Dr. Supriya's passion for scientific writing began with her Bachelor’s of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Medical Laboratory Technology at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), India.
During her degree, Supriya gained expertise in hematology, histopathology, biochemistry, and microbiology. It was here that she developed a keen interest in biochemistry and went on to do a Master’s (M.Sc.) degree at Panjab University, India in this subject. Her thesis focused on the influence of ethanol on the cardiac antioxidant defense system of mice exposed to cigarette smoke.
An exciting start to Supriya’s career arose when she was selected to receive a Ph.D. stipend from the Max Planck Society to become a doctoral candidate of the International Max Planck Research School in Chemical Biology (IMPRS-CB) in Dortmund, Germany. Here, she was introduced to the fascinating field of membrane proteins.
Under the guidance of Professor Rolf Kinne, Supriya began researching the role of phosphorylation on the function and conformation of the sodium/D-glucose cotransporter, SGLT1, for her Ph.D.
She assessed the functional effects of this protein by studying the effect of kinase activators/inhibitors on transport activity, localization, and cell surface expression. The conformational changes induced by phosphorylation on purified, recombinant SGLT1 were also explored through intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence. Her thesis was a unique combination of cell physiology, molecular biology, membrane biochemistry, and biophysics.
Supriya’s Ph.D. was followed by a two-year postdoctoral position in Dr. Patrick Thibodeau’s lab at the University of Pittsburgh, USA, which allowed her to continue the work she had been doing during her Ph.D.
The position allowed her to expand her technical potential and deepen her understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying membrane transport.
The project involved the identification and characterization of novel protein-protein interactions that regulate the biosynthesis and trafficking of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Supriya’s work led to the identification of several novel CFTR-interacting proteins, including cytosolic chaperones and ubiquitin-specific proteases. She developed skills in fluorescent microscopy, siRNA knockdown, and tissue biology.