Structural Biologist & Cancer Researcher

I'm a structural biologist and cancer researcher driven by one question: can we reshape the proteins in our own body to fight tumors more effectively? That curiosity has shaped my entire career, from the lab bench to the research podium.

My journey started with a Bachelor of Science at Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad, followed by a Master's in Biotechnology at Nirma University, where I graduated with an A+ grade. That foundation set the stage for everything that followed.

I spent over three years at Sun Pharma as a Senior Scientist in Biosimilars R&D, where I developed a clone for aflibercept and worked on bevacizumab, IL-23, and GLP-2 projects. The experience of building novel biologics from the ground up, from cell line development to process optimization, gave me deep expertise in cell culture, molecular biology, and translational research.

I recently completed my PhD in Oncology and Cancer Biology at Nirma University under Prof Sarat Dalai in the Immunology Lab. My doctoral research explored structural biology and cancer: specifically, how we can alter the inherent structure of proteins that are present in the healthy body and apply that understanding to fight cancer. Cytokines, especially IL-12 and chimeric IL-15, were central to my doctoral work, and I used bioinformatics approaches to study how mutations drive structural changes in these proteins.

Along the way, I built extensive hands-on experience with structural biology and bioinformatics tools, including PyMOL, UCSF Chimera, ICM-Pro, Swiss-Model, AutoDock, and AutoDock Vina. I also served as a Senior Research Fellow with the Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission during my doctoral studies.

When I'm not in the lab, you'll find me at conferences sharing my work, reading the latest immuno-oncology literature, or mentoring students who are just beginning their research journey.

For the full career details, check out my LinkedIn.