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
Prajnadipta Panda, DST- INSPIRE Fellow
I have completed my BSc in Biosciences (2015-18) from Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Bengaluru, and MSc in Life Sciences (2018-20) from Central University of Gujarat. I have done my MSc dissertation at the CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresources and Technology. Currently, I am a DST-INSPIRE Fellow at the Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi. I am interested in protein quality control, protein aggregation, and the pathways that modulate aging. As a part of my PhD thesis, my aim is to identify novel modifiers of neuronal protein aggregation and regulators of lifespan using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system.
Apart from research, you'll find me watching movies, playing volleyball, or travelling.
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.
MTech Students
Himanshu Raj
I have completed my Undergraduate in Biotechnology from Sharda University, Greater Noida in 2023. Before pursuing Master’s studies at IIT Mandi, I worked in enzyme research as a project intern at IIT Delhi where I generated specialty recombinant enzymes for research and in vitro diagnostics. Currently, my work involves the study of non-coding RNAs and their regulatory role in proteostasis and aging in Caenorhabditis elegans.
When I’m not working with worms in the lab, you’ll find me trekking, binge-reading manga, watching anime marathons, or playing various sports.
Nilesh Gupta
My MTech dissertation explores the role of lifespan-regulating genes to understand the mechanisms of aging. My project involves using C. elegans as a model with a specific focus on how proteostasis failure gets bypassed in long-lived mutant worms.
When I'm not exploring new worlds through anime and manga, you can find me serenading my plants with music in the garden or planning my next experiment. Who knew the secret to a well-balanced life was a mix of animated escapades, green thumbs, and the perfect playlist? Living by the motto: More Espresso Less Depresso.
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
MTech
Chandan Kumar Pradhan (2021-22)
M.Tech
Current Affiliation:
IIT Bombay
Iram Ansari
(2021-22)
M.Tech
Sweta Mondal
(2022-23)
M.Tech
Current Affiliation:
IIT Delhi
Vishwajeet Raj
(2022-23)
M.Tech and ex-Project JRF
