Mandira Choppella

EDUCATION

College / University

University of Hyderabad

Highest Degree

Master of Science

Major Subjects

Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Systems Biology

Country

India

Lab Experience

Molecular cloning, site-directed mutagenesis, fluorescence microscopy, electrophoresis (agarose, SDS-PAGE), PCR, UV-Vis spectrophotometry and protein estimation, Drosophila melanogaster husbandry and RNAi experiments, immunohistochemistry, Python programming.

Projects / Research

2020 – 2021: “Identification of novel regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster”, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Hyderabad
2019: “Role of novel epoxylipids in the heart and their effect on mitochondrial function”, University of Alberta
2018: “Genetic screen in Drosophila melanogaster for the identification of pathways involved in stress-induced mitochondrial biogenesis”, TIFR Hyderabad
2017: “Cloning and site-directed mutagenesis of the coiled-coil domains of Hematopoietic PBX-Interacting Protein (HPIP)”, University of Hyderabad

Scholarships / Awards

2021 – 2022:	Stipend by the International Max Planck Research School
2019:	University of Alberta Research Experience (UARE) Fellowship
2018:	Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Visiting Students Research Program (VSRP) Fellowship

SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS AND GOALS

The intricacies of processes and communication within cells have always fascinated me. Over the years I’ve gained a particular interest in the happenings within the nucleus and the mitochondria of a cell, as well as the crosstalk between the two organelles. Throughout my research work, I hope to understand the molecular basis of cell survival and death through the lens of mitochondrial biology, epigenetics, and gene regulation.