School of Biosciences and Bioengineering
Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi
Himachal Pradesh- 175005
GROUP
Principal Investigator
Dr. Prasad Kasturi
I completed my Bachelor's degree in BSc (Botany, Zoology and Chemistry) from Silver Jubilee Govt Degree College, Kurnool and in Education (B.Ed) from Osmania University, Hyderabad. I obtained MSc (Biotechnology) from School of Biotechnology, Madurai Kamaraj University. After spending a year as a project assistant at CCMB, Hyderabad, I moved to Switzerland for PhD (Department of Biology, University of Fribourg). After getting PhD, I worked briefly as a visiting fellow at University of Lyon, France. Later, I moved to Max-Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Germany. I was in the lab of Prof. Ulrich Hartl at Max-Planck Institute for Biochemistry as a postdoc and group leader. I joined IIT-Mandi as Assistant Professor. [more]
PhD Scholars
Pritam Mukherjee, PhD Scholar
I am interested to understand the ways by which we can age healthy and live longer. Specifically finding the physiological relevance of protein condensates/ aggregates during aging in Caenorhabditis elegans. I did my under-graduation in Biotechnology from St. Xavier's College, Burdwan, and post-graduation in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics from North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong with DBT Studentship. I joined IIT Mandi in February, 2021.
If you don't find me working with worms, you'd see me writing blogs, playing cricket or travelling.
Rushali Kamath, PhD Scholar
Before I started working with C. elegans during my Ph.D., I majored in Biochemistry during my master’s studies at the University of Mysore in 2020. I was a summer research fellow at JNU, New Delhi, working on GNE myopathy. I later worked briefly as a Junior Research Fellow at IIT Kharagpur, specializing in intrinsically disordered proteins after which I shifted my focus to stress proteome analysis. I am interested in the mechanisms of heat stress, and the role of small heat shock proteins in the C. elegans proteome.
Apart from research, you’d see me either traveling, cartooning, or writing.
Deepanshu Verma, PhD Scholar
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I joined the lab in January 2023 as a Ph.D. scholar. I have completed my Master of Technology in Biotechnology from the Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. I have completed my Bachelor of Engineering degree in Biotechnology from Madhav Institute of Technology and Science, Gwalior. I have also qualified for DBT-JRF (2020) and GATE (2018 and 2020). I have previously worked on cancer biology in CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow, and in IIT Mandi, HP where I developed oral cancer models in mice and targeted MDR in cancer cell lines. Now, I work with genes that play a role in lifespan extension and aging using C. elegans as a model.
I also play table tennis, squash, and am an avid sports enthusiast. I also cook, trek, and love traveling to new places.
Prasun Kumar Bhunia, PhD Scholar
I am keen to explore the mystery of healthy and longer life. More specifically, I want to link the bridge between the extracellular proteostasis network with protein aggregation during aging using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system. I completed my Bachelor's degree in Microbiology (Hons.) from Midnapore College (Autonomous) in 2020. Later I pursued my Master's in Microbiology from Madurai Kamaraj University, Tamilnadu in 2022. Soon after that, I joined IIT Mandi in August 2022 as a project JRF and converted to PhD in 2023.
I am an avid cricket enthusiast and love playing squash, and other sports along with pursuing painting as a hobby.
Priyanka Vimal, UGC CSIR-JRF
'Aging' the word has intrigued me always. Have you ever wondered how people across the globe have differences in their life expectancy? This was unknown until someone discovered the genes responsible for it and how we can regulate it. One of the major factors is diet. Being from the species-rich Himalayas and having a background in Botany I want to explore this field and want to check the effect of phytochemical compounds on longevity and proteostasis using the C. elegans model. Apart from this, I have cleared a few competitive exams CSIR-NET JRF, GATE-XL etc.
Apart from research, you'd see me trekking, dancing or travelling.
Ocean Singh, PhD Scholar
Anamitra Sen, PhD Scholar
I am excited to understand the mystery of membrane-less organelles. Specifically, I am interested in investigating the Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) property of biomolecular condensates and its role in aging using C.elegans as a model system. I completed my B. Sc (Hons.) in Zoology from
Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College (RKMVCC), Kolkata in 2023 and M.Sc in Zoology from Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), Pune in 2025. I worked for one year with Dr. Amitabha Majumdar on the LLPS properties of a transcription coactivator at the National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune. I gained expertise in sample preparation and operating SEM and TEM from Burdwan University and did TEM of Osteoblast cell line following a phytochemical treatment and performed image analysis with Dr. Richa Ashma, SPPU Pune, in collaboration with the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune. I cleared GATE BT in 2025 and GATE XL in 2024.
Beyond my dedication to research, I maintain a dynamic lifestyle by channelling my energy into biking and martial arts.
MTech Students: Current
Himani
I am an M.Tech student interested in the molecular biology of aging, with a focus on proteostasis using C. elegans as a model system. I am fascinated by how organisms maintain protein homeostasis over time and how these mechanisms decline with age. Outside of research, I enjoy traveling and exploring mountains, which provides balance and inspiration beyond the laboratory.
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Sivaram
I have completed my B. Tech., Industrial biotechnology from GCT, Coimbatore. My M. Tech project involves the role of long non-coding RNAs influence on health, protein aggregation and aging in Caenorhabditis elegans.
In free time, you would find me capturing photos of mountains and playing cricket.​​​​​​​
Research Interns [Past]
Alice Ronita Roy
IISER Kolkata
June 2022
Abhishree B
Mind Tree, IIT Mandi
May 2024
Ridhima
Panjab University
June 2022
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Sarnjna
IISER Mohali
May 2024
Nisha
IISER Mohali
June 2023
Shivi Shrimali
IISER Mohali
May 2024
Seema Rani
IIT Madras
June 2023
Ishani Kalra
IIT Mandi, BTech
December 2025
PhD Alumni
Prajnadipta Panda
(2020-24)
Ph.D.
Current Affiliation:
Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna
MTech Alumni
Himanshu Raj
(2023-24)
M.Tech
Nilesh Gupta
(2023-24)
M.Tech
Sweta Mondal
(2022-23)
M.Tech
Vishwajeet Raj
(2022-23)
M.Tech and ex-Project JRF
Current Affiliation:
IIT Delhi
Chandan Kumar Pradhan (2021-22)
M.Tech
Current Affiliation:
IIT Bombay
