Ph.D. Calcutta University (Bose Institute)

Post-doctoral fellow: Columbia University (in Prof. James Henry Schwartz lab)

Scientist G, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, India - 2016- till date

Scientist F, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, India - 2008- 2016

Scientist E, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, India - 2002- 2008

Scientist D, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, India - 1998 - 2002

Pool Scientist (CSIR), Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, India - 1996 - 1998

Post Doctoral Research Associate, Banaras Hindu University, India - 1993 ? 1996

Post Doctoral Research Scientist, Columbia University, USA - 1992 - 1993

Research Associate, Columbia University, USA - 1991

Research Associate, Stevens Institute of Technology, USA - 1990 - 1991

Research Fellow, Bose Institute, Calcutta, India - 1987 - 1990

Fellow, Harvard University, USA - 2004 ? 2005

Pool Scientist Award, CSIR, India - 1996 ? 1998

Center for Advance study Fellowship, BHU, India - 1993 ? 1996

Columbia University Post Doctoral Scientist (Prof. James Schwartz lab) - 1992

Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA - 1991

Indo-US project Fellowship, USA - 1990 ? 1991

University Grants Commission Junior Research Fellowship, India - 1997 ? 1990

Overview:
How does the connectome alter animal behavior? To answer this question, we use highly well mapped nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, that has been well mapped for its connectome and genome. We believe this work will provide insights to neuronal coding in learning and memory and discovering mechanisms involved in human neurological diseases.
Research summary:
To understand the basis of nervous system function, we are studying behavioural functions of C. elegans in locomotion and adaptive learning. Both molecular and circuit pathways are explored to elucidate the changes. Our studies focus on the following problems:
how neuropeptides and biogenic amines like insulin, dopamine and tyramine controls learning behavior in response to olfactory signals.
how neurons regulate animal behavior by decoding external stimuli like signal strength or adaptive learning paradigms.
Impact of connectome in neuropathies associated with (beta) - amyloid and (alpha)-synuclein
Technology development
Our group focuses on how to develop cost effective nucleic acid based diagnostic tools. Besides, the group is also developing recombinant growth factors for enhanced wound healing applications.

Member, Committee to enquire into clinical trials conducted in the State of Kerala and its ethical issues. Constituted by Government of Kerala, India. 2012- 2013.

Member Secretary, Institutional Ethics committee at SCTIMST from 2004- 2014

Board of Studies, Department of Biochemistry, Kerala University 2008-2009

Bio-safety committee, Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology, Trivandrum

Mentor Committee for PhD students, Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology, Trivandrum

Member, Scientific Research Committee, Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences, Calicut

Member, Indian Epilepsy Society

Member, Biosafety committee, Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology, Trivandrum

Chairperson, Board of studies (Life Sciences) SCTIMST 2018-2021

Member, Internal Review committee, TRC programme, 2017 onwards

Member, Academic committee, Department of Integrative biology, Kerala University

Title: Alginate scaffold with recombinant growth factors for enhanced wound healing, Funding: TRC programme (2016-2018)

Title: Point of care diagnosis for infectious diseases, Funding : TRC programme (2016-2018)

Title: Zinc imaging in epileptic and global ischemic conditions using ratiometric fluorescent molecular probes (Co PI), Funding agency: Department of Biotechnology (2013-2016)

Title: Role of Transformation growth factor - alpha in neuronal growth and regeneration. Funding agency: STEC (2011-2014)

Title: Recombinant growth factors for therapeutic use. Funded by: Institutional funding (2007-2011)

Title: Ethical and Procedural Issues in the use of medical devices in India. Funded by Harvard University and National Institute of Health. USA(2006 -2009)

Title: Differential expression of rat brain RNA during seizure development. Funding agency: Department of Science and Technology. Duration 3 years (2005 -2008)

Title: Identification of Promoter region of Synaptotagmin I gene by 5? RACE. Funding Agency: STEC. Duration: 3 Years (2001-2005)

Title: Identification of Molecular Basis of Temporal Lob Epilepsy. Funding Agency: STEC. Duration: 3 Years (1997-2001)

Title: Lipids and Signal Transduction in neurons. Funding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, USA. Position: Investigator (1992)

MPhil programme at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology

MPH programme at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology

MPH programme at Harvard University (during 2003-2004)

PhD and DM ? Teaches as part of course work at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology

Journal of Neuroscience

Epilepsy Research

Indian Journal of Medical Ethics

Journal of Cell Science

Magnetic nanoparticle based RNA isolation kit

RT-PCR kit for covid19 detection