Ph.D. Projects
Project Title: Exploring the role of associated water in enhancing Human γ-D Crystallin stability within Macromolecular Crowding Milieu.
Project Adviser: Prof. Pratik Sen (Ultrafast Spectroscopy Laboratory)
Project Duration: Aug 2021 - Present at IIT Kanpur
In the initial phase of my research, I devoted significant time to independently establishing a Protein Expression and Purification Laboratory. Once the facility became fully functional, I successfully expressed and purified Human γD-crystallin, a key structural protein in the eye lens whose misfolding is a major cause of cataract, the leading cause of blindness worldwide. This was followed by site-specific fluorescent labelling of the protein to enable detailed structural and dynamic investigations. Currently, my research focuses on understanding the role of associated water in stabilizing Human γD-crystallin under conditions that mimic the native lens environment, particularly through the addition of macromolecular crowders to simulate physiological crowding effects.
Master's Project
Thesis Title: An Advanced Hybrid Ce-Doped CoFe Layered Double Hydroxide Electrocatalyst for Water Oxidation.
Thesis Adviser: Prof. Amit Paul (Electrochemistry of Nanomaterials Lab)
Thesis Duration: May 2019 - April 2020 at IISER Bhopal
I was introduced to the synthesis of hybrid doped materials that can split water, in turn, evolve hydrogen, which is a promising and appealing solution for energy conservation. This has great importance in terms of renewable energy generation because of the limited resources of energy reserves. There, I learned Electrochemical experimental (using Electrochemical Software) and Characterization techniques. I was also introduced to various Characterization techniques like Powder X-Ray Diffraction (PXRD [using HighScore Plus]), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) to investigate hybrid doped materials. I also learned to plot the data using Origin and interpret the obtained results. I learned a great deal of the basics of Electrochemical theory and Experimental techniques, which helped me get promising results (Co6Fe3Ce2-LDH electrocatalyst showed the low onset overpotential of ~ 304 mV for Water Oxidation) during my MS project.
Summer Project
Project Title: Interactions of Bisphenol A (BPA) with Proteins and Spectroscopic Determination of Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC).
Project Adviser: Prof. Saptarshi Mukherjee (Ultrafast and Molecular Spectroscopy Lab)
Project Duration:15th May - 15th July 2017 at IISER Bhopal
I have done an extensive literature review based on the topics mentioned above and learned about Fluorescence (Quenching in Proteins) Spectroscopy. Bisphenol A (BPA) binding with proteins causes many diseases in the human body, such as Breast Cancer, Asthma, Thyroid disruption, and many other diseases. The primary human exposure route of BPA is by mouth from sources such as food packaging, beverage cans, and plastic bottles, so due to the health risk, many countries, including India, banned BPA. Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC) of a neutral surfactant Triton X-100 (TX-100) determined by the difference of post & pre-micellar excitation spectra using the Fluorescence extinction spectra indicates that the fluorophore (TX-100) undergone some structural changes. Antibiotic Tetracycline Hydrochloride (TC) binds to the protein (Tryptophan [Trp or W]) and causes the gradual decrease in fluorescence intensity was investigated by Steady-State, Time-Resolved Fluorescence, and Circular Dichroism (CD) Spectroscopy.