group members
Ashok Sekhar
Room no. 113, NMR Research Centre
Ph.: +91 80 2293 3416
[email protected]
Ashok did his B.Sc. in Chemistry at Vivekananda College (University of Madras) and M.Sc. in Chemistry at IIT Madras. He then went to the University of Wisconsin - Madison (U.S.A.) for a Ph.D. in Biophysics under Prof. Silvia Cavagnero. After a postdoctoral stint with Prof. Lewis E. Kay (University of Toronto, Canada), Ashok joined MBU, the department where he was first exposed to scientific research and bioNMR spectroscopy as a Bachelors student, in November 2017.
Room no. 113, NMR Research Centre
Ph.: +91 80 2293 3416
[email protected]
Ashok did his B.Sc. in Chemistry at Vivekananda College (University of Madras) and M.Sc. in Chemistry at IIT Madras. He then went to the University of Wisconsin - Madison (U.S.A.) for a Ph.D. in Biophysics under Prof. Silvia Cavagnero. After a postdoctoral stint with Prof. Lewis E. Kay (University of Toronto, Canada), Ashok joined MBU, the department where he was first exposed to scientific research and bioNMR spectroscopy as a Bachelors student, in November 2017.
Postdoctoral Fellows
Dr. Ajith Kumar
[email protected]
I joined the lab in Apr 2018 as a postdoctoral fellow and currently working as a Wellcome Trust Early Career fellow. I did my Masters degree in Marine Biology from Cochin University of Science and Technology. I worked in Prof N Sivakumar's group at the University of Hyderabad for a Ph.D. specializing in biochemistry of glycoproteins and their receptors related to lysosomal biogenesis. My research in Ashok’s lab involves studying protein-nucleic acid interactions and how it affects the structure and dynamics of proteins with application in health and disease.
[email protected]
I joined the lab in Apr 2018 as a postdoctoral fellow and currently working as a Wellcome Trust Early Career fellow. I did my Masters degree in Marine Biology from Cochin University of Science and Technology. I worked in Prof N Sivakumar's group at the University of Hyderabad for a Ph.D. specializing in biochemistry of glycoproteins and their receptors related to lysosomal biogenesis. My research in Ashok’s lab involves studying protein-nucleic acid interactions and how it affects the structure and dynamics of proteins with application in health and disease.
Ph.D. Students
Vaishali Narayanan
[email protected]
I joined the institute as an Integrated PhD student in 2017. After a one-month rotation, I joined Ashok's lab as the first IntPhD student in May 2018. I did my B.Sc. in Biotechnology from Women’s Christian College, Chennai. I am interested in understanding how PTMs affect the structure and dynamics of intrinsically disordered regions in proteins involved in the mammalian circadian clock. My research also involves using NMR spectroscopy to explore the structural and binding features of protein-glycan interactions.
[email protected]
I joined the institute as an Integrated PhD student in 2017. After a one-month rotation, I joined Ashok's lab as the first IntPhD student in May 2018. I did my B.Sc. in Biotechnology from Women’s Christian College, Chennai. I am interested in understanding how PTMs affect the structure and dynamics of intrinsically disordered regions in proteins involved in the mammalian circadian clock. My research also involves using NMR spectroscopy to explore the structural and binding features of protein-glycan interactions.
Madhurima Kulkarni
[email protected]
I joined Ashok’s lab as the first PhD student in 2018. I completed my B.Sc. in Chemistry from D.Y. Patil College and did my M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry from Pune University. My research involves deciphering the dynamics of proteins that violate the structure-function paradigm and characterizing low population excited states using NMR spectroscopy.
[email protected]
I joined Ashok’s lab as the first PhD student in 2018. I completed my B.Sc. in Chemistry from D.Y. Patil College and did my M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry from Pune University. My research involves deciphering the dynamics of proteins that violate the structure-function paradigm and characterizing low population excited states using NMR spectroscopy.
Bodhisatwa Nandi
[email protected]
I joined the institute in 2018 as an Integrated PhD student. After a one-month rotation, I decided to pursue my PhD in molecular biophysics and joined the lab in May 2019. I did my BSc in Biotechnology from Central University of Rajasthan. My doctoral study involves characterizing low population intermediate states in the interconversion between the native states of metamorphic proteins. My aim is to visualize the “invisible” intermediate using sophisticated NMR experiments such as CEST and CPMG.
[email protected]
I joined the institute in 2018 as an Integrated PhD student. After a one-month rotation, I decided to pursue my PhD in molecular biophysics and joined the lab in May 2019. I did my BSc in Biotechnology from Central University of Rajasthan. My doctoral study involves characterizing low population intermediate states in the interconversion between the native states of metamorphic proteins. My aim is to visualize the “invisible” intermediate using sophisticated NMR experiments such as CEST and CPMG.
Ahallya Jaladeep
[email protected]
I did my B.Tech/M.Tech Dual degree in Aerospace Engineering from IIT-Madras. I joined the lab as a Ph.D. student in 2019. My research involves studying the dynamics of glycan molecules and also understand their role in biological function. I am also interested in understanding protein-glycan interactions involved in tumor progression.
[email protected]
I did my B.Tech/M.Tech Dual degree in Aerospace Engineering from IIT-Madras. I joined the lab as a Ph.D. student in 2019. My research involves studying the dynamics of glycan molecules and also understand their role in biological function. I am also interested in understanding protein-glycan interactions involved in tumor progression.
Claris Niya Varghese
[email protected]
I completed my BS-MS dual degree in Chemistry from IISER-Bhopal. I joined the institute as PhD student in Aug 2019. My research interests involve developing NMR methods to probe the field of glycan dynamics. I am also interested in understanding conformational switching in ligand-receptor interactions involved in the Notch signaling pathway.
[email protected]
I completed my BS-MS dual degree in Chemistry from IISER-Bhopal. I joined the institute as PhD student in Aug 2019. My research interests involve developing NMR methods to probe the field of glycan dynamics. I am also interested in understanding conformational switching in ligand-receptor interactions involved in the Notch signaling pathway.
Paulomi Sanyal
[email protected]
I joined Ashok’s lab as a DBT-JRF in Aug 2019. I did my Bachelors from St. Xavier's, Bombay and pursued my Masters from the Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University. My research involves studying the structure of proteins that regulate circadian rhythms in mammals using NMR spectroscopy and other biophysical techniques. I am interested in deciphering the structure-function relationship of these proteins in mammalian cellular systems.
[email protected]
I joined Ashok’s lab as a DBT-JRF in Aug 2019. I did my Bachelors from St. Xavier's, Bombay and pursued my Masters from the Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University. My research involves studying the structure of proteins that regulate circadian rhythms in mammals using NMR spectroscopy and other biophysical techniques. I am interested in deciphering the structure-function relationship of these proteins in mammalian cellular systems.
Shefali Jain
[email protected]
I completed my B.Sc(H) in Biochemistry from Daulat Ram College, Delhi University. I joined the institute as an Integrated Ph.D. student in 2019 and then joined the lab in July 2020 after one month of rotation. My research interests involve the study of long-lived singlet states in NMR and characterizing the intermediates in the folding pathway of metamorphic proteins.
[email protected]
I completed my B.Sc(H) in Biochemistry from Daulat Ram College, Delhi University. I joined the institute as an Integrated Ph.D. student in 2019 and then joined the lab in July 2020 after one month of rotation. My research interests involve the study of long-lived singlet states in NMR and characterizing the intermediates in the folding pathway of metamorphic proteins.
Bhuvaneshwari Rajendrakumar Gehi
[email protected]
I completed my Integrated M.Sc from Pune University and M.Tech from IIT-Mandi. I joined the institute as a PhD student in August 2020. I work on understanding the slow dynamics of proteins within liquid - liquid phase separated droplets.
[email protected]
I completed my Integrated M.Sc from Pune University and M.Tech from IIT-Mandi. I joined the institute as a PhD student in August 2020. I work on understanding the slow dynamics of proteins within liquid - liquid phase separated droplets.
Asiesh K
[email protected]
I did my bachelor's in chemistry from Loyola College, Chennai, and master's in chemistry from IIT Madras. I joined Ashok's lab as a Ph.D. student in August 2022. My research involves in understanding the dynamics of an intrinsically disordered protein and NMR method development to study glycans dynamics.
[email protected]
I did my bachelor's in chemistry from Loyola College, Chennai, and master's in chemistry from IIT Madras. I joined Ashok's lab as a Ph.D. student in August 2022. My research involves in understanding the dynamics of an intrinsically disordered protein and NMR method development to study glycans dynamics.
Project Associates
Kalyani J Patil
[email protected]
I completed my Integrated M.Sc in Biotechnology from Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU). In 2022, I joined Dr. Ashok’s lab for my final year project where I worked on ligand binding domains of the Notch1 receptor to understand its binding with the DLL4 ligand. Intrigued by various biophysical techniques used in the lab and my curiosity to know more about structural biology, I decided to continue my journey in the lab and joined as a Project Associate. My current project focuses on understanding the non-specific DNase activity of Cas12a protein.
[email protected]
I completed my Integrated M.Sc in Biotechnology from Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU). In 2022, I joined Dr. Ashok’s lab for my final year project where I worked on ligand binding domains of the Notch1 receptor to understand its binding with the DLL4 ligand. Intrigued by various biophysical techniques used in the lab and my curiosity to know more about structural biology, I decided to continue my journey in the lab and joined as a Project Associate. My current project focuses on understanding the non-specific DNase activity of Cas12a protein.
Lab manager
Archana M Jain
[email protected]
I joined as a Secretarial Assistant at IISc in Ashok's lab in Dec 2020. I did my Bachelor's in Computer Application from MS Ramaiah University. My work here involves providing daily administrative support to the lab, preparing laboratory records, and handling correspondence.
[email protected]
I joined as a Secretarial Assistant at IISc in Ashok's lab in Dec 2020. I did my Bachelor's in Computer Application from MS Ramaiah University. My work here involves providing daily administrative support to the lab, preparing laboratory records, and handling correspondence.
