What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your line of research
An early stage researcher working on interdisciplinary projects, at the interface of cell biology and biophysics. My academic training includes a Masters of Technology specializing in Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering, from NIT-Rourkela, India and a Bachelor of Technology in Biotechnology from SRM University-Chennai, India. Currently, I am a 4th year PhD scholar working between the labs of Sandrine Etienne-Manneville at Institut Pasteur and Bruno Goud at Institut Curie. My PhD project is titled “Isoforms of Cdc42: function, localization and regulation” and is funded by the Marie-Curie Horizon 2020 network Polarnet-ITN. Cdc42 is a small GTPase protein regulating cell polarization events. Interestingly, Cdc42’s C-terminal which is differs for both the isoforms comprises of a CAAX box which allows it to anchor to membranes. My key objective is to understand the functions of these isoforms dependent on their subcellular localization dependent on their CAAX box sequences.
What are you excited about in science communication?
Science communication, the ability to share, educate and promote scientific studies is exciting in itself. However, what keeps me ticking in this field is the ability to raise awareness of science-related topics. One such polarizing topic is scientific publishing. I am always eager to understand what goes behind the arcane publishing process and what are the ongoing efforts to better this process and eventually be a part of the dissemination of information related to speeding up scientific publication.
Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?
Open Science and instrumental tools such as preprints, I believe are the way forward within the biological scientific community. Mainly with the motive to accelerate the conventional publishing process in place. Therefore, I wanted to join the ASAPbio Fellows program to be able to learn more about preprints and initiatives behind open dissemination of scientific work. I also thought it would be a great opportunity to meet like-minded people and be part of a group working towards enabling faster scientific communication. I have previously been part of the ASAPbio Ambassadors community and have always learnt a lot from the projects carried out by the network in the past.
Ask me about…
Open science, preprints, Cell polarity, or even life in Paris.