Long Non-Coding RNA Biology

Pervasive transcription of the genome generates a huge repertoire of non-coding RNAs, some of which are functional while some are not. Annotation and functional characterization of the class of long non-coding RNAs has been an area of interest worldwide.

Autoimmune diseases arise due to a breakdown in immunological tolerance, a complex network of ‘central’ and ‘peripheral’ mechanisms. Immunological self-tolerance is a fundamental property of the immune system which not only averts autoimmune responses, but is also highly relevant to cancer immunity. Central tolerance is shaped in the thymus, where medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) orchestrate the negative selection of a nascent repertoire of autoreactive T cells and positive selection of regulatory T cells (Treg).

For my current research interests in statistical physics, see the talk below:

Slow Quench Dynamics in Classical Systems

For a non-technical introduction to my research interests in evolutionary biology, follow the link below: 

Randomness in Biological Evolution

• Structure-function analysis of the centromere-kinetochore complex
• Kinetochore-microtubule interactions
• Crosstalk between Pre-RC and centromere-associated proteins 
• Epigenetic regulation of CENPA centromeric chromatin
• CENPA-less centromeric chromatin
• CUG-Ser1-clade-specific histone H3 variant
• Comparative and functional genomics of fungal pathogens
• Three-dimensional genome assembly

Topological insulators (TIs) and topological crystalline insulators (TCIs) are new quantum phases with strong spin-orbit coupling leading to topologically protected metallic surface states within the bulk band gap.  Some of the known TIs and TCIs are based on chalcogenides of lead, bismuth and tin. Our group is interested in investigating the chemical aspects and local structure of these metal chalcogenide TIs ad TCIs. We pursue research to modify the electronic structure of TIs and TCIs by chemical doping route and thereby optimize their thermoelectric properties.

Our group is interested in the solution-phase synthesis of new narrow band gap metal chalcogenides in the form of  nanocrystals, nanorods and nanosheets. Extensive research is being carried out on novel heterostructured intergrowth 2D nanosheets and their application in thermoelectrics, field emission and IR detection. We also develop novel layered chalcogenides for ion-exchange and intercalation applications. We are involved in studying the phase-transitions (electronic and structural) in nanocrystalline metal chalcogenides.

The ever-rising demand for energy is primarily addressed using earth’s renewable sources, out of which only a handful fraction of it is utilized and a much larger portion (greater than 70%) of it is wasted as form of heat. TE devices thus are centric for global sustainability as it utilizes the waste heat to generate electricity. Given heat’s ubiquitous nature, TE devices provide total-package solution to mitigate environmental crisis and energy needs.

We are interested in design, exploratory solid state synthesis, detailed characterization and structure-property relationship of various bulk metal chalcogenide and chalcohalides based inorganic materials. We pursue studies on growth kinetics, structural evolution (local/global), phase transitions and local structural disorder in bulk/nano metal chalcogenides by various techniques such as synchrotron X-ray diffraction and pair-distribution function (PDF).