Hi, I’m
Dixitkumar Tandel
Hyderabad
Summary
Enthusiastic Molecular virology and Immunology researcher with six years of work experience and extensive knowledge of core subject matter. Meticulous and detail-oriented with excellent observational, problem-solving abilities, organizational and communication skills. Poised to contribute to team success and take research field ahead.
Overview
6
years of professional experience
Work History
CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology
PhD Student
01.2020 - Current
Job overview
- Elucidated SARS-CoV-2 Delta mediated suppression of innate immunity: published as first author in Microbiology Spectrum (2022).
- Published seven peer-reviewed articles and multiple preprints in process.
- Developed expertise in handling BSL-2 and BSL-3 viruses (SARS-CoV-2, JEV, DENV, HCV, VSV).
- Applied advanced techniques: Confocal & TEM imaging, RNA-IP, Polysome profiling, RNA-seq analysis.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to study host–pathogen interactions.
Mentorship – Supervised and trained four trainees, including MSc dissertation students, a year-long project trainee, and a summer intern, in molecular virology research and laboratory techniques.
Education
CSIR-Centre For Cellular And Molecular Biology
PhD from Molecular Virology
10.2025
University Overview
Thesis title – “Investigating Host Response to SARS-CoV-2 Variants”
Veer Narmad South Gujarat UniversityNavsari, India
Master of Science from Microbiology
04-2019
University Overview
- Graduation with Distinction, Semester-3 and 4, 2019
- Dissertation title: Cloning of eGFP gene into vector pGRG36 and genomic integration into host with the help of Tn7 transposon
- Award: Gujarat State Eligibility Test, 2018
Veer Narmad South Gujarat UniversityNavsari, India
Bachelor of Science from Microbiology
03-2017
University Overview
- Graduation with First class 2017
Skills
- Virology & Immunology: BSL-2/3 virus handling, virus isolation/culturing, neutralization assays, plaque/foci-forming assays, antibody efficacy testing
- Cell Culture: Primary cells, immortalized cell lines, drug/inhibitor screening, viral infection assays
- Molecular Biology: Cloning, RNA-IP, Protein-IP, polysome profiling, IVT assays, mass spectrometry, transcriptomics
- Imaging & Data Analysis: Confocal & TEM microscopy, RNA-seq analysis
- Verbal and written communication
- Project coordination
Languages
English (Fluent), Hindi, Gujarati
Conferences
- Keystone Symposium on Positive Strand RNA Viruses, Ireland (2024) – Delivered Short talk & poster presentation.
- 7th Annual Molecular Virology Meeting, IISC Bangalore, India (2023) – Poster presentation.
- IUBMB Meeting on Biochemistry & Molecular Biology of RNA Viruses, RCB India (2022) – Poster presentation.
- 88th Annual Meeting of SBCI, BARC Mumbai, India (2019) – Poster presentation.
Research Interests
Host–virus interactions: innate immune signaling, immune evasion by RNA viruses, viral evolution, emerging/re-emerging infections, and translational antiviral approaches.
Awards & Fellowships
SERB International Travel Grant (2024) – Keystone RNA Viruses Meeting, Killarney, Ireland
CCMB Science Foundation International Travel Fellowship (2024)
CSIR-JRF (2020) & SRF (2022) – Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
ICMR-JRF (2020) – Indian Council of Medical Research
GSET - Gujarat State Eligibility Test for Assistant Professor (2019) – MSU, Baroda
Publications
Peer-reviewed Articles
- 1. Tandel, D., Sah, V., Singh, N.K., et al. SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant potently suppresses innate immune response and evades interferon-activated antiviral responses in human colon epithelial cells. Microbiology Spectrum, 10(5): e01604-22 (2022).
- 2. Haripriya, P., Tandel, D., Siddiqui, A.H., Harshan, K.H. Metformin suppresses SARS-CoV-2 in cell culture. Virus Research, 323:199010 (2023).
- 3. Gupta, D., Ahmed, F., Tandel, D., et al. Equine immunoglobulin fragment F(ab’)2 neutralizes multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants. Clinical Immunology, 237:108981 (2022).
- 4. Gupta, D., Haripriya, P., Sah, V., Tandel, D., et al. Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 by β-propiolactone causes aggregation of viral particles and loss of antigenic potential. Virus Research, 305:198555 (2021).
- 5. Moharir, S.C., Thota, S.C., Goel, A., Tandel, D., et al. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the air in Indian hospitals and households. Journal of Aerosol Science, 164:106002 (2022).
- 6. Augustine, G., Sisila, V., Indhu, M., Gupta, D., Tandel, D., et al. Redirecting the JAK-STAT signal blocks SARS-CoV-2 replication. Journal of Medical Virology, 95(7): e28965 (2023).
- 7. Saha, R., Majhi, B., Palit, S., Waghela, N., Tandel, D., et al. DNA to RNA tuning of a pyrrolidine-derived quinoxaline scaffold inhibits HCV IRES-mediated translation. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science (2025).
Preprints
- 1. Ganguli, S., Gupta, D., Ramaswamy, R., Tandel, D., et al. Musashi1 interacts with viral RNA and restricts SARS-CoV-2 infection. bioRxiv (2024).
- 2. Sah, V., Potharaju, P.S., Nair, K.S., Tandel, D., et al. MAVS orchestrates IFN-independent antiviral immunity via mitochondrial integrity. bioRxiv (2025).
- 3. Tandel, D., Gupta, D., Sah, V., Harshan, K.H. N440K variant of SARS-CoV-2 has higher infectious fitness. bioRxiv (2021).
- 4. Haripriya, P., Gupta, D., Suresh, A.P., Tandel, D., et al. Suppression of global protein translation in SARS-CoV-2 infection. bioRxiv (2021).
Timeline
PhD Student
CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology
01.2020 - Current
CSIR-Centre For Cellular And Molecular Biology
PhD from Molecular Virology
Veer Narmad South Gujarat University
Master of Science from Microbiology
Veer Narmad South Gujarat University
Bachelor of Science from Microbiology
Similar Profiles
Vishal SahVishal Sah
Project Research Scientist at CSIR-CCMBProject Research Scientist at CSIR-CCMB
Divya DasDivya Das
Project Assistant at Laboratory of Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Umeå UniversityProject Assistant at Laboratory of Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Umeå University
Pournami RamachandranPournami Ramachandran
Research Intern at Centre for Cellular and Molecular biologyResearch Intern at Centre for Cellular and Molecular biology
Nithin SaraNithin Sara
Sr. Product Engineer at TECHMAHINDRA LTDSr. Product Engineer at TECHMAHINDRA LTD
SASIDHAR RAYALASASIDHAR RAYALA
Senior Accounts Executive at Select CarsSenior Accounts Executive at Select Cars