Structural biologist working at the intersection of bacterial defense systems, viral proteins, and structure‑based drug design. Currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research in Copenhagen.
My scientific path began in Pune, where an integrated biotechnology program at Savitribai Phule Pune University gave me a broad foundation in biotechnology, molecular biology and bioinformatics. First working with plant and insect proteases followed by trehalase in insect gut endosymbionts introduced me to enzymes as molecular machines and to the idea that understanding their structure could unlock ways to modulate metabolism and host–pathogen interactions.
Moving to Spain as a Marie Skłodowska‑Curie early stage researcher sharpened that focus. I was part of Marie Skłodowska‑Curie innovative training network called CARTNET (Combatting Antimicrobial Resistance Training Network), where 13 PhD students and their supervisors were part of it, working towards understanding the Antimicrobial resistance problem and solutions to it through One Health perspective as well developement of new antibiotics. At the Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, I combined protein crystallography, biochemistry, and computational modeling to study bacterial histidine kinases as target of rationally designed small molecules. In the later parts of my PhD I also participated in a project on SARS‑CoV‑2 spike glycoprotein, where I used the knowledge and experience acquired from the main drug design project to evaluate the molecules targetting the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.
Intensive crystallographic work on key bacterial signaling components such as histidine kinases, combined with a close collaboration within a multidisciplinary team, immersed me in structure‑based drug discovery—revealing how structural insights guide hit identification, lead optimization, and informed target selection. This experience continues to shape how I design experiments and interpret structural data today.
Today, as a postdoctoral researcher in Copenhagen, my work focuses on bacterial defense systems and related molecular machines. Recognizing the transformative potential of computational approaches, I am actively expanding my skill set in AI/ML, machine learning, mathematics, and Python programming—tools that are increasingly reshaping how we analyze structural data, predict protein behavior, and accelerate discovery in drug design and synthetic biology. Across these stages—from Pune to Valencia to Copenhagen—the common thread is a fascination with how proteins work at atomic detail and how that understanding can be translated into practical impact.
Beyond the lab, I find balance through travel, photography, reading, and motorcycle riding—pursuits that offer fresh perspectives and fuel the curiosity that drives my research.
Core technical competencies across structural biology, biochemistry, and programming.
Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen
Jun 2024 – Present · Copenhagen, Denmark
Institute of Biomedicine of Valencia (IBV-CSIC)
Jun 2021 – May 2024 · Valencia, Spain
Conducted within CSIC's PTI+ Global Health platform, an interdisciplinary consortium focused on antimicrobial resistance, emerging infectious diseases, and pandemic preparedness.
Institute of Biomedicine of Valencia (IBV-CSIC) / University of Valencia
Jun 2018 – May 2021 · Valencia, Spain
Core PhD research focused on fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) targeting Histidine Kinase (HK) two-component systems in bacteria, a validated AMR target class. Thesis submitted and defended November 2024.
Oxford Drug Design
May 2019 – Jun 2019 · Oxford, United Kingdom
Savitribai Phule Pune University
Aug 2017 – Apr 2018 · Pune, India
Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia-CSIC and University of Valencia, Spain
September 2018 – November 2024
Institute of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology (Savitribai Phule Pune University), Pune, India
2016 – 2017
Institute of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology (Savitribai Phule Pune University), Pune, India
2011 – 2016
Summary of research interests and current themes.
Representative projects that illustrate how these themes connect.
Solved structures and characterized the kinetics of trehalase from insect gut endosymbionts to understand how trehalose metabolism is controlled and how it might be selectively targeted. Also worked with a lepidopteran Treahalse exploring its inhibition with insecticidal property.
FEBS Journal article · International Journal of Biological Macromolecules article
Investigated how spike mutations influence stability, cleavage, and immune recognition, combining structural modeling with clinical and virological data from collaborators.
Ongoing work on bacterial defense systems and two‑component signaling pathways to map how bacteria sense and respond to phages and other stresses at the structural level.
Project in progress · details and outputs coming soon
Contributed structural analysis and modeling to inhibitor discovery efforts, helping to prioritize compounds and interpret SAR in collaboration with medicinal chemists.
Project in progress · details and outputs coming soon
Selected works from ORCID (0000‑0002‑3504‑8675). This list updates automatically.
Occasional notes on structural biology, bacterial defense systems, and experiences moving between countries and scientific environments.
A beginner-friendly walkthrough of how I built this portfolio from scratch using GitHub Pages, plain HTML/CSS/JS, and AI tools like Perplexity, Claude, and GitHub Copilot — from creating a GitHub account all the way to ORCID integration and mobile responsiveness.
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