects (2025-2026) in research laboratories outside India. We wish them the best on their adventures abroad. It was a pleasure to have them as part of our group for the past few semesters.
• Gaadha, Apoorvaa, and Rishita have chosen to complete their MS research projects (2025-2026) in research laboratories outside India. We wish them the best on their adventures abroad. It was a pleasure to have them as part of our group for the past few semesters.
• Subhradip/Adheena/Kanika's paper, which followed up on the data seen in the eLife paper, is accepted in Biology Open (June 2025).
• Subhradip/Adheena/Kanika's paper, which followed up on the data seen in the eLife paper, is accepted in Biology Open (June 2025).
• Many congratulations to Dr. Subhradip Das, who defended his thesis (April 2025) and promptly escaped towards a company/industry-based career.
• Many congratulations to Dr. Subhradip Das, who defended his thesis (April 2025) and promptly escaped towards a company/industry-based career.
• As part of the SPARC travel grant award to Girish Deshpande, we organized the "Germ-Cell Stem-Cell (GCSC) Meeting", held at the Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Hall, Guest House Complex, IISER Pune. February 28 - March 02 2025. The meeting was attended by colleagues in India, who work on the Germline.
• As part of the SPARC travel grant award to Girish Deshpande, we organized the "Germ-Cell Stem-Cell (GCSC) Meeting", held at the Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Hall, Guest House Complex, IISER Pune. February 28 - March 02 2025. The meeting was attended by colleagues in India, who work on the Germline.
• Girish attended the ProUPS meeting at SMR University in Chennai (February, 2025) and gave a talk, 'The VAPB:FAF1:VCP axis in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 8’ at the subsequent Satellite Meeting, NCCS Pune (February 06, 2025).
• Girish attended the ProUPS meeting at SMR University in Chennai (February, 2025) and gave a talk, 'The VAPB:FAF1:VCP axis in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 8’ at the subsequent Satellite Meeting, NCCS Pune (February 06, 2025).
• Sanhita Sarkar attends the EMBO Communicating research course (7 February, 2025).
• Sanhita Sarkar attends the EMBO Communicating research course (7 February, 2025).
• Amrita Roy attends the EMBO PhD course (Feb 03-14, 2025)
• Amrita Roy attends the EMBO PhD course (Feb 03-14, 2025)
• Alex attends the 'Hands-On Basic Bio Image Analysis Course' (24-26 February, 2025) at C-
• Alex attends the 'Hands-On Basic Bio Image Analysis Course' (24-26 February, 2025) at C-
• Girish steps down as Dean(Academics) after a 3 year tenure (Jan 31, 2025). He was shaken/stirred in the first few years of his term as he dealt with the resettling of undergraduate and PhD students, post-COVID, and the start of offline teaching. He is fine now. Thank you for asking.
• Girish steps down as Dean(Academics) after a 3 year tenure (Jan 31, 2025). He was shaken/stirred in the first few years of his term as he dealt with the resettling of undergraduate and PhD students, post-COVID, and the start of offline teaching. He is fine now. Thank you for asking.
**************************************************************** end of 2024 *****************************************************************
• We hosted Prof. Lakhotia and his team from BHU for the "DBT-sponsored Centre for Training Teachers in using Drosophila melanogaster for Biology Laboratories". This workshop was held in the Fly facility at IISER Pune for sixteen selected College Teachers from across India. Organzers: SC Lakhotia, Richa Arya, Bama Charan Mondal (Benaras Hindu University); Girish Ratnaparkhi, Richa Rikhy (IISER, Pune); Anuradha Ratnaparkhi (ARI, Pune). December 23 -30, 2025.
• We hosted Prof. Lakhotia and his team from BHU for the "DBT-sponsored Centre for Training Teachers in using Drosophila melanogaster for Biology Laboratories". This workshop was held in the Fly facility at IISER Pune for sixteen selected College Teachers from across India. Organzers: SC Lakhotia, Richa Arya, Bama Charan Mondal (Benaras Hindu University); Girish Ratnaparkhi, Richa Rikhy (IISER, Pune); Anuradha Ratnaparkhi (ARI, Pune). December 23 -30, 2025.
• Many congratulations to Dr. Kundan Kumar, who defended his thesis (December 30, 2024). Kundan receives both an MS and PhD degree in the upcoming convocation.
• Many congratulations to Dr. Kundan Kumar, who defended his thesis (December 30, 2024). Kundan receives both an MS and PhD degree in the upcoming convocation.
• Subhradip+Sushmitha's paper, that links Caspar activity to the number of Primordial Germ Cells is published in eLife (December, 2024).
• Subhradip+Sushmitha's paper, that links Caspar activity to the number of Primordial Germ Cells is published in eLife (December, 2024).
• A mini-review, highlighting the equivalence of phenotypes for PGC's for gain-of-function of Caspar vis-a-vis the loss-of-function of Smaug is published in 'Fly' (December, 2024). We hope to understand the underlying mechanisms of Caspar/Smaug epistasis in the coming years.
• A mini-review, highlighting the equivalence of phenotypes for PGC's for gain-of-function of Caspar vis-a-vis the loss-of-function of Smaug is published in 'Fly' (December, 2024). We hope to understand the underlying mechanisms of Caspar/Smaug epistasis in the coming years.
• Lovleen attends the EMBO workshop on 'The Endoplasmic Reticulum - guardian of cellular homeostasis' at Barga, Italy Poster Title - Perturbed ER lipid homeostasis in a Drosophila model of ALS8 (Oct 20-25, 2024).
• Lovleen attends the EMBO workshop on 'The Endoplasmic Reticulum - guardian of cellular homeostasis' at Barga, Italy Poster Title - Perturbed ER lipid homeostasis in a Drosophila model of ALS8 (Oct 20-25, 2024).
• Lovleen attends the Society for Neuroscience- Neuroscience 2024 Virtual poster presentation. Poster Title - Differential roles of ceramide in the brain of Drosophila and its implications in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 8 (Oct 05-09, 2024).
• Lovleen attends the Society for Neuroscience- Neuroscience 2024 Virtual poster presentation. Poster Title - Differential roles of ceramide in the brain of Drosophila and its implications in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 8 (Oct 05-09, 2024).
• Kanika joined the laboratory as a PhD student (September 2024). She has promised to uncover the inner workings of the Caspar/Smaug relationship.
• Kanika joined the laboratory as a PhD student (September 2024). She has promised to uncover the inner workings of the Caspar/Smaug relationship.
• Girish spoke at the NCCS Students symposium, NCCS, Pune, on ‘The making of a (remarkable) lineage: Primordial germ cells in the early embryo’. July 25-26, 2024.
• Girish spoke at the NCCS Students symposium, NCCS, Pune, on ‘The making of a (remarkable) lineage: Primordial germ cells in the early embryo’. July 25-26, 2024.
• Girish was invited to the Crete EMBO Workshop/Meeting: Molecular and Developmental Biology of Drosophila, Crete, Greece. This is a PI-only meeting, where he spoke on ‘The VAPB social network: (Mal)function at Membrane Contact Sites’ (June 23-26, 2025).
• Girish was invited to the Crete EMBO Workshop/Meeting: Molecular and Developmental Biology of Drosophila, Crete, Greece. This is a PI-only meeting, where he spoke on ‘The VAPB social network: (Mal)function at Membrane Contact Sites’ (June 23-26, 2025).
• Aparna's paper is accepted in the journal 'Neurobiology of Disease' (June 2024). Congratulations to all authors.
• Aparna's paper is accepted in the journal 'Neurobiology of Disease' (June 2024). Congratulations to all authors.
• Lovleen applied for, and was awarded a CSIR direct Senior Research Fellowship. This is excellent with the fellowship supporting him till December 2025.
• Lovleen applied for, and was awarded a CSIR direct Senior Research Fellowship. This is excellent with the fellowship supporting him till December 2025.
• Many congratulations to Dr. Aparna Thulasidharan, who defended her thesis (Feb 2024).
• Many congratulations to Dr. Aparna Thulasidharan, who defended her thesis (Feb 2024).
• Namrata, Lovleen, Pulkit, Sanhita and Girish attended a conference on Cellular and Animal models for Rare Genetic diseases (Manipal Genetics Update VII) at the Katurba Medical College, MAHE (18-20 January, 2024). Lovleen was awarded the best poster prize and Namrata received 2nd prize for her invited talk.
• Namrata, Lovleen, Pulkit, Sanhita and Girish attended a conference on Cellular and Animal models for Rare Genetic diseases (Manipal Genetics Update VII) at the Katurba Medical College, MAHE (18-20 January, 2024). Lovleen was awarded the best poster prize and Namrata received 2nd prize for her invited talk.
**************************************************************** end of 2023 *****************************************************************
• Almost all lab members attended the Indian Drosophila Research Conference (InDRC) at IISER Trivandrum (6-9 December 2023), and presented posters. Many thanks to: travel grants from CSIR, DST-SERB, Infosys and IISER; EDRC organizers for Registration Fee waivers.
• Almost all lab members attended the Indian Drosophila Research Conference (InDRC) at IISER Trivandrum (6-9 December 2023), and presented posters. Many thanks to: travel grants from CSIR, DST-SERB, Infosys and IISER; EDRC organizers for Registration Fee waivers.
------------------------------------------- November 2023 ---------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------- November 2023 ---------------------------------------------------------------
• Many congratulations to Prajna Nayak, who defended her thesis (June 2023).
• Many congratulations to Prajna Nayak, who defended her thesis (June 2023).
• Namrata, Kundan, Subhradip and Girish attended the European Drosophila Research Conference (EDRC) in Lyon, France (20-23 October, 2023). Many thanks to: travel grants from CSIR, DST-SERB, Infosys and IISER; EDRC organizers for Registration Fee waivers.
• Namrata, Kundan, Subhradip and Girish attended the European Drosophila Research Conference (EDRC) in Lyon, France (20-23 October, 2023). Many thanks to: travel grants from CSIR, DST-SERB, Infosys and IISER; EDRC organizers for Registration Fee waivers.
• Sanhita attended the NCBS CIFF Microscopy Course (May 9-11, 2023).
• Sanhita attended the NCBS CIFF Microscopy Course (May 9-11, 2023).
------------------------------------------- March 2023 ---------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------- March 2023 ---------------------------------------------------------------
• Alex attends the Mitochondria & Metabolism meeting at IISER, organized by Richa (January 13-15, 2023). Alex hopes to address a research problem at the ER/MM interface for his PhD.
• Alex attends the Mitochondria & Metabolism meeting at IISER, organized by Richa (January 13-15, 2023). Alex hopes to address a research problem at the ER/MM interface for his PhD.
• Girish attends the Alumni meeting and Conference celebrating 50 years of the Molecular Biophysics Unit @IISc (January 21-24, 2023).
• Girish attends the Alumni meeting and Conference celebrating 50 years of the Molecular Biophysics Unit @IISc (January 21-24, 2023).
• Namrata attended the 45th All India Cell Biology Conference at BHU. She is the proud recipient of a Best Poster award.
• Namrata attended the 45th All India Cell Biology Conference at BHU. She is the proud recipient of a Best Poster award.
• Dharna's and surgical strikes abound (January 2023) on Campus. Not a pleasant way to begin the new year.
• Dharna's and surgical strikes abound (January 2023) on Campus. Not a pleasant way to begin the new year.
**************************************************************** end of 2022*****************************************************************
• Girish travels to Manipal to give a talk on Circadian malfunction in VAP mutants. It was great to interact with the Neurobehaviour community @MAHE. Many thanks to Pavan Agrawal for hosting (December 19-21, 2022).
• Girish travels to Manipal to give a talk on Circadian malfunction in VAP mutants. It was great to interact with the Neurobehaviour community @MAHE. Many thanks to Pavan Agrawal for hosting (December 19-21, 2022).
• Viraj Doddihal visits and gives a seminar (December 5). Viraj has just completed his PhD from Stowers, and is an alumnus of the GR lab and the IISER-BSMS program.
• Viraj Doddihal visits and gives a seminar (December 5). Viraj has just completed his PhD from Stowers, and is an alumnus of the GR lab and the IISER-BSMS program.
• Sushmitha ties the knot with Rajat (December 4, 2022). Many congratulations to families and friends on both sides. We wish SH well in her new adventure. Hopefully, the plan for the bakery will not be set aside.
• Sushmitha ties the knot with Rajat (December 4, 2022). Many congratulations to families and friends on both sides. We wish SH well in her new adventure. Hopefully, the plan for the bakery will not be set aside.
• Girish travels to NCBS for the EMBO Inositol Lipids conference (November 14-18). Lipids and their modifications seem to be a direction the lab should take, in relation to VAPB.
• Girish travels to NCBS for the EMBO Inositol Lipids conference (November 14-18). Lipids and their modifications seem to be a direction the lab should take, in relation to VAPB.
• Girish gives a seminar at the UCL Neurodegeneration Forum (August 4, 2022).
• Girish gives a seminar at the UCL Neurodegeneration Forum (August 4, 2022).
• Alex Varghese joins the lab as a Ph.D. student (August 2022). He studied in IISER Bhopal for his BSMS and is the first student from the extended IISER family to join our group.
• Alex Varghese joins the lab as a Ph.D. student (August 2022). He studied in IISER Bhopal for his BSMS and is the first student from the extended IISER family to join our group.
• The Srikant lab study demonstrating crosstalk between the SUMO cycle and c-Fos is out in J. Cell. Science. Many congratulations to Pharvendra, Amar, and Srikanth (August 2022).
• The Srikant lab study demonstrating crosstalk between the SUMO cycle and c-Fos is out in J. Cell. Science. Many congratulations to Pharvendra, Amar, and Srikanth (August 2022).
• Sushmitha submits her Ph.D. thesis (August 2022)
• Sushmitha submits her Ph.D. thesis (August 2022)
• Our laboratory hosts summer interns from Pune (Mukul Madhekar) and Pilani (Sushanth Priyam) in June-July 2022.
• Our laboratory hosts summer interns from Pune (Mukul Madhekar) and Pilani (Sushanth Priyam) in June-July 2022.
• The Kamat lab paper on ABHD14B is accepted in J. Biol. Chem. Many congratulations to Abhinaya, Amar, Neha, and Siddhesh (June 2022).
• The Kamat lab paper on ABHD14B is accepted in J. Biol. Chem. Many congratulations to Abhinaya, Amar, Neha, and Siddhesh (June 2022).
• Sushmitha's paper on Nfkappa-B (Dorsal) SUMOylation is accepted in Genetics . Many congrats to Sushmita - this was her K2 climb; the summit could not be seen or appeared out of reach on multiple occasions (April 2022).
• Sushmitha's paper on Nfkappa-B (Dorsal) SUMOylation is accepted in Genetics . Many congrats to Sushmita - this was her K2 climb; the summit could not be seen or appeared out of reach on multiple occasions (April 2022).
-------------------------------------------March 2022 ---------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------March 2022 ---------------------------------------------------------------
• Aparna Thulasidharan celebrated her marriage today, with GR lab members watching the live telecast on YouTube. Many congratulations to Aparna and her families on both her and Rahul's sides (23 March 2022).
• Aparna Thulasidharan celebrated her marriage today, with GR lab members watching the live telecast on YouTube. Many congratulations to Aparna and her families on both her and Rahul's sides (23 March 2022).
• DBT-GET and STARS release final-year and second-year funds; again much needed to pay for consumables (and journal publication fees), March 2022.
• DBT-GET and STARS release final-year and second-year funds; again much needed to pay for consumables (and journal publication fees), March 2022.
• The first-year grant from ICMR comes through (Feb 2022). Much needed funds for a parched lab.
• The first-year grant from ICMR comes through (Feb 2022). Much needed funds for a parched lab.
• Amar's paper on Gut inflammation and the important roles for Jun and SUMO in gut infections is accepted in PLOS Pathogens (Feb 2022). Many congrats to Amar - this was his tour de force!
• Amar's paper on Gut inflammation and the important roles for Jun and SUMO in gut infections is accepted in PLOS Pathogens (Feb 2022). Many congrats to Amar - this was his tour de force!
• Shweta's paper on inflammation in the glia, that being a major factor in the progression of neurodegenerative disease is accepted in Human Molecular Genetics (Feb 2022). Many congrats to Shweta, Sushmitha, Lovleen, Aparna & Anuradha.
• Shweta's paper on inflammation in the glia, that being a major factor in the progression of neurodegenerative disease is accepted in Human Molecular Genetics (Feb 2022). Many congrats to Shweta, Sushmitha, Lovleen, Aparna & Anuradha.
• Girish is Dean(Academics) (1 Feb 2022).
• Girish is Dean(Academics) (1 Feb 2022).
• Amrita Roy formally joins the laboratory as a Ph.D. student. Her batch cannot visit the Institute as the onset of the 3rd wave began in early Jan 2022. Hopefully, this is the year we leave Covid where it belongs - in the rearview mirror.
• Amrita Roy formally joins the laboratory as a Ph.D. student. Her batch cannot visit the Institute as the onset of the 3rd wave began in early Jan 2022. Hopefully, this is the year we leave Covid where it belongs - in the rearview mirror.
**************************************************************** end of 2021*****************************************************************
• Amar exits the lab (- to a country that planned its own exit from the EU) in Jan 2020. Multiple rounds of lunches, dinners, and tea as we say alvida. Amar joined the lab when we were transiting from G1 to the current main building. He represents the last of that generation. Best of luck to him and Akhila! (20 Dec 2021).
• Amar exits the lab (- to a country that planned its own exit from the EU) in Jan 2020. Multiple rounds of lunches, dinners, and tea as we say alvida. Amar joined the lab when we were transiting from G1 to the current main building. He represents the last of that generation. Best of luck to him and Akhila! (20 Dec 2021).
• The year peters to an end with the lab being flat broke for the latter half of the year. This is in spite of having three ongoing grants. Funds for the year 2021 have not been released by funding/granting agencies. We survive based on support from colleagues and the Biology Department. Students are affected even more dramatically - as fellowships are delayed 4-10 months. Students are surviving on loans from friends and families. All of this, of course, is a direct shock-effect of the two Covid waves to the funding/granting/fellowship systems. Hopefully, 2022 will be a better year.
• The year peters to an end with the lab being flat broke for the latter half of the year. This is in spite of having three ongoing grants. Funds for the year 2021 have not been released by funding/granting agencies. We survive based on support from colleagues and the Biology Department. Students are affected even more dramatically - as fellowships are delayed 4-10 months. Students are surviving on loans from friends and families. All of this, of course, is a direct shock-effect of the two Covid waves to the funding/granting/fellowship systems. Hopefully, 2022 will be a better year.
• The InDRC and SBC (India) meetings are ongoing (week of 13-19 December). The lab is attending with Posters and Talks (Girish). Girish is presenting Amar's work at the SBC and Sushmitha's at the InDRC. Shruti, Lovleen, and Kundan are presenting posters (Dec 2021).
• The InDRC and SBC (India) meetings are ongoing (week of 13-19 December). The lab is attending with Posters and Talks (Girish). Girish is presenting Amar's work at the SBC and Sushmitha's at the InDRC. Shruti, Lovleen, and Kundan are presenting posters (Dec 2021).
• Amar accepts a position at the Babraham Institute (https://www.babraham.ac.uk/). He will work in the laboratory of Ian McGough. He will leave IISER in December 2021 and move to the UK by January 2022.
• Amar accepts a position at the Babraham Institute (https://www.babraham.ac.uk/). He will work in the laboratory of Ian McGough. He will leave IISER in December 2021 and move to the UK by January 2022.
• Amar defends in Ph.D. thesis - much delayed because of the two covid waves. Neal Silverman (https://www.umassmed.edu/silverman-lab/) is the external reviewer - he kindly agrees to attend Amar's seminar at 730 am his (US, Eastern coast) time (Dec 2021).
• Amar defends in Ph.D. thesis - much delayed because of the two covid waves. Neal Silverman (https://www.umassmed.edu/silverman-lab/) is the external reviewer - he kindly agrees to attend Amar's seminar at 730 am his (US, Eastern coast) time (Dec 2021).
-------------------------------------------Nov 2021---------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------Nov 2021---------------------------------------------------------------
• UG students are streaming into Campus. We welcome back Shruti and Shivani - they were engaged in lab meetings and online projects during the long 1.5 year break (Nov 2021).
• UG students are streaming into Campus. We welcome back Shruti and Shivani - they were engaged in lab meetings and online projects during the long 1.5 year break (Nov 2021).
• Prajna's and Aarti's paper is accepted in the special issue, 'SUMO proteins in host defense' in Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (Sept 2021).
• Prajna's and Aarti's paper is accepted in the special issue, 'SUMO proteins in host defense' in Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (Sept 2021).
• Shweta leaves for her Post-Doc (August 2021). She will be joining Aaron DiAntonio's lab (https://developmentalbiology.wustl.edu/people/aaron-diantonio/) at the Washinton University Department of Medicine at St. Louis - as soon as the visa/flight dots are connected.
• Shweta leaves for her Post-Doc (August 2021). She will be joining Aaron DiAntonio's lab (https://developmentalbiology.wustl.edu/people/aaron-diantonio/) at the Washinton University Department of Medicine at St. Louis - as soon as the visa/flight dots are connected.
• Vidyadheesh starts work for his MS project (July/August 2021).
• Vidyadheesh starts work for his MS project (July/August 2021).
• With infections falling all over India; we are slowly going back to a normal (though restricted) routine. A lot of frustration amongst Ph.D. students - they are losing precious time.
• With infections falling all over India; we are slowly going back to a normal (though restricted) routine. A lot of frustration amongst Ph.D. students - they are losing precious time.
• With one covid positive case a day in IISER, post-Biology-lockdown, IISER students are allowed to work in 8-hour shifts (April 2021). Back to doing research, even if it is in a bits-n-pieces manner.
• With one covid positive case a day in IISER, post-Biology-lockdown, IISER students are allowed to work in 8-hour shifts (April 2021). Back to doing research, even if it is in a bits-n-pieces manner.
• Kundan's paper on Serine Hydrolase (SH) activity gets accepted in the journal Biochemistry (April 2021). The paper (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33827210/) is a collaboration with Siddhesh Kamat's group and the paper sets up a platform for our investigation of novel SH's in the Drosophila innate immune response.
• Kundan's paper on Serine Hydrolase (SH) activity gets accepted in the journal Biochemistry (April 2021). The paper (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33827210/) is a collaboration with Siddhesh Kamat's group and the paper sets up a platform for our investigation of novel SH's in the Drosophila innate immune response.
• Departmental lockdown; Quarantine for Lovleen+Subhradip; Rise in the number of cases in Pune, the Institute, and the biology Department (March-April 2021). In-person group meetings suspended.
• Departmental lockdown; Quarantine for Lovleen+Subhradip; Rise in the number of cases in Pune, the Institute, and the biology Department (March-April 2021). In-person group meetings suspended.
• Prajna gives her long-delayed pre-synopsis (30 March 2021). Prajna's work deals with the multi-acyl tRNA synthetase (MARS) signaling hub in the cell, with a focus on the non-canonical roles for ArgRS.
• Prajna gives her long-delayed pre-synopsis (30 March 2021). Prajna's work deals with the multi-acyl tRNA synthetase (MARS) signaling hub in the cell, with a focus on the non-canonical roles for ArgRS.
• Namrata Kulkarni joins the laboratory; the group is back to its full strength (Feb 2021).
• Namrata Kulkarni joins the laboratory; the group is back to its full strength (Feb 2021).
• Sanhita Sarkar, an integrated Ph.D. student from the 2019 batch, formally joins the Lab (Jan 2021). With her joining, all but one Ph.D. student is in the lab.
• Sanhita Sarkar, an integrated Ph.D. student from the 2019 batch, formally joins the Lab (Jan 2021). With her joining, all but one Ph.D. student is in the lab.
• The IISER Final exams are held online, with Code-Tantra being the Application of choice. A tough task for the Academic Section to plan and execute the online exams being held from Jan 11 - Jan 27, 2021.
• The IISER Final exams are held online, with Code-Tantra being the Application of choice. A tough task for the Academic Section to plan and execute the online exams being held from Jan 11 - Jan 27, 2021.
**************************************************************** end of 2020*****************************************************************
• The long tail of the COVID shutdown still haunts the teaching schedule. Teaching for the August/September semester stops on 23rd Dec 2020, running a month late. Online examinations are now planned for the second half of Jan 2021 followed by start of the new Semester by 1 Feb 2021. IISER plans to be back to 'normal' by 15th August 2021.
• The long tail of the COVID shutdown still haunts the teaching schedule. Teaching for the August/September semester stops on 23rd Dec 2020, running a month late. Online examinations are now planned for the second half of Jan 2021 followed by start of the new Semester by 1 Feb 2021. IISER plans to be back to 'normal' by 15th August 2021.
• Amar gives his pre-synopsis (11 Dec 2020). His seminar was focused on the SUMO-conjugation resistant allele for Drosophila Jun and utilization of the same to understand roles for SUMO conjugation in gut immunity. Prajna is next in the queue - Pre-synopsis planned in Feb 2020.
• Amar gives his pre-synopsis (11 Dec 2020). His seminar was focused on the SUMO-conjugation resistant allele for Drosophila Jun and utilization of the same to understand roles for SUMO conjugation in gut immunity. Prajna is next in the queue - Pre-synopsis planned in Feb 2020.
• Shweta successfully completes her Ph.D. defense on 3rd December 2020. Many congratulations to her (3 Dec 2020).
• Shweta successfully completes her Ph.D. defense on 3rd December 2020. Many congratulations to her (3 Dec 2020).
• Subhradip and Lovleen have finished their Quarantine and have joined the lab. The group is now complete - with the exception of the two newbies, Sanhita and Namrata!, who will start their research in Jan 2021. The Institutional COVID safety guidelines lead to reduced working hours and reduced access to facilities, but on a positive note, research is on the upswing ( 2 Nov 2020).
• Subhradip and Lovleen have finished their Quarantine and have joined the lab. The group is now complete - with the exception of the two newbies, Sanhita and Namrata!, who will start their research in Jan 2021. The Institutional COVID safety guidelines lead to reduced working hours and reduced access to facilities, but on a positive note, research is on the upswing ( 2 Nov 2020).
• The Trikinetics DAM system is installed and is functional in the lab. Aparna is tapped to be the first user. We expect this tool to be used routinely in the lab, in the future (26 Sept 2020).
• The Trikinetics DAM system is installed and is functional in the lab. Aparna is tapped to be the first user. We expect this tool to be used routinely in the lab, in the future (26 Sept 2020).
• Sushmitha and Aparna are back to work, after a two week quarantine period. They are part of the second wave of Ph.D. students allowed to get back to work. Four more to go till the group is 'complete' (21 Sept 2020).
• Sushmitha and Aparna are back to work, after a two week quarantine period. They are part of the second wave of Ph.D. students allowed to get back to work. Four more to go till the group is 'complete' (21 Sept 2020).
• Shweta and Amar will be allowed to work in the laboratory by IISER, hopefully by 1st September. This means they have lost a full 6 months in real time. Since experiments have to be restarted afresh - this is a big setback for them. In a worse situation are the other Ph.D. students, who are still in a holding pattern back at their homes (1st Sept 2020).
• Shweta and Amar will be allowed to work in the laboratory by IISER, hopefully by 1st September. This means they have lost a full 6 months in real time. Since experiments have to be restarted afresh - this is a big setback for them. In a worse situation are the other Ph.D. students, who are still in a holding pattern back at their homes (1st Sept 2020).
• Aarti has accepted a Ph.D. position in Canada. She is joining the lab of Peng Huang (https://people.ucalgary.ca/~huangp/publications/index.html), and will become a Zebrafish biologist. Many congratulations to her! All eyes now on Mr. Jyothish.
• Aarti has accepted a Ph.D. position in Canada. She is joining the lab of Peng Huang (https://people.ucalgary.ca/~huangp/publications/index.html), and will become a Zebrafish biologist. Many congratulations to her! All eyes now on Mr. Jyothish.
• Our review that outlines roles for SUMO conjugation in the regulation of immune signaling is accepted by the journal 'FLY'. Sushmitha used the COVID 'downtime', to write this insightful review (5 August 2020).
• Our review that outlines roles for SUMO conjugation in the regulation of immune signaling is accepted by the journal 'FLY'. Sushmitha used the COVID 'downtime', to write this insightful review (5 August 2020).
• Shweta submits her Ph.D.thesis. She used the COVID downtime effectively and wrote her ~260 page thesis in May/June/July. Many congratulations to her! (4 Aug 2020).
• Shweta submits her Ph.D.thesis. She used the COVID downtime effectively and wrote her ~260 page thesis in May/June/July. Many congratulations to her! (4 Aug 2020).
• With the multiple serial lockdowns in Maharashtra (almost) coming to an end (31st July 2020), life is slowly tending towards normality. Integrated Ph.D. interviews are done. Grades for the last semester released. The Fall Semester, with online teaching, will restart on 1st September 2020. Restarting research and return of Ph.D. students to the laboratory however is still uncertain.
• With the multiple serial lockdowns in Maharashtra (almost) coming to an end (31st July 2020), life is slowly tending towards normality. Integrated Ph.D. interviews are done. Grades for the last semester released. The Fall Semester, with online teaching, will restart on 1st September 2020. Restarting research and return of Ph.D. students to the laboratory however is still uncertain.
-------------------------------------------July 2020---------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------July 2020---------------------------------------------------------------
• Bhagyashree generated and evaluated our laboratory’s first CRISPR/Cas9 site-directed mutant. The preliminary characterization of the Caspar(K551) line is now online - accepted in the journal Micropublication Biology (https://www.micropublication.org/journals/biology/micropub-biology-000288/;July 2020).
• Bhagyashree generated and evaluated our laboratory’s first CRISPR/Cas9 site-directed mutant. The preliminary characterization of the Caspar(K551) line is now online - accepted in the journal Micropublication Biology (https://www.micropublication.org/journals/biology/micropub-biology-000288/;July 2020).
• Shweta gave her Pre-synopsis on 17th July, 2020. The first such event using the new beast - Zoom, that we are suddenly friends with! Kundan had his Comprehensive examination the next day (Saturday, 18th July 2020). Many thanks to Shweta’s (Suhita, Nixon) and Kundan’s (Mridula, Kris, Sunil Laxman) RAC members for their comments and evaluation.
• Shweta gave her Pre-synopsis on 17th July, 2020. The first such event using the new beast - Zoom, that we are suddenly friends with! Kundan had his Comprehensive examination the next day (Saturday, 18th July 2020). Many thanks to Shweta’s (Suhita, Nixon) and Kundan’s (Mridula, Kris, Sunil Laxman) RAC members for their comments and evaluation.
• A few of us attended our first 'virtual' meeting, which was the '79th Annual Society of Developmental Biology meeting, 2020'. Girish was supposed to attend in person and could not do so. Overall a disappointing experience. The talks lacked punch, either because of the online forum or the late timings (for India) or otherwise. Shweta, Neel, Sushmitha, Girish 'attended' this meeting.
• A few of us attended our first 'virtual' meeting, which was the '79th Annual Society of Developmental Biology meeting, 2020'. Girish was supposed to attend in person and could not do so. Overall a disappointing experience. The talks lacked punch, either because of the online forum or the late timings (for India) or otherwise. Shweta, Neel, Sushmitha, Girish 'attended' this meeting.
• Volunteers for the CTC are allowed to come back to Campus - though not allowed to work in the laboratory. This particular door allowed first Shweta (early July ’20) and then Amar (late July ’20) to be back on Campus. Both of them are using the time to write their thesis.
• Volunteers for the CTC are allowed to come back to Campus - though not allowed to work in the laboratory. This particular door allowed first Shweta (early July ’20) and then Amar (late July ’20) to be back on Campus. Both of them are using the time to write their thesis.
• Regular (online) lab meetings have now started after a 2 month break (April-May 2020). It took that much time to regain equilibrium and to realize that things were NOT getting back to normal in the near future.
• Regular (online) lab meetings have now started after a 2 month break (April-May 2020). It took that much time to regain equilibrium and to realize that things were NOT getting back to normal in the near future.
• Neel Wagh has got an offer from Dr. Marion Silies group at UMB Mainz. Hasta la Vista Neel (May 2020). Departure delayed because of the epidemic - Neel has meanwhile volunteered for the Covid centre and is part of the team screening patient samples at the COVID Testing Centre Centre (CTC), IISER.
• Neel Wagh has got an offer from Dr. Marion Silies group at UMB Mainz. Hasta la Vista Neel (May 2020). Departure delayed because of the epidemic - Neel has meanwhile volunteered for the Covid centre and is part of the team screening patient samples at the COVID Testing Centre Centre (CTC), IISER.
• Anjana has been selected for a Ph.D. position at TIFR, Mumbai (May 2020). Many congratulations.
• Anjana has been selected for a Ph.D. position at TIFR, Mumbai (May 2020). Many congratulations.
• Our friendly neighboring group (Richa Rikhy’s laboratory) has published two nice stories in the J. Cell Science. Congratulations to Richa and her graduate students (5 May 2020).
• Our friendly neighboring group (Richa Rikhy’s laboratory) has published two nice stories in the J. Cell Science. Congratulations to Richa and her graduate students (5 May 2020).
• IISER now has a ‘Covid Action Group’ which is setting up a diagnostic centre (CTC) at the second floor of the IISER Animal House. We expect to start screening patient samples in May 2020.
• IISER now has a ‘Covid Action Group’ which is setting up a diagnostic centre (CTC) at the second floor of the IISER Animal House. We expect to start screening patient samples in May 2020.
• IISER formally shutdown in response to the COVID19 epidemic that is sweeping across the globe. Students, both undergraduate and graduate had to leave. Both teaching and research are effectively stalled (2/3 week of March 2020).
• IISER formally shutdown in response to the COVID19 epidemic that is sweeping across the globe. Students, both undergraduate and graduate had to leave. Both teaching and research are effectively stalled (2/3 week of March 2020).
---------------------------------------May 2020 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------May 2020 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
• March and April 2020 was a difficult time for our laboratory. Students had to leave Campus, with teaching and research shut down for the foreseeable future. Traveling under such conditions for students was not pleasant, and their dealing with the absence of what was normal life at IISER, even more so.
• March and April 2020 was a difficult time for our laboratory. Students had to leave Campus, with teaching and research shut down for the foreseeable future. Traveling under such conditions for students was not pleasant, and their dealing with the absence of what was normal life at IISER, even more so.
• In the laboratory, with students and most of the Staff missing, Snehal took up the load, single handedly managing to make media and maintain fly stocks. All working stocks were thrown and it took 3 months, with part time help from students and casual labor, to just discard and clean vials/bottles. By May 2020, things had stabilized - with a never before accumulation of washed (and empty) bottles/vials decorating the laboratory. We could do without these ‘decorations’ in the future.
• In the laboratory, with students and most of the Staff missing, Snehal took up the load, single handedly managing to make media and maintain fly stocks. All working stocks were thrown and it took 3 months, with part time help from students and casual labor, to just discard and clean vials/bottles. By May 2020, things had stabilized - with a never before accumulation of washed (and empty) bottles/vials decorating the laboratory. We could do without these ‘decorations’ in the future.
COVID Days. The months from March-2020 to June 2020 were spent in a lockdown with all research stopped. All students (including Ph.D. students) were asked to leave campus and return home in the second week of March by the IISER Director, in response to a directive from MHRD. The subsequent weeks saw nation-wide lockdowns (6 weeks and running), as also a spread of coronavirus infections across India. Pune turned out to be one of the top hotspots in India, along with its bigger sibling - Mumbai. Restrictions are slowly being eased across the country - with hotspots being the exceptions (March2020 - May 2020).
COVID Days. The months from March-2020 to June 2020 were spent in a lockdown with all research stopped. All students (including Ph.D. students) were asked to leave campus and return home in the second week of March by the IISER Director, in response to a directive from MHRD. The subsequent weeks saw nation-wide lockdowns (6 weeks and running), as also a spread of coronavirus infections across India. Pune turned out to be one of the top hotspots in India, along with its bigger sibling - Mumbai. Restrictions are slowly being eased across the country - with hotspots being the exceptions (March2020 - May 2020).
------------------------------------------Jan-March 2020-------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------Jan-March 2020-------------------------------------------------------
• Many congratulations to Amar Soory who got married to fellow student (and Int. Ph.D. batch-mate) Akhila Gungi at Hyderabad on 20th March 2020. The entire lab was meant to be in Hyderabad to celebrate and bless the event - but the viral pandemic played spoilsport. We look forward to their return to Pune and subsequent late-night parties.
• Many congratulations to Amar Soory who got married to fellow student (and Int. Ph.D. batch-mate) Akhila Gungi at Hyderabad on 20th March 2020. The entire lab was meant to be in Hyderabad to celebrate and bless the event - but the viral pandemic played spoilsport. We look forward to their return to Pune and subsequent late-night parties.
• The lab has received its first grant from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - aims to use CRIPSR/Cas9 gene editing to generate a Drosophila model of ALS8.
• The lab has received its first grant from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - aims to use CRIPSR/Cas9 gene editing to generate a Drosophila model of ALS8.
• The three MSckuteers from the lab (Jyothish, Aarti and Anjana) submitted their MS thesis from the safety of their respective homes. The student exodus in March meant that they had to leave without the usual going-away parties. Best wishes to all three for a bright future.
• The three MSckuteers from the lab (Jyothish, Aarti and Anjana) submitted their MS thesis from the safety of their respective homes. The student exodus in March meant that they had to leave without the usual going-away parties. Best wishes to all three for a bright future.
• The lab is now funded by the MHRD STARS Grant (January 2020). This is a collaboration with Dr. CV Srikanth from Regional Centre of Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad where we compare and contrast roles for SUMO in gut host defense (fly vs mouse).
• The lab is now funded by the MHRD STARS Grant (January 2020). This is a collaboration with Dr. CV Srikanth from Regional Centre of Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad where we compare and contrast roles for SUMO in gut host defense (fly vs mouse).
• The Asia-Pacific Drosophila Research Conference (APDRC5) was organized by four labs - Rikhy/Dey/Shashidhara/Ratnaparkhi at the Westin Hotel from 6th-10th January 2020. Tiring days for all of us, but we were happy to pull off a successful conference. Here is a picture of all the student volunteers from IISER who dealt with the actual running of the meeting. A link to the Abstract Book for APDRC5 - https://home.apdrc5.in/abstract-book.
• The Asia-Pacific Drosophila Research Conference (APDRC5) was organized by four labs - Rikhy/Dey/Shashidhara/Ratnaparkhi at the Westin Hotel from 6th-10th January 2020. Tiring days for all of us, but we were happy to pull off a successful conference. Here is a picture of all the student volunteers from IISER who dealt with the actual running of the meeting. A link to the Abstract Book for APDRC5 - https://home.apdrc5.in/abstract-book.
• ‘Signals from the Gut’ a mini-symposium (https://sites.google.com/site/gutnccs2020/) organized by NCCS and IISER. Amar Soory spoke about his research on the effect of SUMO conjugation on Jra function in the gut.
• ‘Signals from the Gut’ a mini-symposium (https://sites.google.com/site/gutnccs2020/) organized by NCCS and IISER. Amar Soory spoke about his research on the effect of SUMO conjugation on Jra function in the gut.
2019
2019
• All eyes and all our time is spent on prepping for APDRC5 and ‘Signals from the Gut’.
• All eyes and all our time is spent on prepping for APDRC5 and ‘Signals from the Gut’.
• Girish is a Subject Editor (Genetics & Biochemistry) for the Indian Academy of Science Journal ‘Current Science’ (Nov 2019).
• Girish is a Subject Editor (Genetics & Biochemistry) for the Indian Academy of Science Journal ‘Current Science’ (Nov 2019).
• On the eve of Krexit, a celebration of the fly model (Supa Dupa Fly; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHcyJPTTn9w).
• On the eve of Krexit, a celebration of the fly model (Supa Dupa Fly; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHcyJPTTn9w).
• Subhradip Das joins the lab as a Ph.D. student (1 Oct, 2019). We are a rather large lab now.
• Subhradip Das joins the lab as a Ph.D. student (1 Oct, 2019). We are a rather large lab now.
• Shweta is off to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory to attend the ‘Neurobiology of Drosophila meeting; https://meetings.cshl.edu/meetings.aspx?meet=DROS&year=19’). Oct 1-5, 2019.
• Shweta is off to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory to attend the ‘Neurobiology of Drosophila meeting; https://meetings.cshl.edu/meetings.aspx?meet=DROS&year=19’). Oct 1-5, 2019.
• Shweta is awarded the Disease Models & Mechanisms (http://dmm.biologists.org/) travel fellowship for her visit to CSHL (Oct 2019).
• Shweta is awarded the Disease Models & Mechanisms (http://dmm.biologists.org/) travel fellowship for her visit to CSHL (Oct 2019).
• Kriti gets a Post-Doc offer; Plans to join the lab of Iris Lindberg (https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/profiles/Lindberg-Iris/) at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine (3 August, 2019). Tentative Krexit date is October 2019.
• Kriti gets a Post-Doc offer; Plans to join the lab of Iris Lindberg (https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/profiles/Lindberg-Iris/) at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine (3 August, 2019). Tentative Krexit date is October 2019.
• Lab welcomes Lovleen Garg, who joins the laboratory as a Integrated Ph.D. student (1 August, 2019).
• Lab welcomes Lovleen Garg, who joins the laboratory as a Integrated Ph.D. student (1 August, 2019).
• Anuradha’s Mon1/Rab7 paper is accepted in the Int. J. of Dev. Biol.; Special Issue on ‘Developmental Biology in India’ Congratulations to Anu’s lab members as also Senthil from the GR lab (20 July 2019).
• Anuradha’s Mon1/Rab7 paper is accepted in the Int. J. of Dev. Biol.; Special Issue on ‘Developmental Biology in India’ Congratulations to Anu’s lab members as also Senthil from the GR lab (20 July 2019).
• The Mon1/Dendritic arborization paper is accepted in a Frontiers in Cell & Developmental Biology. Research done by Rohit Krishnan as an undergraduate, many years ago - wrapped up by Shweta in the last couple of years (15 July 2019).
• The Mon1/Dendritic arborization paper is accepted in a Frontiers in Cell & Developmental Biology. Research done by Rohit Krishnan as an undergraduate, many years ago - wrapped up by Shweta in the last couple of years (15 July 2019).
• Shweta stars in a video made by the IISER Science Media Centre (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68Nc0fan0P0).
• Shweta stars in a video made by the IISER Science Media Centre (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68Nc0fan0P0).
• The APDRC5 (5th Asia Pacific Drosophila Research Conference) Web-Site is open for registration (15 May 2019).
• The APDRC5 (5th Asia Pacific Drosophila Research Conference) Web-Site is open for registration (15 May 2019).
• Our collaboratory paper on Mon1, with Anuradha as lead investigator is accepted in Development. Finally! A long wait and grueling rounds of work before we saw this day! Many Congratulations to Neena & Shweta from our laboratory (May 2019). Neena was an undergraduate student who worked on this problem for ~4 years. She is currently at AIIMS Delhi.
• Our collaboratory paper on Mon1, with Anuradha as lead investigator is accepted in Development. Finally! A long wait and grueling rounds of work before we saw this day! Many Congratulations to Neena & Shweta from our laboratory (May 2019). Neena was an undergraduate student who worked on this problem for ~4 years. She is currently at AIIMS Delhi.
• Amar Soory heads to France for a CNRS meeting on ‘Integrated Insect Immunology:Controlling Infections’ at Roscoff, June 24-28, 2019 (https://www.insb.cnrs.fr/integrated-insect-immunology-controlling-infections).
• Amar Soory heads to France for a CNRS meeting on ‘Integrated Insect Immunology:Controlling Infections’ at Roscoff, June 24-28, 2019 (https://www.insb.cnrs.fr/integrated-insect-immunology-controlling-infections).
• Neel defends his MS thesis; Nice research followed by a great presentation on the day of his Defense (2 May 2019).
• Neel defends his MS thesis; Nice research followed by a great presentation on the day of his Defense (2 May 2019).
• Undergraduates Aarti, Anjana and Jyothish join the lab for the final year MS Project. Aarti is on MARS, Anjana is endocytosing while Jyothish FAFs around (May 2019).
• Undergraduates Aarti, Anjana and Jyothish join the lab for the final year MS Project. Aarti is on MARS, Anjana is endocytosing while Jyothish FAFs around (May 2019).
• Kriti is now Dr. Kriti. Successfully defends her Ph.D. thesis with Parents (and Jayant) in attendance (29 April, 2019).
• Kriti is now Dr. Kriti. Successfully defends her Ph.D. thesis with Parents (and Jayant) in attendance (29 April, 2019).
• Mon1/Rab interaction paper is submitted. We have explored Mon1 and its roles in endocytic flux in the context of development of the larval Type IV dendritic arbors (March 2019).
• Mon1/Rab interaction paper is submitted. We have explored Mon1 and its roles in endocytic flux in the context of development of the larval Type IV dendritic arbors (March 2019).
• Amar Soory is selected as a ‘CSIR Senior Research Fellow’ after a competitive selection process. The CSIR SRF fellowship will fund his final year of research, i.e., 2019-2020.
• Amar Soory is selected as a ‘CSIR Senior Research Fellow’ after a competitive selection process. The CSIR SRF fellowship will fund his final year of research, i.e., 2019-2020.
• DST announces 25% increase in research fellowships, starting 1st January 2019. Many congratulations to all Ph.D. students.
• DST announces 25% increase in research fellowships, starting 1st January 2019. Many congratulations to all Ph.D. students.
• Kriti is featured in DMM’s ‘First Person’ Section (http://dmm.biologists.org/content/12/2/dmm038984).
• Kriti is featured in DMM’s ‘First Person’ Section (http://dmm.biologists.org/content/12/2/dmm038984).
• Kriti submits her Ph.D. thesis (4th Feb, 2019).
• Kriti submits her Ph.D. thesis (4th Feb, 2019).
• Kriti and Anuradha head to Bangalore for an EMBO workshop, ‘Molecular neuroscience: From genes to circuits in health and disease’, 4th - 7th Feb 2019 (http://meetings.embo.org/event/19-mol-neuroscience).
• Kriti and Anuradha head to Bangalore for an EMBO workshop, ‘Molecular neuroscience: From genes to circuits in health and disease’, 4th - 7th Feb 2019 (http://meetings.embo.org/event/19-mol-neuroscience).
• Girish and Anu travel to the Academia Sinica, Taiwan for the second Asia-Pacific Drosophila Neuroscience (APDRC2) meeting.
• Girish and Anu travel to the Academia Sinica, Taiwan for the second Asia-Pacific Drosophila Neuroscience (APDRC2) meeting.
• Kriti’s paper is accepted in Disease Models & Mechanisms (http://dmm.biologists.org/). Many Congratulations to all stakeholders (Lokesh, Senthil, Balaji, Girish, Kriti & Siddhesh). 8 Jan 2019.
• Kriti’s paper is accepted in Disease Models & Mechanisms (http://dmm.biologists.org/). Many Congratulations to all stakeholders (Lokesh, Senthil, Balaji, Girish, Kriti & Siddhesh). 8 Jan 2019.
• Sushmitha Hegde and Kundan Kumar travel to NCBS for the “9th Bangalore Benny Shilo Course in Developmental Biology 2019; https://www.ncbs.res.in/events/devbio2019” (Jan 2019).
• Sushmitha Hegde and Kundan Kumar travel to NCBS for the “9th Bangalore Benny Shilo Course in Developmental Biology 2019; https://www.ncbs.res.in/events/devbio2019” (Jan 2019).
• Kundan Kumar formally joins the laboratory as a Ph.D. student (1 Jan 2019). Kundan is our putative proteomic arm.
• Kundan Kumar formally joins the laboratory as a Ph.D. student (1 Jan 2019). Kundan is our putative proteomic arm.
2018
2018
• Anuradha’s paper on Neuronal regulation of female germline by a novel Mon1/IPC axis (https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/12/31/508598) is uploaded on BioArchive (31 Dec 2018).
• Anuradha’s paper on Neuronal regulation of female germline by a novel Mon1/IPC axis (https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/12/31/508598) is uploaded on BioArchive (31 Dec 2018).
• CRISPR ahoy! Prajna has successfully generated 5 Lys>Arg mutations in a single gene.
• CRISPR ahoy! Prajna has successfully generated 5 Lys>Arg mutations in a single gene.
• Bhagyashree is offered, accepts and leaves for a Post-Doctoral position in the laboratory of Prof. Ethan Bier (http://bierlab.weebly.com/). Many Congratulations Bhagyashree - keep us posted from the land of shiny beaches and ‘active’ genetics.
• Bhagyashree is offered, accepts and leaves for a Post-Doctoral position in the laboratory of Prof. Ethan Bier (http://bierlab.weebly.com/). Many Congratulations Bhagyashree - keep us posted from the land of shiny beaches and ‘active’ genetics.
• Bhagyashree’s paper is accepted in the Journal of Experimental Biology. Many congratulations to her and our collaborators from Pune University (Varada Abhyankar, Deepti Deobagkar) and of course our secret weapon (Siddhesh Kamat).
• Bhagyashree’s paper is accepted in the Journal of Experimental Biology. Many congratulations to her and our collaborators from Pune University (Varada Abhyankar, Deepti Deobagkar) and of course our secret weapon (Siddhesh Kamat).
• Second lab paper (ROS triggers clearance of neuroaggregates) uploaded to BioArchive (https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/07/13/368100 ) - again without peer review.
• Second lab paper (ROS triggers clearance of neuroaggregates) uploaded to BioArchive (https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/07/13/368100 ) - again without peer review.
• First lab paper (DMt2 in immunity) uploaded to BioArchive (http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/362012v1) - without peer review. Entering an alternate universe.
• First lab paper (DMt2 in immunity) uploaded to BioArchive (http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/362012v1) - without peer review. Entering an alternate universe.
• Aparna Thulasidharan is selected for the NCBS-CCAMP Bangalore Microscopy Course (2018).
• Aparna Thulasidharan is selected for the NCBS-CCAMP Bangalore Microscopy Course (2018).
• Kriti is awarded a ‘Disease Models & Mechanisms (DMM)’ fellowship to travel to a Gordon Research Conference on ‘Neurobiology of Brain disorders’ at Castelldefels, Spain.
• Kriti is awarded a ‘Disease Models & Mechanisms (DMM)’ fellowship to travel to a Gordon Research Conference on ‘Neurobiology of Brain disorders’ at Castelldefels, Spain.
• Darshini Ravishankar is selected for the Ph.D. Program at NCBS, Bangalore and at the Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology, Japan. Many congratulations - Big in Bangalore or Big in Japan?
• Darshini Ravishankar is selected for the Ph.D. Program at NCBS, Bangalore and at the Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology, Japan. Many congratulations - Big in Bangalore or Big in Japan?
• Vallari’s paper on Brickwall is accepted in G3; Congrats to all stakeholders (April 2018).
• Vallari’s paper on Brickwall is accepted in G3; Congrats to all stakeholders (April 2018).
• Bhagyashree successfully defends her thesis (28th Feb, 2018). A long road, well travelled. Congratulations, Dr. Kaduskar.
• Bhagyashree successfully defends her thesis (28th Feb, 2018). A long road, well travelled. Congratulations, Dr. Kaduskar.
• Lab members (Kriti, Shweta) travel to Hyderabad for the International Congress for Cell Biology (http://www.ccmb.res.in/iccb2018/) in Jan 2018.
• Lab members (Kriti, Shweta) travel to Hyderabad for the International Congress for Cell Biology (http://www.ccmb.res.in/iccb2018/) in Jan 2018.
• Lab members (Kriti, Neena, Bhagyashree) present posters at the IISER-Weizmann Conference (Jan 2018).
• Lab members (Kriti, Neena, Bhagyashree) present posters at the IISER-Weizmann Conference (Jan 2018).
• A large contingent (eleven) of undergraduates join the laboratory for semester rotation; allowing us to consider entering the IPL (Cricket - IISER Premier League) (Jan 2018).
• A large contingent (eleven) of undergraduates join the laboratory for semester rotation; allowing us to consider entering the IPL (Cricket - IISER Premier League) (Jan 2018).
• Girish attends the NCBS Annual Talks (Jan 2018).
• Girish attends the NCBS Annual Talks (Jan 2018).
• The Padinjat lab VAPB paper is accepted in JCS (Jan 2018).
• The Padinjat lab VAPB paper is accepted in JCS (Jan 2018).
• The Dnmt2 and Mon1 papers are submitted (Jan 2018).
• The Dnmt2 and Mon1 papers are submitted (Jan 2018).
2017
2017
• Bhagyashree gives her Pre-Synopsis seminar and follows up by submitting her thesis in the same month (Dec 2017).
• Bhagyashree gives her Pre-Synopsis seminar and follows up by submitting her thesis in the same month (Dec 2017).
• Members of the laboratory travel to IISER Bhopal to attend the Indian Drosophila research conference (InDRC; 6th-9th Dec, 2017).
• Members of the laboratory travel to IISER Bhopal to attend the Indian Drosophila research conference (InDRC; 6th-9th Dec, 2017).
• Girish is off to a SUMO meeting (EMBO, Dubrovinik, Croatia) and the European fly meeting (EDRC, London) (15-25th September, 2017).
• Girish is off to a SUMO meeting (EMBO, Dubrovinik, Croatia) and the European fly meeting (EDRC, London) (15-25th September, 2017).
• The Brickwall (August 2017) and the ROS paper (Sept 2017) are out for review.
• The Brickwall (August 2017) and the ROS paper (Sept 2017) are out for review.
• Biology Annual Talks (#6) are now mentored by Nagaraj. Girish hangs up his boots after 5 years of Annual Talks (2011-2016). Posters that advertise ‘Biology Conclave 2017’ are fun! We also have new T-Shirts (4th August 2017).
• Biology Annual Talks (#6) are now mentored by Nagaraj. Girish hangs up his boots after 5 years of Annual Talks (2011-2016). Posters that advertise ‘Biology Conclave 2017’ are fun! We also have new T-Shirts (4th August 2017).
• New Institutional responsibility for Girish as Dean, Doctoral Studies (July 2017).
• New Institutional responsibility for Girish as Dean, Doctoral Studies (July 2017).
• Lokesh and Apurv are GRlab-Alumni that turn up for InSDB. It is good to see them back in IISER.
• Lokesh and Apurv are GRlab-Alumni that turn up for InSDB. It is good to see them back in IISER.
• Indian Society for Developmental Biology (InSDB2017; (June 23-26 2017)) organized by members of the lab (amongst others). Great talks; We had a good time. Dr. Norbert Perrimon gives a nice talk and takes the time to interact with all lab members and chats about individual projects . 11 Posters from GR lab. Amar (formally) organizes the Crispr/Cas9 workshop with Sanjeev. Amar seems to have enjoyed the responsibility and the chance to be lord of the flies.
• Indian Society for Developmental Biology (InSDB2017; (June 23-26 2017)) organized by members of the lab (amongst others). Great talks; We had a good time. Dr. Norbert Perrimon gives a nice talk and takes the time to interact with all lab members and chats about individual projects . 11 Posters from GR lab. Amar (formally) organizes the Crispr/Cas9 workshop with Sanjeev. Amar seems to have enjoyed the responsibility and the chance to be lord of the flies.
• Richa = Associate Professor (June 2017).
• Richa = Associate Professor (June 2017).
• Neena also wraps up her thesis, working with Anuradha on Mon1. She will stay on as a Project Assistant in GR lab.
• Neena also wraps up her thesis, working with Anuradha on Mon1. She will stay on as a Project Assistant in GR lab.
• Darshini leaves the lab after wrapping up her thesis on Aac11/Api5 SUMOylation (May 2016).
• Darshini leaves the lab after wrapping up her thesis on Aac11/Api5 SUMOylation (May 2016).
• Exit Vallari (May, 2017).
• Exit Vallari (May, 2017).
• Vallari successfully defends her thesis (30th March 2017).
• Vallari successfully defends her thesis (30th March 2017).
• DST-FIST grant awarded to Biology Department (Jan 2017). The money will fund a Departmental Mass Spectrometry Facility.
• DST-FIST grant awarded to Biology Department (Jan 2017). The money will fund a Departmental Mass Spectrometry Facility.
• We welcome Aparna Thulasidharan and Sushmitha Hegde, who join the lab as graduate students via the Integrated Ph.D. program.
• We welcome Aparna Thulasidharan and Sushmitha Hegde, who join the lab as graduate students via the Integrated Ph.D. program.
2016
2016
• ‘Some more SUMO’. A short inter-lab symposium with Dr. Jomon Josephs group (NCCS) members (3 Dec, 2016).
• ‘Some more SUMO’. A short inter-lab symposium with Dr. Jomon Josephs group (NCCS) members (3 Dec, 2016).
• Vallari has accepted a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Copenhagen (Nov, 2016).
• Vallari has accepted a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Copenhagen (Nov, 2016).
• Bhagyashree generates first Crispr/Cas9 genomic mutation for a SUMO target.
• Bhagyashree generates first Crispr/Cas9 genomic mutation for a SUMO target.
• Vallari Submits her thesis (Oct, 2016).
• Vallari Submits her thesis (Oct, 2016).
• Comprehensive, Comprehensive, Comprehensive. Amar, Akbar and Anthony gear up to meet the anhoni challenge (July, 2016).
• Comprehensive, Comprehensive, Comprehensive. Amar, Akbar and Anthony gear up to meet the anhoni challenge (July, 2016).
• Vallari is ready to write her thesis! Pre-Synopsis presentation on 1st July, 2016.
• Vallari is ready to write her thesis! Pre-Synopsis presentation on 1st July, 2016.
• Neena Dhiman starts her MS project as does Dharshini Ravishankar (June 2016).
• Neena Dhiman starts her MS project as does Dharshini Ravishankar (June 2016).
• Our lab been awarded a DBT grant under the North East Region Twinning Program. Our collaborative partner and Principal Investigator is Sarat Yenisetti from Nagaland University (May 2016).
• Our lab been awarded a DBT grant under the North East Region Twinning Program. Our collaborative partner and Principal Investigator is Sarat Yenisetti from Nagaland University (May 2016).
• Vallari gets hitched. We are still waiting for the treat! (May 2016).
• Vallari gets hitched. We are still waiting for the treat! (May 2016).
• Girish is Co-Chair, Biology (April 2016).
• Girish is Co-Chair, Biology (April 2016).
• The lab travels to NCBS Bangalore for a Conference on Ubiquitin & Ubiquitin-like proteins. 27-28th Jan. Girish gives a talk while Amar, Bhagyashree and Prajna present posters. Chris Lima unveils a spectacular new structure in his talk.
• The lab travels to NCBS Bangalore for a Conference on Ubiquitin & Ubiquitin-like proteins. 27-28th Jan. Girish gives a talk while Amar, Bhagyashree and Prajna present posters. Chris Lima unveils a spectacular new structure in his talk.
• The Biology Department is reviewed by an International panel of Leaders in Biology. It was great interacting with the Cell & Dev. Biology group panelists - Drs. Maria Leptin, Helen Skaer, Mina Bissell and Thomas Lecuit. (20-21 January).
• The Biology Department is reviewed by an International panel of Leaders in Biology. It was great interacting with the Cell & Dev. Biology group panelists - Drs. Maria Leptin, Helen Skaer, Mina Bissell and Thomas Lecuit. (20-21 January).
• We are now funded by three new grants, starting in Jan 2016. Two from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and one from the Science & Engineering Board (SERB-DST).
• We are now funded by three new grants, starting in Jan 2016. Two from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and one from the Science & Engineering Board (SERB-DST).
2015
2015
• The lab travels to the fly meeting at IIT Kanpur (Dec 2015).
• The lab travels to the fly meeting at IIT Kanpur (Dec 2015).
• Senthil has accepted a Post-Doctoral offer from Dr. Cornelius Gross at EMBL, Monterotondo, studying the developmental programming of behaviour (Dec 2015).
• Senthil has accepted a Post-Doctoral offer from Dr. Cornelius Gross at EMBL, Monterotondo, studying the developmental programming of behaviour (Dec 2015).
• Sneha has been awarded a Newton International Fellowship for Post-Doctoral Research in the UK (Dec 2015).
• Sneha has been awarded a Newton International Fellowship for Post-Doctoral Research in the UK (Dec 2015).
• Lokesh is busy exploring eating joints as he settles into a Graduate Program in Stephan Grill’s lab at TU, Dresden (Dec 2015).
• Lokesh is busy exploring eating joints as he settles into a Graduate Program in Stephan Grill’s lab at TU, Dresden (Dec 2015).
• The Fly Media Facility & Stock Centre moves to the Main Building (Oct 2015).
• The Fly Media Facility & Stock Centre moves to the Main Building (Oct 2015).
• Lokesh is accepted in a Graduate Student Program in Dresden, Germany (Sept 2015).
• Lokesh is accepted in a Graduate Student Program in Dresden, Germany (Sept 2015).
• Mithila’s SUMO proteome screen gets accepted in G3:Genes, Genomes & Genetics (August 2015).
• Mithila’s SUMO proteome screen gets accepted in G3:Genes, Genomes & Genetics (August 2015).
• Senthil’s work on Mon1 in collabration with Dr. Anuradha Ratnaparkhi gets accepted in Genetics (August 2015).
• Senthil’s work on Mon1 in collabration with Dr. Anuradha Ratnaparkhi gets accepted in Genetics (August 2015).
• Amar Soory formally joins the laboratory as a Graduate Student (Jan/August 2015).
• Amar Soory formally joins the laboratory as a Graduate Student (Jan/August 2015).
• Dr. Senthil “24/7” Deivasigamani sucessfully defends his thesis (May, 2015).
• Dr. Senthil “24/7” Deivasigamani sucessfully defends his thesis (May, 2015).
• Lokesh defends his Masters research and is awarded a BS-MS degree (May, 2015).
• Lokesh defends his Masters research and is awarded a BS-MS degree (May, 2015).
• Fly lab shifts from G1 to Main academic building (April, 2015).
• Fly lab shifts from G1 to Main academic building (April, 2015).
• Dr. Sneha Bansode joins the lab as a post-doctoral researcher (April, 2015).
• Dr. Sneha Bansode joins the lab as a post-doctoral researcher (April, 2015).
• Senthil submits his PhD thesis (March, 2015).
• Senthil submits his PhD thesis (March, 2015).
2014
2014
• Girish gets promoted to Associate Professor.
• Girish gets promoted to Associate Professor.
• The lab moves from G1 block to Main building @IISER Pune. Our lab is on the second floor (SF-B).
• The lab moves from G1 block to Main building @IISER Pune. Our lab is on the second floor (SF-B).
• Ramya leaves the lab to join PhD program in Dresden, Germany.
• Ramya leaves the lab to join PhD program in Dresden, Germany.
• We bid farewell to Dr Mithila, first PhD student from the lab (November 2014).
• We bid farewell to Dr Mithila, first PhD student from the lab (November 2014).
• Mithila defends her Thesis. We congratulate Dr. Mithila Handu! (November 2014).
• Mithila defends her Thesis. We congratulate Dr. Mithila Handu! (November 2014).
• We welcome PhD students Shweta and Prajna to the lab (September 2014).
• We welcome PhD students Shweta and Prajna to the lab (September 2014).
• Senthil’s reverse genetic screen to identify interactors of VAPB is accepted in Biology Open (September, 2014).
• Senthil’s reverse genetic screen to identify interactors of VAPB is accepted in Biology Open (September, 2014).
• Mithila submits her PhD thesis (September, 2014).
• Mithila submits her PhD thesis (September, 2014).
• The President of India, Hon. Pranab Mukherjee inaugurates the Main Research Block (June 2014).
• The President of India, Hon. Pranab Mukherjee inaugurates the Main Research Block (June 2014).
• Janavi joins the lab of Stephen Rogerson’s laboratory in University of Melbourne, Australia (August, 2014).
• Janavi joins the lab of Stephen Rogerson’s laboratory in University of Melbourne, Australia (August, 2014).
• Ramya gets married in March and so does Mithila; members of the lab travel to Delhi to attend Mithila’s marriage (May 2014).
• Ramya gets married in March and so does Mithila; members of the lab travel to Delhi to attend Mithila’s marriage (May 2014).
• Prof. Balaram, Director IISc, inaugurates G1 block. The Biology Department is currently housed here.
• Prof. Balaram, Director IISc, inaugurates G1 block. The Biology Department is currently housed here.
2013
2013
• Vallari’s paper, on redundancy and expansion in the MADF-BESS family is accepted in the journal Genetics.
• Vallari’s paper, on redundancy and expansion in the MADF-BESS family is accepted in the journal Genetics.
• All members of our laboratory travels to Bangalore to attend and present posters at the AICBC meeting on Cell Dynamics and Cell Fate.
• All members of our laboratory travels to Bangalore to attend and present posters at the AICBC meeting on Cell Dynamics and Cell Fate.
• Vallari Shukla is selected for a platform presentation in the All India Cell Biology Conference & Symposium on Cell Dynamics and Cell Fate (Dec 22-24) at IISc, Bangalore.
• Vallari Shukla is selected for a platform presentation in the All India Cell Biology Conference & Symposium on Cell Dynamics and Cell Fate (Dec 22-24) at IISc, Bangalore.
• Srija Bhagvatula starts Graduate School in the Knust Lab, Max Planck Institute for Cell Biology & Genetics, Dresden, Germany.
• Srija Bhagvatula starts Graduate School in the Knust Lab, Max Planck Institute for Cell Biology & Genetics, Dresden, Germany.
• Mithila Handu attended the 23rd European Drosophila Research Conference, 16-19 Oct, 2013 on a CSIR travel fellowship.
• Mithila Handu attended the 23rd European Drosophila Research Conference, 16-19 Oct, 2013 on a CSIR travel fellowship.
• The Laboratory shifts to IISER Main Campus, with new lodgings in PEB-III (christened G1) in September, 2013.
• The Laboratory shifts to IISER Main Campus, with new lodgings in PEB-III (christened G1) in September, 2013.
• Noopur Bhore will start Graduate School in Academia Sinica, Taiwan (September 2013).
• Noopur Bhore will start Graduate School in Academia Sinica, Taiwan (September 2013).
• Bhagyashree Kaduskar & Mithila Handu attend “Workshop on Quantitative Proteomics” at IOB, Bangalore (Aug 2013).
• Bhagyashree Kaduskar & Mithila Handu attend “Workshop on Quantitative Proteomics” at IOB, Bangalore (Aug 2013).
• Kriti Chaplot joins the lab as a Graduate Student, the first project assistant to take the giant step (August 2013).
• Kriti Chaplot joins the lab as a Graduate Student, the first project assistant to take the giant step (August 2013).
• Lokesh Pimpale visits NCBS to start a whole genome screen for neuroaggregation (July 2013).
• Lokesh Pimpale visits NCBS to start a whole genome screen for neuroaggregation (July 2013).
• First laboratory research paper, on Hydra SUMOylation, published in the Journal Genesis (June 2013).
• First laboratory research paper, on Hydra SUMOylation, published in the Journal Genesis (June 2013).
2012
2012
• Vallari Shukla gives a platform presentation at the Asia-Pacific Developmental Biology Conference (APDBC -2012) in Taiwan. She was awarded a APDBN travel fellowship to attend the meeting (Oct 2012).
• Vallari Shukla gives a platform presentation at the Asia-Pacific Developmental Biology Conference (APDBC -2012) in Taiwan. She was awarded a APDBN travel fellowship to attend the meeting (Oct 2012).
• Vijay Barathi starts Graduate School in Academia Sinica, Taiwan (August 2012).
• Vijay Barathi starts Graduate School in Academia Sinica, Taiwan (August 2012).
• Varsha starts Graduate School at Weil-Cornell University, New York (August 2012).
• Varsha starts Graduate School at Weil-Cornell University, New York (August 2012).
• Ankita Jha visits the National Institute of Genetics as a NIG Summer Intern (June-July 2012).
• Ankita Jha visits the National Institute of Genetics as a NIG Summer Intern (June-July 2012).
• Bhagyashree visits Ryu Ueda’s laboratory at the National Institute of Genetics, Japan (Jan-March 2012) on a JASSO-Sokendai fellowship.
• Bhagyashree visits Ryu Ueda’s laboratory at the National Institute of Genetics, Japan (Jan-March 2012) on a JASSO-Sokendai fellowship.
2011
2011
• Umair Khan & Swati Venkat are selected for the prestigious Khorana Fellowship (May-July 2011).
• Umair Khan & Swati Venkat are selected for the prestigious Khorana Fellowship (May-July 2011).
• Swati Venkat is selected for the NIG Summer Fellowship.
• Swati Venkat is selected for the NIG Summer Fellowship.
• Ritika ‘Awesome’ Giri leaves to start Graduate School in Northwestern University (August 2011).
• Ritika ‘Awesome’ Giri leaves to start Graduate School in Northwestern University (August 2011).
• Shalaka Chitale starts Graduate School in University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (August 2011).
• Shalaka Chitale starts Graduate School in University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (August 2011).
2010
2010
• Sakshi Korde does part of her Masters Research in Solomon Snyder’s Lab in Johns Hopkins, Baltimore (Dec 2010-Apr 2011).
• Sakshi Korde does part of her Masters Research in Solomon Snyder’s Lab in Johns Hopkins, Baltimore (Dec 2010-Apr 2011).
• Girish is awarded the Wellcome Trust Intermediate Fellowship.
• Girish is awarded the Wellcome Trust Intermediate Fellowship.
• Mithila and Senthilkumar attend the 1st Asia-Pacific Drosophila Research Conference (APDRC) on APDRC-NIG Travel Fellowships.
• Mithila and Senthilkumar attend the 1st Asia-Pacific Drosophila Research Conference (APDRC) on APDRC-NIG Travel Fellowships.
2009
2009
• Senthilkumar visits Ryu Ueda’s lab at the National Institute of Genetics, Japan (Jan-March 2010), funded by the IISER-NIG program (2009)
• Senthilkumar visits Ryu Ueda’s lab at the National Institute of Genetics, Japan (Jan-March 2010), funded by the IISER-NIG program (2009)
• Mithila visits Cambridge to attend the Wellcome Trust Advanced Course in Drosophila Genetics.
• Mithila visits Cambridge to attend the Wellcome Trust Advanced Course in Drosophila Genetics.
2008
2008
Girish visits Thomas Bosch’s Lab at the University of Kiel (Nov 2008)
Girish visits Thomas Bosch’s Lab at the University of Kiel (Nov 2008)
Mithila joins laboratory as its first Graduate Student (Aug 2008).
Mithila joins laboratory as its first Graduate Student (Aug 2008).