EXPERIENCE

I was a curious and determined student while pursuing my Master's degree from Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak. I was awarded Junior Research Fellowship from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering conducted by the Indian Institution of Science during the same time. Subsequently, I joined Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Mohali, India as a PhD fellow. During my time there, I developed expertise in confocal imaging and standardized the technique of live-imaging of the Shoot Apical Meristem (SAM) in the plant model organism Arabidopsis thaliana.

Using this technique, I studied the regulation of stem cells and developed a model for stem cell specification during organ primordia development. Additionally, I conducted a genetic screen and Y2H assay to identify interacting partners of the transcription factor WUSCEL, which led to the identification of interesting candidates. I also collaborated with a colleague to investigate the effect of UV-B radiation on stem cells in SAM using live imaging.

(Reference: “Elongated Hypocotyl5 negatively regulates decrease wax biosynthesis to increase survival during UV-B stress”. Prince Saini, Shivani Bhatia, Monika Mahajan, **Anshul Kaushik**…. Ram Kishor Yadav. DOI: [https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.20.01304](https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.20.01304) (IF: 8.34))

Throughout my time in the lab, I acquired various technical skills, such as cloning, protein expression and purification, and genotyping mutants. In addition to performing research, I presented scientific papers and my own research findings. I worked at IISER Mohali for a period of two years. After a brief hiatus from the research world, I realised I want to return back to the research field. So I again appeared for Junior Research Fellowship examination organised by UGC-CSIR in December 2019 and cleared it.

I am continuing my research journey as a PhD candidate in the Algal Ecotechnology and Sustainability group under Dr. Kiran Bala at the Department of BioSciences and Biomedial Engineering, IIT Indore.