Hello! I am a final year Ph.D. Candidate in the Vascularization Lab  of Dr. Jeroen Rouwkema. 

I work at the interfaces of biofluidmechanics, microfluidics, engineering design and multiphysics based computational modeling for tissue vascularization. This enjoyable curiosity-driven multidisciplinary projects, keeps my week days super active. Usually, I start my day with simulation (8-10), chicken embryo or cell culture (10-12), microscopy (13-15) and data analysis (15-17). I get super excited, when I see "live moving objects under microscope" - that made my interest towards biomechanics and vascularization. Also, I feel more convergence with my PhD project, about my expertise, research interest and career goals. Currently I am working towards; 

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• Understanding the vascular development processes in the developing chicken embryo using multi-mode imaging

• Tuning the vascular network and organization using external localized fluid flows and geometrical shapes 

• Predicting the evolution of vascular network types using computational models and Artificial Intelligence (AI), when different mechanical and chemical signals are applied 

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For my PostDoc, I am interested in exploring opportunities to make mechanically stable microtissues with perfusable and tunable vessel structures compatible with clinical testing. 

Apart from research,  I appreciate and participate in public speaking and science communication events (like FameLab, Science Cafe) to promote science to the general audience and being creative when it comes to cooking, drawing and making crafts from recycled items. As a outgoing person, I enjoy organizing social events and very active in Twitter. 

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EXPERIENCE

2019-2019

Visiting Researcher

LEIDEN UNIVERSITY, LEIDEN,

THE NETHERLANDS

As a part of PhD mobility, I visited the Professor Roeland Merks group and trained with the cellular Potts model. This experience allows me to develop a framework to couple Multiphysics models involving chemical gradients (growth factors), matrix degradation, and fluid flow with cellular potts model.  Also I initiated a new collaboration between Leiden University and Twente University.

2017-2017

Master Thesis

MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE OF MOLECULAR CELL BIOLOGY AND GENETICS, DRESDEN, GERMANY

Under the supervision of Dr. Moritz Kreysing, I worked on spatial fractionation of RNA in an inhomogeneous temperature gradient. This project deals with origin of life experiments combined with computer simulations and wet lab techniques. As a part of my Master's thesis, I developed a prototype that can generate microscale temperature gradients within a glass capillary. Using this prototype we could fractionate biomolecules such as DNA, RNA. 

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2016-2017

Research Internship 

Erasmsus Trainee Scholarship

UCB PHARMA, Braine-l'Alleud, BELGIUM

As a part of my Master's mobility, I worked at UCB on cell culture optimization and bioreactor systems for monoclonal antibody production. In particular, I studied the efficiency and functionality of CHO cells over long-term passages. Also compared the cells functionality between multiple culture systems of varying scales such as T-flasks, mini-bioreactor, 1L, 10L and 200L. For this work, I received "Focused Recognition Award"for enabling my team to make data-driven decision on the cell line assessment study. 

2016-2016

Research Internship

MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE OF MOLECULAR CELL BIOLOGY AND GENETICS, DRESDEN, GERMANY

Under the supervision of Dr. Moritz Kreysing, I worked on modeling and simulation of microscale thermophoresis and microfluidics gradient generators for biological applications. Later I extended this work, to my Master's thesis assignment. 

2015-2016

Scientific Research Assistant

Part Time

MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR THE SCIENCE OF LIGHT, ERLANGEN

Under the supervision of Professor Philip Russell, I worked on nanoelectrodes fabrication, where I selectively fill the gold and aluminum metals inside the hollow-core photonic crystal fibers. Later I extended this work, as a part of the mini - thesis for which I integrated microfluidics and photonic crystal fibers for biosensing and particle guidance applications. Also, I presented this work at the International symposium, which gave me the "Best Scientific Poster Award". 

2013-2014

Design Engineer R&D

SOCIETY FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT TECHNOLOGY AND APPLIED RESEARCH (SITAR), BENGALURU

During my time at SITAR, I developed Lab-on-chip devices for medical applications and biowarfare agent detection. Also I received expert training with COMSOL Multiphysics software. 

2012-2013

Sales Engineer Trainee

THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, BENGALURU

I take care of pre-sales activities of liquid handling consumables mainly single-channel, multichannel pipettes (both manual and electronic). 

2011-2011

Bachelor Thesis Internship

CLINIGENE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, BENGALURU

For my bachelor's thesis assignment, I worked on the quantification of Ibuprofen in human plasma samples by the HPLC method. During my time there, I also participated in "mock audits" of FDA assessment. 

EDUCATION

2018-Present

Doctorate Degree

Ph.D

UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE, ENSCHEDE,

THE NETHERLANDS

Topic: "Engineering tools to study and tune the vascular organization".

Mechanical signals have a strong effect on vascular development and organization. However, there exists no proper tool to study their influence on vascular organization. Under the supervision of Dr. Jeroen Rouwkema, I am working towards creating efficient engineering tools to probe, perturb and predict the evolution of vascular networks in invivo, invitro and insilico models.

2014-2018

Master's Degree

MSc.Hons

FRIEDRICH ALEXANDER UNIERSITY

ERLANGEN-NUREMBERG, GERMANY

I studied Elite Master's Program "Advanced Materials and Processes" focusing on biomaterials and advanced processes as specialization. This study program allows me to gain fundamental knowledge about biophysics and materials design for biological applications. Moreover, coolest thing during this study program, I had a good chance to talk with students from multidisciplinary and multicultural backgrounds which pay out in many collaborative projects.

2007-2011

Bachelor's Degree

B.Tech

ANNA UNIVERSITY, INDIA

I studied Biotechnology in "Adhiyamaan College of Engineering" focusing on molecular cell biology and bioprocesses as specialization. This study program allows me to gain basic knowledge about cell biology and bioreactor operations. Moreover, this study program provide me a chance to work in various research institutions and biopharmaceutical industry. 

2009-2010

Post Graduate Diploma

PGDNBT

LIFE SCIENCE FOUNDATION, INDIA

I studied a PGDBT course via online focuses on nanotechnology. This study program allows me to gain basic knowledge about nanobiotechnology concepts and their applications. 

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PROJECTS

Blood flow microscopy

(Multi-mode imaging)

To be clinically effective, engineered tissues should be mechanically stable with surgical compatibility and have a multiscale hierarchical organization resembling vascular tree. Apart from organization, mechanical properties such as blood flow velocity, patency and vascular permeability are important parameters that control vascular structures in remodeling and maturation phase. This proposal uses the optical techniques such as laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI), laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) and monitoring (LDPM) and side-stream dark field imaging to explore and quantify the influence of mechanical signals on vascular organization, both within transparent chick embryo culture systems and engineered tissue models. 

Virtual Angiogenesis

(Cell-based computational models)

Using cellular potts model, this proposal models the vascular network in a virtual microfluidic device setting. From the cells seeded in a virtual hydrogel lattice and with cells interacting with local environment, vascular network structures emerge. The shapes of arising structures are studied and correlated to calculated properties and parameter values. New experimental boundary conditions and external vascular endothelial growth factor sources are added to the model framework. We anticipate our model framework to be a starting point for more sophisticated experimental driven insilico testing tool for tissue engineereing applications. 

Transparent biological culture systems

Adding vascular network to engineered tissues is an important step for the clinical application of these tissues. However, in order for such networks to perform, they need to have a physiological organization. This proposal hypothesizes that fluid flow shear stress on the outside of a vascular network can control vascular organization. To test this hypothesis, a transparent artificial eggshell with which directed fluid flow pattern can be applied, will be used in a chick embryo model. When the hypothesis holds true, the results of this project will provide us with an extra tool to control vascular organization in engineered tissues. 

Biomimetic physiological structures (Mathematical models)

With biomimetic scaffolds, environment close to the natural extracellular matrix of organs can be created in which cells could be guided to create new tissue with appropriate function. However, in order to create such scaffolds, spatial distribution of seeds with appropriate pore geometry, interconnectivity and number of seeds should be precisely evaluated. This proposal involves the application of voronoi based generative algorithmic model for designing 3D biological models particularly human cancellous bone. By altering the spatial distribution of seeds the mechanical strength of the scaffold will change. In order to determine the influence of spatial seed distribution on the scaffolds mechanical strength, the models will undergo virtual compression loading. To quantify this change, finite element modeling (FEM) will be used to evaluate the prototypes of biological cancellous bone scaffolds based on strain, stress and total deformation.

COLLABORATIONS

SKILLS

MEDIA