Negi Simran, MSc.

What was your research journey before joining Sedlackova lab?

I began my scientific journey in the Integrated B.S.–M.S. program (2018–2023) at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Thiruvananthapuram, one of India’s premier research institutions. I majored in Biology and minored in Physics, driven by my interest in interdisciplinary science. For my minor project, I worked under the joint supervision of Dr. Mayanglambam Suheshkumar Singh (School of Physics, IISER-TVM) and Dr. Jishy Varghese (School of Biology, IISER-TVM), where I explored the application of Selective Plane Illumination Microscopy (SPIM) for live imaging in Drosophila melanogaster. During this work, I co-authored a publication (K. S., A., Sarkar, S., Vishnu, S. et al. Scientific Reports 14, 3542 (2024)) and presented a poster at the Symposium cum Hands-on Workshop on Medical Imaging. Subsequently, for my major project, I joined Prof. Nishant K.T.’s lab (School of Biology, IISER-TVM), where I worked on the regulation of meiotic recombination in irc20Δ strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This experience provided me with extensive training in molecular biology and genomics techniques. During my master’s research, I developed a strong interest in molecular and cancer biology, which led me to pursue a Ph.D. opportunity in the Sedlackova Lab. Being part of the lab has been an enriching experience; I deeply appreciate Dr. Sedlackova’s engaging and encouraging mentorship—both in project-specific guidance and in broader scientific discussions.

What are you currently working on? Why do you find your project/work fascinating?

My focus is on elucidating the molecular mechanisms that coordinate origin licensing with cell cycle control. I am particularly intrigued by the multifaceted roles that replication and cell cycle regulatory factors play in maintaining genomic stability, as well as how their dysfunction contributes to human disease.

What do you do when you are not in the lab?

I love to spend my time traveling, watching anime,cooking and reading fiction books.