Biosketch

Recently, I completed my PhD from Manipal University Jaipur, India. Currently, I am working as a research associate in the Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering at the Indian Institute of Technology- Jodhpur, India. I worked as a researcher in the Gene Expression and Biophysics Unit under the supervision of Dr Musa Mhlanga at iMM.

Our laboratory focused its research on gene expression and nuclear architecture in live imaging of cells using super-resolution microscopy techniques like PALM, and STORM. My research interest was nurtured when I start my master’s dissertation at CSIR New Delhi (India) under the supervision of Dr Rakesh Sharma. His group working on functional metagenomics for the identification of novel genes and pathways Microbial diversity and Molecular characterization of the role of metal ions in mycobacteria.

Where I worked on a project titled “Molecular Characterization of Cadmium Sensitive Mycobacterium smegmatis Mutant”. I enjoyed working in the lab where I learned the basics of molecular biology, biochemical analysis and other techniques required for the laboratory. After completion of my master’s thesis, I got selected by the faculty of biotechnology for teaching master’s and bachelor’s student for one year. But somehow, I am not convinced about what I was doing and decided to go back to research and understand the basic functions of cells and their interactions on a molecular level.

So, I applied to many research institutes outside my home country to get the modern research facilities and an environment of the most experienced scientists and professors to achieve my goal and understand the complexity of the cells and their importance in human life. After many rejections, I got selected as a research investigator in Dr Musa Mhlanga’s group in the Synthetic Biology Unit in CSIR-Pretoria. His group focused their research on gene expressions, and nuclear architecture using the super-resolution techniques like PALM/STORM and RNA screenings of HIV and their infection. Where I worked on the following projects: (a) “Live imaging of long-range chromatin interaction using zinc fingers fused to split fluorescent proteins”. (b) “Construction of tale nucleases for site-specific cleavage of the human genome”.

During working in his lab, I learned a lot more techniques of molecular biology, estimations, analysis, and some special type of genome editing like TALEN, Zinc fingers which fascinates me to be in this field of science. I learned many other things like journal clubs, presentations, lab meetings, discussions, and interaction with senior members of the group, including working in teams. It helps me to motivate and feel great to be a part of the scientific community. Dr Musa is the joint scientist of the two laboratories one is CSIR-Pretoria and the other is in iMM Lisbon. After a critical evaluation of my work and capabilities, he promotes me to work in his other laboratory in iMM Lisbon.

Where I worked on the project titled visualization of the gene expressions and nuclear architecture through super-resolution in Plasmodium-infected cells. Through my research experience, I have grown an interest in cells and molecules which play important roles in microbes. I would like to work on the translational applications of microbes in different research areas. Along with these interests in research areas, I think these two and a half years of research will not only provide an ideal platform but also an opportunity to interact with distinguished scientists having different research interests.

This will help in a better understanding of basic molecular biology and recent developments, which in turn act as catalysts for investigating current projects. I think these projects would be an outstanding opportunity to expand my knowledge and to get a glimpse of other potential research aspects of molecular biology.

Testimony

I Jagdish Parihar joined the Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM), Lisbon as a researcher, in 2013. The facilities in the institute are very good and advanced. Furthermore, the international talks on various research domains every week were inspiring. Faculty members produce high-quality and impactful research, and several of them are leaders in their fields and enjoy international recognition. It is therefore not surprising that the research work attracts regular visits by international scholars.

As a researcher, I found iMM to be an excellent environment because I had many opportunities to meet with scholars in diverse areas. This allowed me to build collaborative relationships with researchers from different countries. Once again, it was a pleasure to work in such a highly motivated environment with open-minded people during the stay. In summary, it was great to work in institutes with a lot of possibilities and a good research environment.

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