Our Team
Tapan Kumar Nayak
Principal Investigator
Dr. Tapan Kumar Nayak’s primary research interest is to understand the structural dynamics and function of the ion channels and synaptic receptors. Ion channels are macromolecular machines expressed in the cell membranes which generate electrical currents and play fundamental role in the function of the nervous system. Anomaly in ion channel function causes a plethora of human diseases. Dr. Nayak graduated with a master’s degree (M.Sc.) in Life Sciences from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi in 2004. He then moved to the lab of Prof. Sujit Sikdar in IISc, Bangalore to pursue his doctoral thesis work and obtained his Ph.D. in 2010 by studying the biophysical properties of voltage-gated sodium and leak potassium channels. During Ph.D. he gained expertise in single-channel electrophysiology, molecular and cell biology, adenoviral gene delivery and microscopy methods. He then moved to the US to continue his interest in ion channel structure-function in the lab of Prof. Anthony Auerbach at the single molecule biophysics department of SUNY at Buffalo.
During his postdoc in Auerbach lab, he performed fundamental research on the gating and binding mechanisms of the acetylcholine receptors and solved interesting puzzles in synaptic development. In early 2018, for a short period of time, he worked at Nanion Technologies Inc., US where he had exposure to automated planar patch-clamp method and devices. In December 2018, Dr. Nayak joined as Assistant Professor in the School of Biological Sciences in IIT Delhi. Dr. Nayak’s lab in IITD is currently trying to address fundamental questions about how ion channels function and how structural perturbations alter their function in the context of diseases of the nervous system. His lab quantitatively measures the kinetics, energetics, structural dynamics of ion channels and the network properties of neurons to understand the physiological functions of ion channels.
Awanish Kumar
Post Doctoral Fellow
Trying to understand the role of choline in neuromuscular synapse formation using chick embryo neuronal preparation. Further, the role of choline in shaping synaptic response during development using receptor engineering will be studied.
Past: Postdoctoral Scholar 2021-2022, Department of pharmacology and nutritional sciences College of medicine University of Kentucky Lexington USA. M. Phil-Ph. D., 2010-2017, School of life sciences Jawaharlal Nehru University Delhi, India.
Pradeepti Kampani
Ph.D. Scholar, 2019
I am studying allostery in a model GPCR; The muscarinic acetylcholine receptor with the GIRK channel
as a reporter system. Using patch-clamp electrophysiology, I am trying to gather information about the
conformational changes the receptor goes through in the millisecond time scale.
I am an avid reader and try to catch up on as many books as I can during my free time. I also enjoy
spending time with my family and friends.
Past: MSc- Biomedical Science, ACBR, DU, 2014-16
Nadira Khatoon
Ph.D. Scholar, 2019
Investigating ligand binding to the orthosteric binding site and the mechanism of allosteric modulation in neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) through patch-clamp technique. I will be focusing on understanding the ligand binding energies, gating energies, and communication between the allosteric and ligand-binding sites in neuronal nAChRs. I enjoy reading books and playing video games in my free time.
Past:M.Sc. University of Lucknow, Lucknow. 2017-2019
Sushanth Adusumilli
Ph.D. Scholar, 2019
Investigating intracellular TRPML3 ion channel. Experienced in Patch-Clamp and RNA-seq Data Analyses. I get immense satisfaction in understanding new concepts and teaching others. Console and PC Gaming is my favorite hobby and a stress buster. Prefer a good work-life balance.
Past: MS Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2016-18, University of Southern California
Sunil Gadhwal
Ph.D. Scholar, 2022
Understanding Structure-function relationship of human intracellular two-pore domain ion channel, HsTPC2. I like doing experimental research. Sports are a stress buster for me in my free time.
Past: M.Sc. Biotechnology, 2019-21, BSBE, IIT BOMBAY
Pooja Verma
M.S.(R) Scholar, 2022
I am modeling the behavior of neurons involved in the neuronal network of nicotinic addiction and withdrawal. I am using NEURON simulation environment to simulate the pathways with complex branched anatomy and biophysical membrane properties.
Past: B.Tech Electronics and communication engg, Maharaja Surajmal Institute of Technology, Delhi, 2016-20
Mahesh M. Mathe
Ph.D. Scholar, 2022
Interested in mathematical modeling of biological systems. Come with some experience in transcriptomics. Planning to apply electrophysiology, mathematical modeling and molecular simulations to ion channels. Reading, TV series, and Music are my life-blood. Love discussing history, politics and languages. HMU!
Past: M.Tech Medical Biotechnology, IIT Hyderabad, 2018-20
Lab Alumni
Poulomi Dey
Post-doctoral fellow, August,2021-June,2022
Currently pursuing a post-doctoral fellowship at Centre of Molecular Biology and Genetics of Neurodegeneration, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
