My laboratory studies how membrane protein trafficking and quality control mechanisms surveil the membrane proteome, and how their dysregulation results in human disease. 

We employ multi-disciplinary approaches in budding yeast and mammalian cells to ask these questions. We are interested in understanding the molecular basis of how membrane proteins are classified as functional or non-functional by cellular protein quality control mechanisms: How do cellular QC mechanisms make these decisions? What features of the proteins are recognized? What features of the QC machinery provide them the ability to make the distinction? We are also interested in understanding how integral membrane proteins are correctly maintained at specific intracellular organelles: How are specific proteins selectively packaged for sorting? What are the consequences of defects in these pathways? A better understanding of these processes is especially relevant for designing therapeutic interventions for pathological conditions affecting protein homeostasis.

• PhD, Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of Texas at Austin, 2013
• MSc, Biotechnology, IIT-Bombay, Mumbai, 2006
• BSc, Biochemistry, Delhi University, New Delhi, 2004