1. Associate Professor, Centre for Molecular Neurosciences, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal

2. Neuroscience researcher specializing in stress, social behavior, sleep, and neurodegeneration

3. Expertise in genomics, epigenetics, and circuit-level analysis across model organisms (Drosophila and beyond)

4. DBT, India Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellow (2019–2024)

Neuroscience, Social Behavior, Sleep, Neurodegeneration, Genomics, Epigenetics, Model Organisms (Drosophila and beyond)

PhD, Developmental Biology Laboratory of Dr. L. S. Shashidhara, CSIR-Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, India 2005 – 2012

Master of Science, Biochemistry The Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, India 2005

1. Associate Professor Centre for Molecular Neurosciences, KMC Manipal October 2024 – Present

2. Assistant Professor & DBT-India Ramalingaswami Fellow Centre for Molecular Neurosciences, KMC Manipal October 2019 –September 2024

3. Research Scientist Dr. Ulrike Heberlein Lab, HHMI Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, USA December 2018 – September 2019

4. Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Ulrike Heberlein & Dr. Loren Looger Labs, HHMI Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, USA September 2012 – December 2018

Awards and Recognition:

1. DBT Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship, DBT India (2019–2024)

2. Postdoctoral Fellowship, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Janelia Research Campus, USA (2012–2018)

Our lab investigates how environmental stressors and genetic vulnerabilities shape brain function, behavior, and neurodegeneration. We use Drosophila melanogaster as a discovery platform to dissect circuit and molecular mechanisms, and extend these insights to mammalian systems and patient data through clinical collaborations. By integrating behavioral assays, multi-omics, imaging, and computational tools, we aim to uncover conserved pathways and identify translational strategies for neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders.