Tag: Biological Sciences

From an early age, I was deeply fascinated by biology. Growing up, I witnessed how health challenges can affect individuals and families, which inspired me to pursue a path where I could contribute directly or indirectly to improving patients’ lives. That motivation has been the driving force behind my journey in science and research. Early in my academic career, I completed several internships at national research laboratories in India, followed by a semester-long internship at the South Dakota School of Mines in the United States. These experiences gave me a hands-on exposure to biological research and strengthened my passion for developing healthcare-related solutions.

Although I never considered myself an exceptional student, I have always carried an unwavering curiosity and determination to learn. Pursuing a PhD once felt like a distant dream, but today, as I stand on the threshold of completing it, that dream feels within reach. My doctoral research at Michigan Technological University, under the guidance of Dr. Caryn Heldt and Dr. Stephen Techtmann, focuses on understanding how viruses interact with antiviral materials and how these mechanisms can be harnessed to design safer, more effective antiviral technologies.

As I write this, I am completing a co-op at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, where I am applying the skills and scientific mindset developed as a research assistant under Dr. Heldt and Dr. Techtmann to real-world biopharmaceutical research. This experience has been instrumental in bridging the gap between academic research and industrial application, deepening my appreciation for how fundamental science translates into tangible health solutions.

Throughout my PhD journey, I have been fortunate to represent Michigan Tech at an international workshop in France, present my research at scientific conferences, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams. Each of these experiences has strengthened my confidence, broadened my perspective, and reaffirmed my passion for scientific discovery and innovation.

My time at Michigan Tech and in the Keweenaw Peninsula has been an incredibly rewarding chapter of my life. The opportunities, mentorship, and friendships I’ve found here have shaped me both personally and professionally. I am especially grateful to my advisors, Dr. Caryn Heldt and Dr. Stephen Techtmann, for their continued support, encouragement, and belief in my potential throughout this journey. I also extend my sincere thanks to the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel for awarding me the Doctoral Finishing Fellowship, which will allow me to focus on completing my dissertation and taking the next steps toward my career goals. This recognition is truly meaningful and marks an important milestone in my lifelong goal of using science to help others.

Since early in my life, I knew I wanted to be in the healthcare field. I take inspiration from Dr. John J. Durocher, my advisor at Michigan Tech and my father who is a pulmonologist in India. I saw them both work hard in providing awareness for prevention and treatment of many diseases in the community. As an undergraduate in Physical Therapy, I learned more about non pharmacological treatment methods such as exercise for intervention of many diseases. I continued this by pursuing masters in Exercise Science and I learned about the research aspect of what I was doing clinically.

I wanted to expand my horizons and establish myself as a healthcare professional. I started my PhD with Dr. Durocher in fall 2018 on a National Institutes of Health project on “Mindfulness and neurocardiovascular control”. Our research is focused on evaluating the effects of non pharmacological interventions such as mindfulness, stress management, exercise and sleep for management of anxiety, blood pressure regulation and sleep. Long term high anxiety is the major cause for many cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, heart attacks and strokes. Anxiety is also speculated to cause loss of elasticity in the arteries and high sympathetic drive which is the major reason for such cardiovascular risks. Non pharmacological treatment strategies such as mindfulness, stress management, exercise and sleep have gained popularity for managing these diseases. Our research was also active during the peak COVID-19 pandemic when everything was shut down and people were forced to follow stay at home mandates. With the uncertainties revolving around the pandemic, it has become important to maintain good health and with my research I will be able to provide better understanding to people in living a healthy stress free lifestyle. As a PhD at Michigan Tech, I was very fortunate to be an instructor where I got an opportunity to guide many students towards pursuing their careers in the healthcare field. I also got an opportunity to present my work at many conferences, win grants and awards for my research.

I am thankful to the Graduate School and the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel for granting me the fellowship. This fellowship will help me finish my dissertation during the tough times of global pandemic. I am also thankful to my advisor Dr. John J. Durocher for being an amazing mentor, Dr. Joshi and the Biological Sciences department for supporting me with my PhD journey and my dissertation committee members Dr. Petushek, Dr. Steelman and Dr. Larson.