Ms. Debarati Mondal is a PhD candidate at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi. Her doctoral research work focuses on identification and characterization of novel antifungal phytomolecules against one of the human fungal pathogens Candida glabrata. As a student of molecular biology, she is passionate about telling the stories of biological macromolecules in a simple, engaging way through her creative scitoons (scientific cartoons) which have been featured in Science Reporter, a popular science magazine, and recognized by INSA-INYAS international sci-art competition.
Debarati holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (BCKV), West Bengal. However, her keen interest in the fascinating world of biological molecules led her to take biochemistry as a specialization in Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. In her MSc project, she studied how starch types of two staple grains (pearl millet and rice) differ and interact with dietary lipids, particularly in relation to glucose release.
As a Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellow, Debarati is studying the process of adaptation of Candida glabrata to antifungal compounds. Her research will unravel how the fungus responds to selective pressure imposed by an antifungal compound derived from plant sources. This study aims to provide valuable insights into its resistance mechanisms, associated genomic alterations, gene expression patterns, and phenotypic plasticity with underlying potential evolutionary trajectories. Overall, this project will offer a comprehensive picture of how C. glabrata, or similar infectious microbes, adapt to changing environmental conditions within human hosts.