Plant Stress Resilience Lab

I am interested in understanding how plants grow and adapt to the environmental conditions around them. I have been fascinated by the diversity of form in plants and how they function since my early childhood in suburban Hyderabad. I have carried on this interest in plants through my research career in plant stress physiology.

My passion for plant science began the summer after my freshman year of college, where I first gained exposure to agricultural research and realized how much it directly impacts farmers, crop production, sustainability, and the future of our food systems. I joined Dr. Voothuluru’s lab the last year of my undergraduate degree because we shared a passion for plant biology and finding new ways to solve agricultural issues. When I’m not in the lab I am cooking, crafting, hiking and enjoying time with friends!

I’m a first-year PhD student in Dr. Voothuluru’s lab. I’ve always wondered what makes plants unique, which led me to a bachelor’s degree in Plant Biology at North Carolina State University, where I conducted research to study vesicular trafficking and cell walls in plants. In my PhD program, I’m interested in studying the molecular side of plant biology to help engineer crops that address pressing global challenges. When I’m not wearing my lab coat, I enjoy yoga, reading sci-fi and fantasy, watching anime (my favorite is One Piece), and learning languages. Fun fact: I speak three languages– for now!