Education & Experience

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• KAUST, Postdoc, 2024–Present

• University of Cambridge, Postdoc, 2021–2024

• IISER Pune, MS/PhD, 2014–2020

 

Research Project 

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​The brain, a complex, and highly vulnerable organ, relies on efficient lysosomal function to maintain neuronal health and prevent the toxic accumulation of cellular waste. In CLN6 neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL), a type of lysosomal storage disorder, impaired lysosomal activity is evident through hallmark storage accumulation—despite CLN6 being an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident protein. This suggests a functional interplay between the ER and lysosomes, which remains poorly understood. My research focuses on deciphering the specific function of CLN6, understanding how its loss disrupts lysosomal function, and how that contributes to neurodegeneration. To address this, we will employ state-of-the-art technologies, including LysoIP and ER-IP combined with multi-omics approaches, to characterize the proteomic, lipidomic, and metabolic alterations occurring across the ER–lysosome interface. These studies will leverage CRISPR-engineered cellular and animal models as well as patient-derived cells. This work will uncover the molecular changes that occur in CLN6 deficiency and clarify how lysosomal dysfunction drives neurodegeneration. 

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Fun Facts

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I love loud music! 🎶 If you ever walk into our lab and hear music blasting, it’s probably me—enjoying my experiments with a playlist in the background. I listen to all kinds of international music, so you might catch anything from Arabic pop and Korean beats to Indian tunes and smooth jazz!