Pooja Shukla

Graduated with a PhD from IISER Mohali with 7+ years of experience in molecular biology, cell signalling pathways and epigenetic regulation studies in regenerative studies. My work focused on understanding the role of DNA methylation reader (MBD3-an integral NuRD complex member) during zebrafish retina regeneration. Skilled in various molecular biology and cell biology techniques and eager to contribute in science further.

• 1) Sharanya Premraj, Poonam Sharma, Mansi Chaudhary, Pooja Shukla, Kshitiz Yadav, Omkar Mahadeo Desai, Rajesh Ramachandran Regulation of the lncRNA malat1/Egr1 Axis by Wnt, Notch and TGF- β signaling: A Key Mechanism in Retina Regeneration. lncRNA malat1 is crucial for Müller glia-dependent retinal regeneration in zebrafish, acting upstream of Egr1 in a non-cell-autonomous manner and regulated by Notch, Wnt, and TGF-β signaling, which differentially affects malat1 levels in zebrafish and mice. NAR Molecular Medicine, uga024, https://doi.org/10.1093/narmpme/uga024
• 2) Mansi Chaudhary, Omkar Mahadeo Desai, Poonam Sharma, Sharanya Premraj, Pooja Shukla and Rajesh Ramachandran. Ying yang1 protein is essential to cause BAF complex-dependent gene expression events and promotion of BMP signaling duringretinageneration. (Manuscript in communication in EMBO journal). https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.31.635905
• Presented poster in Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Development and Regeneration conference 2024.
• Attended ISRB webinar on "Delving into the downstream targets of ROS during appendage regeneration" in November 2024
• Attended INST-IISERM 1st Bilateral meeting in March 2022
• Attended "Neuron-Glia crosstalk in ocular development and disease" Indo-US science and technology in 2022
• Presented poster in Indian zebrafish investigator’s meet 2022
• Gave oral presentation in Indian zebrafish investigator’s meet 2025
• 1st rank in essay writing competition in science fair & national science day celebration 2016 organized by H.S.Gour university sager
• 2nd rank in quiz competition in science fair & national science day celebration 2016 organized by H.S.Gour university sager
• presented poster in National seminar on science and technology for national development at H.S.Gour central university sager

• IISER Mohali, Teaching assistant practical coursework .2019
• NPTEL, Teaching assistant RNA biology
• Mentored 1 MS students in their dissertation projects. 2022-2023 and many master students in their internships.

• Dr. Rajesh, Ramachandran, Professor, Department of Biological Science, rajeshra@iisermohali.ac.in, IISER Mohali, Mohali
• Dr. Sharvan Sehrawat, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Science, sharvan@iisermohali.ac.in, IISER Mohali, Mohali
• Dr. Kuljeet Sandhu, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Science, sandhuks@iisermohali.ac.in, IISER Mohali, Mohali

Secured All India Rank 67 in CSIR-UGC NET 2017