Personal Details: Male, Single, Indian, Born 22^nd Feb., 1983.

A/54, SATELLITE APARTMENTS,

JODHPUR CHAR RASTA,

AHMEDABAD – 380015.

GUJARAT, INDIA.

91-79-6741503

* Currently studying in the aforementioned program. Subjects include Metabolism, Nutrition, Enzymology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, and Biotechnology.

• Attended an International "Networks and Behaviour" Symposium held at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore in January, 2003.
• Co-founded the Xavier’s Journal Club with a group of four friends at the undergraduate level. The club was set up and is run entirely by students without support from Faculty or Management.(2002-2003)
• Prepared and presented a project on "DNA Computing" in a Biotechnology exhibition as part of "Lakshya", a career fair organized by St. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad.(2002)
• Prepared and presented a Journalism project on the "Ethics of Cloning" in the 11th Std.(1999)
• Took part (as team of 3) and stood first in Gujarat zone in the National Software Contest conducted by the Computer Society of India.(1996-97)
• Won the second prize in an Exhibition organized by St. Xavier’s High School, Loyola for a model of the Indian Remote sensing Satellite & The PSLV in 7^th std.(1995)

• Molecular Computation of Solutions to Combinatorial Problems - Adleman, Science.

• The Concept of the Bioassay.

• Extension of Life Span by Loss of CHICO, A Drosophila Insulin Receptor Substrate Protein – Clancy et al, Science.

• Fear Memories require protein synthesis in the amygdala for reconsolidation after retrieval – Nader et al, Nature

• The Cellular and Molecular Basis of Memory

• DNA Computing – The Test Tube PC.

• Physical Interpretation of the Wave function Psi.

• The Acetabularia experiments in the History of Cell Differentiation.

• The theoretical basis of Absorption Spectrometry – The Beer-Lambert’s law.

• Wood as a relevant renewable fuel in the modern energy scenario.

Worked under Dr. B.N. Mallick at the REM Sleep Lab, School of Life Sciences on "The Cytomorphometric analysis of the effect of REM sleep deprivation on the cell size of neurons in the CA3 field of the Rat Hippocampus." A small project with the aim of using cytomorphometry to analyse changes in cell size in the neural substrate of Memory Consolidation after REM Sleep Deprivation. The stay at JNU was fantastic as I was exposed to various levels of research in Neuroscience. Learnt techniques in Histology, Biochemistry, & Electrophysiology.

• In-house training project at Industrial Training Unit, St. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad in June 2002-Feb 2003.

This training is part of a special initiative at our college that aims at giving us a simulated exposure to an industrial environment. We have formed a mini-company that deals in Plant Tissue Culture work. The students share responsibilities on a rotational basis. Work includes R&D, routine lab. work, internal co-ordination and marketing of products. I have been responsible for "Micropropogation of Dracaena" in R&D apart from other routine work.

• In-house training project at St. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad in 2001-2002.

This training is part of our curriculum, and required us to choose a plant and independently attempt to Micropropagate it. Worked on "Micropropagation of Allium sativum"(Garlic). Achieved Direct as well as Indirect Organogenesis (Rhizogenesis + Caulogenesis) and the development of Immature Cloves. A very satisfying project that provided a very good grounding in the basic techniques of Plant Tissue Culture. We were required to design and carry out our experiments on our own, and were responsible for the results.

• Summer Research Project at Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata in May-June, 2001.

Also currently trying to crudely simulate enzyme mechanisms and Evolution…it’s a whole lot of fun!

• Computational Capacities of Neural and Sub-cellular networks.
• Neural mechanisms of Cognitive computation at the cortical level.
• Cellular and Systemic Aspects of Normal Network Development and Fine-Tuning of Neuronal Circuitry due to Experience.
• Neurobiology of Learning and Memory & the synaptic mechanisms of LTP and LTD.
• The Tough Problem of Consciousness and Qualia.

Excited by the basic and applied aspects of Information Storage, and Expression at the Molecular levels.

• The Protein Folding Problem.
• Sequence-Structure-function relationships in Informational Biomolecules.
• Immunological Mechanisms of handling Information.
• Strategies to exploit Molecular Information representations for Information Processing and Storage.

Interested in various other aspects of Life Sciences and other Basic Sciences, especially Theoretical Physics, Complex Systems and Computer Science.

I am still in an early phase of my career. My interests are varied and variable. My interest in Neuroscience, though, is deep and arises out of an inner passion and inherent curiosity.

I am passionately interested in, and am fully motivated towards developing a career of Research and Academics in Neuroscience. My First Career objective is to contribute to the development of our understanding of how the Brain gives us our Mind.

I firmly believe in the importance and relevance of a trans-disciplinary and multi directional approach for the development of a field as complex as Neuroscience. And to meet my objective, I would like to get as much exposure as possible to a variety of techniques and approaches to the field through my undergraduate and graduate training.

I also believe, that it is critical for the future of Science that a convergence occurs between the various perspectives that are taken to the problems in the field. It is especially necessary, that scientists start understanding and communicating ideas at levels that are not confined to their own narrow disciplines, but are emerging from deeper, fundamental concepts accessible to all, including the layman.

For this, the scientists of our generation will need to try and rise up a level and become Thinkers. They would need to, as Richard Feynman said, "…play the interesting game of ‘Imaginiation…in a tight straitjacket’"

And it is in the development of such a culture that I see my Second Objective…in academics. I hope to be able to lead the students of tomorrow into a journey of excitement, curiosity, and discovery. A journey I am experiencing now. Teach them to plunge deep into concepts, and visualize the beauty of life and nature at the most fundamental of all levels and most importantly to TALK about it with people. May the Force be with me.

• A die-hard SLR photography hobbyist. On an infinite learning curve of this beautiful and satisfying art and science.
• Member of "Playcart", active English theatre group. We have put up plays by classic playwrights like Harold Pinter, Alfred Sutro etc.
• Been Coordinator (1999) and Sub-Coordinator (1998) for the 'Odyssey' a 4 day inter-school cultural festival put up by St. Xavier's High School Loyola students. Also participated and won in competitions in the festival.
• Represented my school and college and won in various literary events like 20 Questions, Dumb Charades, JAM, Quiz, etc.
• Attended a series of Leadership Camps conducted in our school under the Leadership Action Program (LEAP), from the 6th to the 9th Std. as participant and was Boy of the Camp in the 3rd Camp. Also attended future Camps as facilitator and animator to conduct sessions.
• Was an active Scout in school and was selected as the 'Best Scout’ in St. Xavier's Loyola in 1995-96.
• Worked for two months at GIVE Foundation, a not-for-profit financial organization under ICICI for Earthquake rehabilitation following the devastating earthquake in Gujarat. Also took a field trip to Kutch with SRISTI, an NGO for the specific rehabilitation of artisans.
• Involved in various social service activities. Awarded the Bhadra L. Doshi scholarship (1995) and the Bharat Bhatt scholarship (2000) for Outstanding skills shown in Social Upliftment.
• Was Vice-President of the Loyola Chapter of the Interact Club (Student wing of Rotary Club), Ahmedabad for 1998-99.
• Member of the Society for Environment Protection (SEP), an NGO based in Ahmedabad. Take up projects related to the Environment ranging from Environment Education to Plantation programs.