Sakshi Chauhan

I defended my M.Sc. at Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology (Hisar, Haryana) in 2024. My master thesis focused on actin-depolymerizing factors (ADF 2, 4, 5), involving protein purification, interaction studies with actin, and analysis through co-sedimentation assays and Western blotting. I then worked as a project assistant at JNU (New Delhi), and my research included purification and kinetic characterization of L-asparaginase, along with crystallization experiments, as well as purification and crystallization trials of small GTPases (Rho 5, 8, and 15).

My Ph.D. research explores the molecular mechanisms of thylakoid membrane biogenesis in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. I focus on two ESCRT-III-like proteins, and their interaction with VIPP1, a key factor in thylakoid development and stress protection. Using genetics, OMICs, advanced microscopy, and structural biology approaches, I aim to uncover how these proteins contribute to membrane remodeling. This work will provide insights into the evolutionary origins of chloroplasts and support strategies for engineering stress-resilient cyanobacteria.