PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS 

 

07/2015 – Present              Assistant Professor

                                            Laboratory for Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (SCERM),

                                            Department of Biosciences & Bioengineering (BSBE),

                                            Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), Guwahati, Assam, India

 

07/2011 – 12/2014              Post-doctoral researcher (Stem Cell Biology and Cell Reprogramming)

                                            Stem Cell Engineering Group, Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology (RNB),

                                            LIFE & BRAIN (L&B) center, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

 

12/2005 – 12/2010              PhD student (Stem Cell Biology)

                                            Groningen Biomolecular sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB) and

                                            University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG), University of Groningen,

                                            Groningen, The Netherlands

 

10/2003 – 09/2004              Master of Science in Biotechnology (Merit)              

                                            University of Essex, Colchester, UK 

 

09/1998 – 04/2002              Bachelor of Pharmacy (First Class)

                                            Anand Pharmacy College, Sardar Patel University, Gujarat, India 

  

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

​​

• Postdoctoral researcher (Stem Cell Biology and Cell Reprogramming), Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, LIFE & BRAIN center, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany (2011-2014).     

       – Postdoctoral research project “Protein transduction as an approach to understand molecular function of core stem               cell factors”. Group leader: Prof. Dr. Frank Edenhofer. 

​

• PhD (Stem Cell Biology), Groningen Biomolecular sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB) and University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands (2005-2010).

       – PhD research project “Characterization and role of UTF1 in embryonic stem and carcinoma cells: Implications                     for regulation of gene expression, chromatin structure and cell differentiation”. PhD Supervisor: Dr. Bart Eggen.

​

• MSc (Biotechnology), University of Essex, Colchester, UK (2003-2004). 

       – Master’s research project “Prediction of possible dimerization interface in Class A GPCRs using Evolutionary trace             and Entropy analysis”. Project Supervisor: Prof. Christopher A. Reynolds.

​

GRANTS AND AWARDS

 

1. Selected for the Young Scientist Award – Early Career Research Award (ECRA), by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India. Supported by a major project (2016-2019).

2. Start-Up Grant by Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG; 2016-2018).

3. Ubbo-Emmius PhD Scholarship, 2005-2010, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

4. Second best oral presentation award – “UTF1 regulates ES cell differentiation, chromatin organization and gene expression” at the 18th GBB Symposium 2010, Groningen, The Netherlands.

5. Travel grant to attend the EMBO-DBT Alliance meeting in Barcelona, Spain in September 2010.

​​

PRESENTATIONS

​

1. November 2014: Oral presentation – “Role of core transcription factors in induction, maintenance and differentiation of pluripotent stem cells” at Biological Engineering, IIT Gandhinagar, India.

2. October 2014: Oral presentation – “Role of core transcription factors in induction, maintenance and differentiation of pluripotent stem cells” at Biomedical Engineering, IIT Ropar, India.

3. September 2014: Oral presentation – “Role of core transcription factors in induction, maintenance and differentiation of pluripotent stem cells” at Department of Biotechnology, IIT Hyderabad, India.

4. September 2014: Oral presentation – “Role of core transcription factors in induction, maintenance and differentiation of pluripotent stem cells” at Centre for Stem Cell Research, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.

5. July 2014: Oral presentation – “Protein transduction - An approach to understand molecular function of core pluripotency factors” at the Human Stem Cell Pluripotency Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany.

6. January 2014: Oral presentation – “Protein transduction - An approach to understand molecular function of core pluripotency factors” at the LIFE & BRAIN center, Bonn, Germany.

7. April 2013: Poster presentation – “Nanog protein transduction results in suppression of senescence, enhanced reprogramming and down-regulation of p27KIP1 expression” at 7th International Meeting. Stem Cell Network North Rhine-Westphalia, Cologne, Germany.

8. December 2012: Oral presentation – “Role of cell-permeant pluripotency maintenance factor human Nanog in maintenance of mouse ES cell pluripotency” at the BEST-SC Bonn Workshop WP1.4, Bonn, Germany.

9. October 2012: Oral and poster presentation – “Role of cell-permeant pluripotency maintenance factor Nanog in proliferation and reprogramming of fibroblasts” at the BEST-SC Final Dissemination meeting, Edinburgh, UK.                                  Poster 1: Cell-permeant Nanog maintains pluripotency of ES cells.                                                                                    Poster 2: Nanog protein transduction enhances proliferation, suppresses senescence and reprogramming of fibroblasts.

10. July 2012: Poster presentation – “Nanog protein transduction results in suppression of senescence, enhanced reprogramming and down-regulation of p27KIP1 expression” at 4th International Congress on Stem Cells and Tissue Formation, Dresden, Germany.

11. December 2011: Oral presentation – “Cell penetrating proteins for hESC self-renewal” at BEST-SC meeting in Lisbon, Portugal.

12. September 2010: Oral and Poster presentation –“UTF1 regulates ES cell differentiation, chromatin organization and gene expression” at the 18th GBB Symposium, Groningen, The Netherlands.

13. August 2010: Poster presentation – “UTF1 regulates ES cell differentiation, chromatin organization and gene expression” at the Epigenetics and Stem cell conference, Copenhagen, Denmark.

14. October 2009: Poster presentation – “Characterization of human UTF1, a chromatin-associated protein with repressor activity expressed in pluripotent cells” at the 3rd International Symposium Stem Cell, Development and Regulation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

15. September 2009: Poster presentation – “Characterization of human UTF1, a chromatin-associated protein with repressor activity expressed in pluripotent cells” at the 17th GBB Symposium, Groningen, The Netherlands.

16. July 2009: Poster presentation – “Characterization of human UTF1, a chromatin-associated protein with repressor activity expressed in pluripotent cells” at the 7th ISSCR Annual meeting, Barcelona, Spain.

17. September 2007: Poster presentation – “Identification of novel genes involved in regulating cellular senescence” at the 15th GBB Symposium, Groningen, The Netherlands.

18. September 2006: Poster presentation – “Screening of lifespan extension genes involved in human diploid fibroblasts” at the 14th GBB Symposium, Groningen, The Netherlands.

19. September 2006: Poster presentation – “Entropy and Oligomerization in GPCRs” at the 14th GBB Symposium, Groningen, The Netherlands.

​

PEER REVIEW OF ARTICLES

​

• Participated in peer reviewing of research articles in Cell Stem Cell, Stem Cells, Stem Cell Research, Annals of Anatomy, Histochemistry and Cell Biology and American Journal of PharmTech Research. 

​

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

​

• Member of Nano & Molecular Society (NMS); 2017 onwards.

• Assistant Editor of American Journal of PharmTech Research; 2016 – Present.

• Editor-in-Chief of American Journal of PharmTech Research; 2011 – 2015.

• Editorial board member of International Journal of Stem Cell Research and Transplantation; 2013 – Present.

• Member of German Stem Cell Network (GSCN); 2013 – Present.

• Member of Dutch Society for Stem Cell Research (DSSCR) – 2011.

• Member of Gujarat State Pharmacy Council (GSPC; G-20444); 09/03 – Present.

• Treasurer of Anand Pharmacy Alumni Association (APAA); 2001–2002.

​

OTHER ACTIVITIES

​

• President of Groningen Indian Student Association (GISA); 2008 – 2009.

• Cultural and Events Secretary of Groningen Indian Student Association (GISA); 2007 – 2008.

• Treasurer of Groningen Indian Student Association (GISA); 2006 – 2007.

• Board member of Groningen Cricket Club (GCC); 2006 – 2011.

• Committee member of GBB Genetics Cluster; 2007 – 2008.

• Treasurer of Indian Cultural Society (ICS), University of Essex; 2003 – 2004.

• Treasurer of MSc Biotech Conference, University of Essex; 6th Sept. 2004.