Dr. Amanjot Singh

Aman completed his PhD with Prof. Anil Grover at the University of Delhi South Campus, where he investigated the heat shock response in plants. For his doctoral research, he was awarded the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) Young Scientist Medal. He then moved to The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, for postdoctoral work with Dr. Vincent P. Mauro, focusing on the role of non-canonical translation initiation factors in translation reinitiation.

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He subsequently joined the laboratory of Prof. Randy Hampton at UC San Diego, where he studied how chaperones and the ubiquitin–proteasome system coordinate in the cytoplasm to regulate the degradation of misfolded proteins. This work led to the proposal of the “Folding Escape Model,” which describes a kinetic competition between the folding of proteins and their degradation. In this framework, E3 ligase-mediated ubiquitination governs substrate triage, creating a “race” between successful folding and degradation. The model further suggests that deubiquitinases act alongside E3 ligases to fine-tune degradation kinetics and modulate the timing of these decisions.

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Returning to India as an INSA Young Scientist, Aman worked at the National Center for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru, in collaboration with Prof. Mani Ramaswami (Trinity College Dublin), where he focused on protein quality control in cellular stress and neurodegeneration. Prior to joining MIRM, MAHE–Bengaluru in March 2024, he served as a faculty member at the Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB). He was awarded the India Alliance DBT–Wellcome Trust Intermediate Fellowship in December 2023.

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Outside the lab, Aman enjoys long, traffic-free drives—with his daughter Anaya—best paired with good music and the occasional food stops along the way.

Chandan Gowda

Chandan joined the lab in August 2024 and is driven by a curiosity for immunology, especially the intricate crosstalk between metabolism, epigenetics, and neurodegeneration. He completed his Master’s in Microbiology from Dayananda Sagar University, Bengaluru.

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In the lab, he explores how gene regulation and metabolic pathways influence protein aggregation—decoding complex cellular stories using tools like Western blotting, immunostaining, and GC-MS/LC-MS.

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Outside the lab, Chandan swaps experiments for experiences—whether it’s long drives, discovering new places, or sampling cuisines with equal enthusiasm and precision.

Mithun Aich

Mithun is a PhD scholar who joined the lab in August 2024, where he explores the dynamic interplay between RNA-binding proteins and chaperones in shaping stress-induced protein aggregates. He holds a Master’s in Zoology from Serampore College, University of Calcutta, and previously worked as a project fellow at the National Institute of Pathology, Delhi.

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A wildlife biologist at heart, Mithun brings a fresh, slightly unconventional lens to molecular biology—equally at home tracking proteins as he is tracking wildlife. Outside the lab, you’ll likely find him on the football field, behind the camera, or lost in a good film—occasionally all in the same weekend.

Prerna Singh

Prerna joined the lab as a Project Assistant in August 2024 and transitioned into the PhD program, bringing with her curiosity, energy, and a strong drive for discovery. She completed her B.Tech in Biotechnology from the Dr. D. Y. Patil Biotechnology & Bioinformatics Institute, Pune, and then moved across the country to pursue her M.Tech at Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, West Bengal.

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Her research explores how proteins with intrinsically disordered regions influence the dynamics of stress granules and pathological aggregates linked to neurodegenerative diseases—complex questions that sit at the intersection of cell biology and disease.

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When she’s not in the lab, Prerna enjoys swapping pipettes for paintbrushes or picking up a racket, striking a perfect balance between science, creativity, and play.

Sanjana Nandy

Originally from West Bengal, Sanjana completed her B.Sc. in Zoology from Serampore College and her M.Sc. from Dinabandhu Andrews College, both under the University of Calcutta. She is fascinated by how cells adapt to changing environments, with a particular interest in how E3 ligases regulate the assembly and clearance of stress granules.

Before joining the PQC Lab as a doctoral researcher in Febraury 2025, Sanjana began her scientific journey as a research fellow at Presidency University, Kolkata. Her current work focuses on understanding how RNA-binding proteins contribute to maintaining protein homeostasis.

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Outside the lab, Sanjana enjoys cooking, singing, and getting lost in a good book—occasionally bringing the same patience and creativity to the lab bench.