About:

My journey into the intricate world of structural biology began during my Bachelor of Engineering (B.E) in Biotechnology in India (2005-2009). My fascination with understanding life at a molecular level propelled me to pursue a Master of Technology (M.Tech.) in Biological Sciences/Structural Biology at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, funded by a GATE fellowship (2009-2011). There, in the lab of Prof. Dr. Balaji Prakash, I honed my skills in protein structure determination using crystallography, focusing on the structural intricacies of Mycobacterial enzymes.

Driven by a desire to expand my structural biology toolkit, I pursued my PhD in the lab of Dr. Michael Sattler at the Technical University of Munich (2011-2016). My doctoral research elucidated the molecular mechanisms of RNA-binding domains containing splicing factors involved in Fas alternative splicing, and the design of small molecules and peptides to target these splicing factors for therapeutic interventions. Here, I employed NMR, crystallography, and SAXS/SANS. This period was supported by a PhD fellowship from Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds.

My postdoctoral training (2017-2021) at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in the lab of Prof. Dr. Janosch Hennig further diversified my expertise to include cryo-EM. My research there centred on the crucial role of RNA-binding domains in regulating RNA helicases, a core area of investigation in my current lab. At EMBL, I expanded my structural biology toolkit to include cryo-EM and delved into cell biology and smFRET techniques to address biological questions. An EIPOD fellowship and a Life Science Alliance Grant supported this work.

Following a period as an Akademischer Rat (Lecturer/Senior researcher) on a permanent contract at the University of Bayreuth, Germany (2022- March 2025), I joined the University of Birmingham as an Assistant Professor in April 2025. I am incredibly excited to lead my own research group, a venture made possible by a generous Wellcome Trust Career Development Award.

Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to receive recognition for my work in the form of fellowships, research and travel grants, university-funded research positions, and a medal. My diverse background and extensive experience in structural biology, RNA binding proteins and their regulation, and employing cutting-edge research methodologies fuel the innovative projects we undertake in our laboratory. I am passionate about unravelling the complexities of biological systems and translating fundamental discoveries into potential therapeutic strategies.