Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, IIT Madras, Chennai, India
Core Faculty, Centre for Integrative Biology and Systems medicinE (IBSE), IIT Madras, Chennai, India
Affiliate Faculty, Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI (WSAI), IIT Madras, Chennai, India
Visiting Scientist, Bioprocessing Technology Institute, A*STAR, Singapore
PhD (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering), National University of Singapore, Singapore
BTech (Chemical Engineering), St. Joseph's college of Engineering (Anna University), Chennai, India
Contact: meiyappan@iitm.ac.in |LinkedIn
My research experience is largely on developing computational methods to analyze metabolisms of mammalian and microbial cells by integrating diverse multi-omics data (genome, epigenome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome and glycome) and genome-scale mechanism-based models to unravel the complex biological traits and predict emergent behaviors, with a particular focus to enhance bioprocessing. My major research interests include systems biological analysis of cellular metabolism, protein expression and homeostasis, transcriptional regulation and cell differentiation. The major application areas of my research focus are biopharma process characterization and development, cell culture media and rational cell line development for biotherapeutics production and cultivated meat manufacturing applications.
PhD Student
MTech (Biotechnology), National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, India
BTech (Industrial Biotechnology), Government College of Technology, Coimbatore, India
Contact: meera@smail.iitm.ac.in| LinkedIn
I am a research enthusiast with broad interests in molecular biology and genetic engineering, and brief experience in plant biology, virology, and immunology. My previous works include investigating protein-DNA interactions in light signaling within Arabidopsis plants and developing tools to evaluate rationally developed influenza virus vaccines. Currently, I am focused on CHO cell line development to enhance the stability and productivity of transgenes.
MTech (Biotechnology), National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India
BTech (Biotechnology), Sree Sastha Institute of Engineering & Technology (Anna University), Chennai, India
Contact: tejaswini@smail.iitm.ac.in |LinkedIn
My research interests are in Bioprocess engineering and systems biology. I have previous experience in plant tissue culture, microbiology and bioprocess engineering, with previous work focused on the production and optimization of Bacoside using endophytic fungi isolated from Bacopa monnieri. My current research focuses on integrating experimental and computational approaches to develop genome-scale metabolic models and optimize serum-free media formulations for cultivated meat applications.
MSc (Botany), Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, India
BSc (Botany), Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, India
Contact: debabrata@smail.iitm.ac.in |LinkedIn
I am an enthusiastic biotechnology researcher with experience in plant breeding and genome editing to reduce narcotic properties while enhancing medicinal potential of Indian Cannabis. My background also includes cytogenetic studies and micropropagation for north east Indian banana germplasm conservation.
My current research is centered on improving biotherapeutic production in CHO cells through optimiziation of different regulatory elements in expression vector. In parallel, my work also involves transcriptional (re-) engineering of CHO secretory machinery for enhancing protein secretion efficiency.
Co-guided along with Prof. Dong-Yup Lee
MTech-PhD Student
BTech (Biotechnology), SASTRA University, Thanjavur, India
Contact: vikashgokul@smail.iitm.ac.in |LinkedIn
My research interest is in implementing computational modeling approaches for biotherapeutic production. I had a year of experience in mammalian cell culture process development for biosimilar production from a leading biopharmaceutical industry. Driven by those learnings, my current work is drafting a mathematical model for viral vector production in HEK293 cell lines.
PhD Student
BTech (Biotechnology), Rajalakshmi Engineering College (Anna University), Chennai, India
Contact: kaviya@smail.iitm.ac.in | LinkedIn
My research interests lie in the integration of multi-omics data and metabolic modelling to better understand biological systems, driving innovative insights in systems biology. I am currently working in genome-scale modelling of metabolism at single-cell resolution, which helps to capture cellular heterogeneity and provides insights into how different cells within a population function metabolically.
PhD Student
BTech (Bioinformatics), SASTRA University, Thanjavur, India
Contact: bt25d400@smail.iitm.ac.in |LinkedIn
My research interests lie in microbiome analysis and multi-omics data integration, with prior experience in transcriptomics, metagenomics, and computational data analysis. Currently, my work focuses on identifying early microbial signatures in the gut microbiome of pregnant women to differentiate those who develop gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) from normoglycemic controls, using longitudinal stool sample collection and full-length 16S rRNA sequencing.
Co-guided along with Dr. Greeshma Thrivikraman
MS (Research) Student
BTech (Industrial Biotechnology), Government College of Technology, Coimbatore, India
Contact: sanjays@smail.iitm.ac.in |LinkedIn
My research focuses on developing cell lines and plant-based scaffold engineering for cultivated meat applications. This includes the isolation of primary cells from indigenous livestock species and the evaluation of immortalization strategies to enable long-term cell expansion. In parallel, I work on developing economical, indigenous, and sustainable plant-based scaffolds that support cellular alignment and facilitate structured cultivated meat production.
MS (Research) Student
BTech (Biotechnology), St. Joseph's College of Engineering (Anna University), Chennai, India
Contact: bharathi@smail.iitm.ac.in|LinkedIn
My research interests lie in using computational approaches to better understand mammalian biotherapeutic production. My current work focuses on glycosylation modelling in mammalian therapeutics. I also work with constraint-based modelling to study the effects of culture media and cell line characteristics on cellular metabolism.
MS (Research) Student
BTech (Biotechnology), Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida
Contact: bt25s010@smail.iitm.ac.in|LinkedIn
I am a research student currently working on mammalian cell culture media development and optimization for cultivated meat, with an emphasis on developing cost-effective serum-free alternatives from plant-based derivatives.
Previously, I was part of the Neosepsis Program, where I worked on molecular diagnostics for neonatal bacterial infections. I also have six months of research experience, where I employed protein purification and pull-down assays to investigate interactions between central transport channel (CTC) and scaffold proteins of the nuclear pore complex (NPC), contributing to the understanding of nucleocytoplasmic transport.
MS (Research) Student
BTech (Biotechnology), Sathyabama University, Chennai, India
Contact: bt26s009@smail.iitm.ac.in |LinkedIn
My research focuses on the optimization of cell culture media for cultivated meat manufacturing using computational modelling approaches. I am currently involved in the reconstruction of a genome-scale metabolic model for goat cellular metabolism. I am also optimizing serum reduction and suspension adaptation strategies for goat and sheep cell lines.
MTech Student
B.Tech (Biotechnology), Sinhgad College of Engineering, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India
Contact: bt25m012@smail.iitm.ac.in|LinkedIn
My research interests lie in mammalian cell culture process development for biopharmaceutical manufacturing. I have previously studied the effects of organic acids on adipocyte differentiation in fibroblast cells and contributed to a review paper on anthocyanin extraction from various fruit sources and their industrial applications. Currently, I am involved in evaluating and optimizing different chemically defined CHO cell culture media to enhance cell growth, monoclonal antibody (mAb) productivity, and product quality attributes using multivariate data analysis and genome-scale modeling approaches. I am also gaining experience in the establishment and optimization of mAb purification protocols using chromatography techniques.
MTech Student
B.Tech (Industrial Biotechnology), AC Tech (Anna University), Chennai, India
Contact: bt25m010@smail.iitm.ac.in|LinkedIn
My research interests encompass data-driven bioprocess optimization, systems biology, and biotherapeutic production. My previous work involved engineering Pichia pastoris for ectoine production from low-cost substrates. Currently, I focus on investigating metabolic variations associated with biotherapeutic production through computational modeling and data-driven approaches. I am also interested in waste valorization and the development of sustainable biomanufacturing processes.
Project Associate
MTech (Computational Biology), AC Tech (Anna University), Chennai, India
BTech (Biotechnology), Mepco Schlenk Engineering College (Anna University), Sivakasi, India
Contact: ic40656@imail.iitm.ac.in |LinkedIn
My research interests are in cell line and process development through computational modeling. I have previously worked on projects such as strain isolation and characterization of bioremediation bacteria and the role of metabolic plasticity in shaping microbiome ecology. Currently, my focus is on CHO cell line development and media optimization.
Project Associate
MTech (Bioprocess Engineering), Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
BTech (Biotechnology), PES University, Bengaluru, India
Contact: ic43011@imail.iitm.ac.in |LinkedIn
Interested in cellular biology and the use of computational tools to better understand it. Previously worked on clinical metagenomics data. Currently working metabolic modelling of a pathogenic species to improve culture conditions and potential vaccine product output.
IBSE Post-Baccalaureate Fellow
MSc (Bioinformatics), Stella Maris College (University of Madras), Chennai, India
BSc (Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology), Ethiraj College for Women (University of Madras), Chennai, India
Contact: ic43121@imail.iitm.ac.in |LinkedIn
My research interests lie in the integrative analysis of multi-omics data, with a focus on gene expression, chromatin accessibility, and histone modifications. Having previously analyzed transcriptomic studies in oral cancer and epigenomic profiling in CHO cells, I now aim to explore how epigenetic modulation influences transcriptional variation to yield systems-level insights in both bioprocess and disease models.
IBSE Post-Baccalaureate Fellow
MTech (Biotechnology), Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, India
BTech (Biotechnology), The Oxford college of Engineering, Bengaluru, India
Contact: ic44097@imail.iitm.ac.in|LinkedIn
I am an aspiring computational biologist with a keen interest in systems biology and molecular biotechnology for diverse applications. My previous work focused on community-scale metabolic modeling of the gut microbiota to define health and dysbiosis at the functional level. Currently, I am developing an epigenomic analysis pipeline for CHO cell lines to identify regulatory elements to further enhance biotherapeutic production.
Soundarya Ganesh (MSc Student, Stella Maris College (University of Madras), 2026-2027)
Project Staff
Priyadarshini M (2025-2026) - Project Assistant
Deepikka S (2023-2025) - IBSE Post-Baccalaureate Fellow
Rutuja Bhoite (2024-2025) - IBSE Post-Baccalaureate Fellow
Kaviya D (2024) - IBSE Post-Baccalaureate Fellow
M Tech Students
Aravindha Anjana P (MTech Student, 2025-2026)
Trinankur Mitra (MTech Student, 2025-2026)
Tejas Mahesh Kale (MTech Student, 2024-2025)
Undergraduates / Dual Degree Students
Atharv Mandar Phatak (BTech - MTech Dual Degree Student, 2025-2026)
Saathvik Sista (BTech - MTech Dual Degree Student, 2025-2026)
Rohan Krishnan (BTech - MTech Dual Degree Student, 2025-2026)
Nikshep Grampurohit (BTech - MTech Dual Degree Student, 2025-2026)
Prahalaad Varahaswami (BTech - MTech Dual Degree Student, 2024-2025)
Shubham Kamble (BTech - MTech Dual Degree Student, 2024-2025)
Rajeev Rajan (BS - MS Dual Degree Student, 2024-2025)
Yatharath (BS - MS Dual Degree Student, 2024-2025)
Vineet Patel (BS-MS Dual Degree Student, 2023-2024)
Interns
Vedya K (BTech Student, PSG College of Technology, 2025-2026)
Keerthana P (BTech Student, AC Tech, Anna University, 2025-2026)
Bharath S (BTech Student, AC Tech, Anna University, 2025-2026)
Keerthika S (BTech Student, Rajalakshmi Engineering College, 2025-2026)
Jeothilashmi A (BTech Student, Rajalakshmi Engineering College, 2025-2026)
Dharmendran M (MTech Student, Anna University, 2024-2025)
Manasvini S (MSc Student, Stella Maris College (University of Madras), 2024-2025)
Sahana (BTech Student, St. Joseph's College of Engineering, 2024-2025)
Bharathi V (BTech Student, St. Joseph's College of Engineering, 2024-2025)
Priyadarshini M (BTech Student, St. Joseph's College of Engineering, 2024-2025)
Maline (BTech Student, Rajalakshmi Engineering College, 2024-2025)
Kaviya D (BTech Student, Rajalakshmi Engineering College, 2023-2024)
Priyanka (BTech Student, Rajalakshmi Engineering College, 2023-2024)
Tejasri Venkat (BTech Student, AC Tech, Anna University, 2023-2024)
Sri Dinesh RC (BTech Student, AC Tech, Anna University, 2023-2024)
Kannan R (MTech Student, Anna University, 2023-2024)