What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite for Children? 
I work as a senior scientist in the Molecular Genetics division of the Research department. I am responsible for conducting various research projects to identify the genetic cause of the musculoskeletal disorders treated at Scottish Rite and study the molecular mechanism of disease development. Additionally, I oversee the daily lab operation/maintenance as a lab manager.

What do you do on a daily basis or what sort of duties do you have at work?
My daily work involves designing and performing experiments in the lab, analyzing and interpreting data pertaining to various projects. I spend a lot of time in the lab doing experiments on bench.

What was your first job? What path did you take to get here or what led you to Scottish Rite? How long have you worked here?
When I was in college, I used to tutor a high school student. That was my first job.

I did my masters in Molecular Biology in India and came to the United States to pursue my Ph.D. I always wanted to work on human diseases so that my research/findings can benefit people. After I finished my Ph.D., I got an opportunity to join Dr. Carol Wise’s group as a postdoctoral fellow at Scottish Rite, and my dream came true! I have been working in Scottish Rite for past 11 years.  

What do you enjoy most about Scottish Rite?
I love the work environment at Scottish Rite. I am very thankful to be a part of a group where people are extremely nice, supportive, helpful and fun-loving. I thoroughly enjoy working here.    

Tell us something about your job that others might not already know?
Research is hard, and we do not get to see success every day. But when we discover something that can help patient care in the long run, even to a little extent, I find that very rewarding!

Where is the most interesting place you’ve been?
That would be my visit to the Sam Sand Dunes in Rajasthan, India, when I was a child. Exploring the desert riding on a camel’s back was the most fascinating and interesting experience ever.  

What is your favorite game or sport to watch and play?
I love to watch soccer and cricket when I get a chance.

If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to?
I would like to go back to my childhood years … those days were precious!

What’s one fun fact about yourself?
I love to listen to audio stories during my commute to and from work. I am a huge fan of thrillers!