Prokaryotic cell division is a precisely coordinated process in which protein complexes dynamically remodel the cell membrane to ensure successful cytokinesis. In bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis, this involves membrane deformation and constriction driven by cytoskeletal elements and enzymes, despite the absence of membrane-bound organelles. A central question in the field is how membrane tension influences this remodeling process, and how energy from nucleotide hydrolysis is harnessed to drive these mechanical transformations.
As a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Prof. Ethan Garner at the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB), Harvard University, my research focuses on dissecting the physical mechanisms of bacterial cell division. I use a bottom-up approach by reconstituting key divisome components in vitro using Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUVs), allowing us to systematically investigate how proteins interact with and deform membranes under controlled tension. By combining this with high-resolution imaging and quantitative analysis, my goal is to uncover the minimal mechanical and biochemical requirements for membrane constriction, shedding light on how bacterial cells orchestrate division with such spatial precision.
I earned my PhD (2022) in physics under the supervision of Prof. Jaydeep Kumar Basu at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, where I studied the dynamics and transport properties of polymer nanocomposites. I then joined the University of Pennsylvania as a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Prof. Tobias Baumgart, where I investigated protein–protein phase separation near lipid bilayers and its role in membrane internalization. These interdisciplinary experiences across soft matter physics and membrane biophysics have equipped me with a unique perspective to study the mechanochemical principles driving complex cellular processes.