About me
During my undergraduate degree in biotechnology in my home country, India, I developed a strong interest in genetics and neuroscience. I was fascinated by learning how the brain works, and understanding the underlying mechanisms of when its intricate circuits are disrupted. I therefore moved to London, to pursue my Masters in Genetics of Human disease at UCL, where I specialized in inherited neurological diseases. For my master’s project, I investigated how mutations in the manganese transporter ATP13A1 contribute to a rare childhood-onset neurological disorder, using a zebrafish model.
Following this, I worked as a research technician at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, studying the development of retina-specific glial cells -Müller glia-, and their interactions with neurons, in zebrafish. These research experiences solidified my passion for neuroscience research and enthusiasm for being in a laboratory based environment. I was eager to carry out independent research, and this motivated me to pursue a PhD, where I could investigate fundamental mechanisms of neural function at a deeper level. My current project in Dr Andrew Lin’s lab integrates my background in neuroscience while exposing me to new experimental approaches. Using Drosophila as a model, I am exploring synaptic plasticity in neurons during memory formation.
My Project
In the fruit fly (Drosophila) brain, the mushroom body processes stimuli to learn which odours are associated with food (like fruits) or danger (like predators), called associative memory, which is crucial for survival. This learning helps the fly decide how to behave—whether to approach or avoid a particular smell. The input neurons in the mushroom body change the strength of their synaptic connections with output neurons, called synaptic plasticity, by varying the amount of neurotransmitter they release. These changes dictate the appropriate behaviour to output neurons, and happen in specific compartments, where synaptic connections between input neurons and multiple partner neurons lie in sub-micron proximity. Studies have observed, that despite this proximity, all the partner neurons are not equally affected by this plasticity.
This raises an important question: how does the brain ensure that a neuron’s connections with certain partner neurons change during learning while others remain stable? My project aims to answer this question using advanced microscopy techniques such as 2 photon and expansion microscopy. The mushroom body is highly analogous to the vertebrate cerebellum, therefore, by understanding how learning leads to highly specific changes in brain connections, this research could provide new insights into human memory formation. It may also help us better understand conditions like learning disabilities and epilepsy, where the brain’s ability to change and adapt is disrupted.