Lab members

Anusmita Sahoo received her Bachelors in Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra and  PhD from Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Her doctoral work was guided by Prof Raghavan Varadarajan. The work involved designing experimental methodology to identify structurally proximal residue pairs in proteins by site-saturation mutagenesis and deep sequencing without the need to either isolate or purify the protein. She completed her post-doctoral training under Prof Rama Rao Amara, Emory National Primate Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Her post-doctoral work involved designing vaccine candidates against HIV-1 and monitoring their efficacy in preventing SHIV infection in rhesus macaques. Her  research team focusses on developing experimental methodology to identify regions on the viral envelope that induce (i) protective neutralizing responses, (ii)  responses which induce enhanced infection or promote disease pathogenesis in various viral diseases. The results will serve as critical guide to design effective improved vaccines.

Anusmita loves to spend time with her family, paint, travel and try new recipes.  

Hii!! I am a Ph.D. student dedicated to exploring the intricacies of the dengue virus.

My academic journey began at Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Technology for Handicapped, Kanpur, where I pursued my Bachelor's in Biotechnology.  Later, I did my Masters in Biotechnology from IIT Mandi. Now, as I pursue my Ph.D., I am excited to delve deeper into the structural aspects of the dengue virus responsible for eliciting immune responses. 

Beyond the lab, I love watching movies, enjoying music, and exploring new places.

I’m Rahul Kumar, a researcher at the Vaccine Design Lab ,IIT Kanpur working at the intersection of structural biology, immunology, and computational science to address one of today’s most pressing global health challenges — the rise of arbovirus-driven infectious diseases. I’m driven by a commitment to translational impact: transforming detailed molecular knowledge into real-world solutions that improve global health.

Hi! I'm Sagar Gupta working as a Lab Manager since January 2024. I graduated in Paint Technology from Government Polytechnic Kanpur in 2020 and later earned a Bachelor's degree in History and Sociology from C.S.J.M.U in 2023. I've worked as a Junior Engineer at New Holland Agriculture Company & as a lab chemist at Kansai Nerolac Paints Limited. I have a passion for painting, singing, traveling, and learning new skills.

Hello there! I started working as a Project Worker in Professor Anusmita Sahoo's lab in May 2024. I have done my Masters in Zoology (Specialisation in Genetics & Molecular Biology) from Calcutta University. Before this, I worked as a Project Associate in DCG Data Core Pvt. Ltd. in Kolkata. I love to explore new things & also have a great passion for painting, crafting, dancing & listening music!

Hi! I’m Shivangi, a Ph.D. student in the Vaccine Design Lab. I completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Botany from Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University. My interest in vaccine research began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when I realized how vitalvaccines are for protecting public health. This inspired me to pursue research in vaccine design and development. As a Ph.D. student, I’m excited to explore new ideas, learn advanced techniques, and contribute to creating safe and effective vaccines.

Hi ! I am Aheli Das, an M.Tech student. I pursued Bachelors in Biotechnology from Haldia Institute of Technology, Haldia. Currently, my research focuses on exploring the structure of the Chikungunya virus. I enjoy listening to music, reading story books and webtoons, and travelling to new places.

Hola! I am Nandini Saha, an M. Tech student in BSBE. I come from Kolkata, the cultural capital of India. I completed my B. Tech in Biotechnology from Heritage Institute of Technology, Kolkata. I joined the Vax D lab in September 2025. I have a keen interest in vaccine design and development. Currently, I am learning about the dynamics of CHIKV to optimise it as an efficient vaccine candidate.

I love to indulge in web series, movies-music, and food during study breaks.