R&D Staff

Titikhya Nath

JNCASR email ID: titikhya@jncasr.ac.in

Gmail ID: nath.titikhya@gmail.com

Year of joining: 2024

Qualification: MS (Research), Biological Sciences, JNCASR, Bangalore, India.

Research interest:  I joined the Autophagy laboratory in 2024 for my MS thesis to study how the exocyst complex is repurposed during autophagy using the auxin-inducible degron system. While the project evolved, I continued this work as a Junior Research Fellow. I am currently exploring interactions of exocyst subunits with autophagy proteins in S. Cerevisiae, a model organism I enjoy working with, for both its utility and unmistakable lab character.

Hobbies: Outside shaking the cultures and petri dishes, I find order in organising spaces. I spend some of my leisure time in exploring various arts and cultures.

Kanish Nareen

JNCASR email ID: kanish@jncasr.ac.in

Gmail ID: nareenkanish@gmail.com

Year of joining: August 2025

Qualifications: B. Tech in Biotechnology from University College of Engineering, BIT Campus, Anna University, Tiruchirappalli; M. Tech in Biotechnology from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati.

Research interest: I am a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) on the project “Elucidating the role of lysosomal hydrolase trafficking in health and disease.”

Hobbies: Spending time and exploring places with friends, Mechanical tinkering.

Tejas Hemant Kulkarni

JNCASR email id - tejask@jncasr.ac.in

Gmail ID - tejask551@gmail.com

Year of joining: September 2025

Qualifications: I have completed BS-MS course with a Major in Biological Sciences from IISER Mohali

Research interest: I am interested in behavioural and molecular neuroscience. Currently, I am working on understanding the mechanisms underlying rare neurodegenerative disorders

Hobbies - Other than academics, I enjoy listening to music and playing the percussion instrument - 'Tabla'

Shashank Degala

JNCASR email ID: shashankd@jncasr.ac.in

Gmail ID: shashankdegala@gmail.com

Year of joining: September 2025

Qualifications: Integrated M.Sc. Biotechnology, Kakatiya University, Telangana.

Research interest: My work focuses on understanding  the mechanistic involvement of unconventional myosins in autophagic flux, including their indirect modulation of its associated pathways.

Hobbies: Following Theoretical Astrophysics and Indie games.

 

Vanija Raj Sinha 

JNCASR email ID: vanijarajsinha@jncasr.ac

Gmail ID: vanijarajsinha@gmail.com

Year of joining: September 2025

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences from Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi; Master’s degree in Biochemistry from Banaras Hindu University

Research interest: I am currently working as a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) on the project “Investigating the effect of genetic modulation of the autophagy pathway in Hirschsprung’s disease.”

Hobbies: My hobbies include Bharatanatyam dance ,poetry and reading books which allow me to balance scientific rigor with creative expression.

Malik Nasir Hussain

JNCASR email ID: malik@jncasr.ac.in

Gmail ID: withmaliknasir@gmail.com

Year of joining: September 2025

Qualifications: B.Sc (Honours) Biochemistry; M.Sc. Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Clinical Biochemistry University of Kashmir 

Research interest:  I am interested in neuroscience as Santiago stated" the brain is a living dynamo consisting of underexplored continents and vast unknown territories" to explore this living dynamo  in lab I am addressing  behavioural and molecular underpinnings of neurodegenerative disorders using model organism Drosophila melanogaster at the intersection of neurogenetics , behavioural assays and autophagy.

Hobbies: Outside the lab I enjoy reading philosophy , psychology ,poetry  listening to music and following UFC MMA, soccer and Formula 1 racing.

Mullainathan M

JNCASR email ID: mullainathan@jncasr.ac.in

Gmail ID: mullainathan02@gmail.com

Year of joining: July 2024

Qualifications: I completed my Integrated MSc in Life Sciences (specialising in Animal Science) from Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India.

Research interest: My fascination lies in understanding the complex mystery of the brain, starting from how it perceives and stores information to how it protects the brain microenvironment from invading pathogens. I find that playing and spending time with mice and studying their brains provides me with a window to explore these questions. I am curious about the molecular and cellular regulation of brain function, one of which is the autophagy pathway and its dynamic regulation and functions. It has been found that Listeria monocytogenes, a food-borne pathogen, can invade the brain by crossing the BBB in immunocompromised individuals. In the autophagy lab, I am trying to understand what it does after entry and how the brain's specialized immune system clears it, as well as the inflammation and neurodegeneration that follow.

Hobbies: If I’m not in the lab, I love playing cricket, exploring new places, and trying out new recipes despite my poor cooking skills.

 

Velu Saravanan

Gmail ID: velusaravanan9750@gmail.com

Year of joining: September 2025

Qualifications: B.Sc. Biochemistry – Vysya College, Salem, Tamil Nadu (2020–2023); M.Sc. Biochemistry – Bharathiar University, Coimbatore (2023–2025)

Research interest: I am  working as a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) in the Autophagy Laboratory. I am continuing the work initiated by a lab alumnus (Cuckoo) and using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism to study how fzo-1 influences lifespan. My research also explores whether the observed phenotype can be rescued through pharmacological supplementation, such as Urolithin A, in the context of mitophagy.

Hobbies: Engaging in agriculture-related activities with my family, exploring new places, watching stand-up comedy, writing Tamil poetry, and spending time with nature
 

Vinay Sannannagari

Alt email: sannannagarivinay97[at]gmail[dot]com
Year of joining:  August 2023
Qualifications: M.Sc Biotech -IIT Roorkee
My research focus on the elucidation of the role of Exocyst complex in autophagy  and it's implications in human diseases
Hobbies: I love trekking and like to explore forests/forts. And painting

Tanya Pareek

Email: tanyapareek95[at]gmail[dot]com

Year of joining the lab: 2021

Qualification: M.Sc Biochemistry, Central University of Rajasthan

Research Interest: I am interested in elucidating the mechanism of autophagy regulation by septin protein complex.

Other interests of mine include reading fantasy fiction, watching slam poetry performances and journaling.