Biosketch
I was born in Ranchi, Jharkhand, and earned my PhD in Molecular Biophysics from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. Before that, I completed my B.Tech in Biotechnology with Distinction from DY Patil University, Navi Mumbai, in 2019. During my undergraduate years, I had the opportunity to gain hands-on research experience at CSIR-CDRI and CSIR-CCMB, which played a key role in shaping my scientific interests.
At the Molecular Biophysics Unit of IISc, my doctoral research focused on using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) single particle analysis to investigate the structural mechanisms of bacterial pore-forming toxins such as Staphylococcus aureus Gamma Hemolysin, Vibrio cholerae Cytolysin, and V. parahaemolyticus Thermostable Direct Hemolysin. My broader research interests also extended to viral proteins and helical assemblies, including structural work on the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein and ChAdOx virus-like particles.
I have been fortunate to receive fellowships from the Ministry of Education and the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. My PhD work has led to seven publications in peer-reviewed journals such as Structure, Journal of Cell Biology, Proteins, and Journal of Molecular Biology, with four additional manuscripts currently under review. I’ve shared my research at international conferences, including the Gordon Research Conferences (MMT 2023 in Switzerland and 3DEM 2024 in Barcelona), and have presented at HSCB 2025 (IIT Hyderabad) and NuBS (2020, 2022) at IISc, where I was awarded a best oral presentation prize.
Beyond research, I am committed to fostering equity in science. I have been involved in various DEI initiatives to support inclusive academic environments and currently serve as an eLife Community Ambassador representing India (2025–26), with a focus on reforming scientific publishing practices.
Education
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (10/2024)
Ph.D., Molecular Biophysics Unit
Thesis: Structural characterization of Staphylococcal γ-hemolysin in the presence of a lipid environment using single-particle cryo-EM
Advisor: Prof. Somnath Dutta
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (10/2024)
M.S. (Research), Molecular Biophysics Unit
First Class
D.Y. Patil University, Navi Mumbai (06/2019)
B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology), School of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics
Dissertation: Study of genetic variations in TOLLIP gene and its association with malarial susceptibility or resistance in west coast Indian population
Advisor: Dr. Kumarasamy Thangaraj, Chief Scientist, CSIR- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology
First Class with Distinction
Research Experience
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (08/2019- 10/2024)
Graduate Student, Cryo-electron microscopy
Trained in protein overexpression and purification, protein biochemistry, enzyme assays, model membranes, negative staining (NS)-TEM and single particle cryo-EM pipeline.
Performed single particle cryo-EM studies of a diverse set of bacterial toxins and viral virulence factors. Reconstructed several membrane-embedded pore-forming toxins, SARS CoV-2 Spike protein, helical assemblies and Adenovirus Virus-like Particles (VLPs).
CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB), Hyderabad (11/2018-05/2019)
Dissertation Trainee, Population Genetics
Performed association studies between polymorphisms in the TOLLIP gene with severity of malarial infection.
Isolated DNA from whole blood from patient samples, designed primers to cover SNPs across the TOLLIP gene, performed large scale high-throughput PCRs and analyze the sequencing data for ~600 patient samples.
CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow (11/2016- 10/2017)
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Pharmacology
Under Dr. Sukant Khurana, Department of Pharmacology, I acquired data exceeding 200 families/project for three nutrition and mental health-related survey-based projects across Indian states of Maharashtra and Jharkhand.
Guided ~20 fellow research assistants on manuscript preparation on a project encompassing documentation of ethno-medicinal plants of Nadia district of West Bengal.
Teaching Experience
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (04/2022- 06/2022)
Teaching Assistant, UB102-Genetics
Supervised 50 undergraduate students in laboratory course on genetics covering isolation of bacterial and mammalian genomic DNA, Agarose gel electrophoresis, polytene chromosomes spread preparation, exploring sex-linked inheritance in Drosophila melanogaster (Total wet-lab hours: 24)
Also took theory doubt-clearing special classes, formulated questionnaires and conducted viva-voce and grading of students at the end of the course (Total dry-lab hours: 6).
Publications
Chatterjee, A., Naskar, P., Mishra, S., &; Dutta, S. (2025). Pore Formation by Pore Forming Proteins in Lipid Membranes: Structural Insights Through Cryo-EM. The Journal of Membrane Biology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00232-025-00344-5
Mishra, S., Roy, A., Chatterjee, A., &; Dutta, S. (2024). Cryo-EM structure of Staphylococcal β-PFT γ-hemolysin in liposomes. Cryo-Electron Microscopy in Structural Biology: From Structural Insights to Tomography and Drug Discovery (1st ed.). Appasani, K. (Ed.). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003326106
Mishra, S. (2023). Emerging Trends in Cryo-EM-based Structural Studies of Neuropathological Amyloids. Journal of molecular biology, 435(24), 168361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168361
Mishra, S., Roy, A., & Dutta, S. (2023). Cryo-EM-based structural insights into supramolecular assemblies of γ-hemolysin from S. aureus reveal the pore formation mechanism. Structure (London, England: 1993), 31(6), 651–667.e5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.str.2023.03.009
Mishra, S., Kundu, N., Pramanick, I., Kumar, A., Chattopadhyay, K., & Dutta, S. (2023). Structural insights into thermostable direct hemolysin of Vibrio parahaemolyticus using single-particle cryo-EM. Proteins, 91(2), 137–146. https://doi.org/10.1002/prot.26416
Sengupta, N., Mondal, A. K., Mishra, S., Chattopadhyay, K., & Dutta, S. (2021). Single-particle cryo-EM reveals conformational variability of the oligomeric VCC β-barrel pore in a lipid bilayer. The Journal of cell biology, 220(12), e202102035. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202102035
Pramanick, I.#, Sengupta, N.#, Mishra, S., Pandey, S., Girish, N., Das, A., & Dutta, S. (2021). Conformational flexibility and structural variability of SARSCoV2 S protein. Structure (London, England: 1993), 29(8), 834–845.e5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.str.2021.04.006
Presentations
Oral & Poster presentations titled "Three's a Crowd: Clustering-induced Membrane Curvature by Pore-forming Toxins", at Horizons in Structural and Computational Biology, IIT Hyderabad, Feb 28-March 01, 2025.
Presented poster titled “An octahedral supramolecular assembly of bi-component β-PFT γ-hemolysin pore complexes illuminates the membrane damaging and pore formation mechanism”, at Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) and Gordon Research Conference (GRC) Three-Dimensional Electron Microscopy, Barcelona, Spain, June 22-28, 2024.
Presented poster titled “An octahedral supramolecular assembly of bi-component β-PFT γ-hemolysin pore complexes illuminates the membrane damaging and pore formation mechanism”, at Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) and Gordon Research Conference (GRC) Mechanisms of Membrane Transport, Les Diablerets, Switzerland, June 17-23, 2023.
Oral presentation titled “Supramolecular assemblies of Staphylococcal bi-component β-PFT γ-hemolysin reveal the membrane lysis and pore formation mechanism”, at Nu Biophysical Society Symposium 2022, Indian Institute of Science.
Oral presentation titled “Cryo-EM structural characterization of SARS-CoV-2 S-protein”, at Nu Biophysical Society Symposium 2020, Indian Institute of Science. Awarded Third Prize for best oral presentation.
Grants and Fellowships
Registration and Travel Support, GRC 3DEM 2024 ($1602.00) (2024)
MoE-GATE Senior Research Fellowship (2021-2024)
MoE-GATE Junior Research Fellowship (2019-2021)
Department of Biotechnology- Junior Research Fellowship (DBT-JRF)-Category II (2019)
Leadership towards Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
eLife Community Ambassador Programme (2025-2026; 18 months): Working collaboratively the Ambassadors drive change toward open science and responsible research assessment, advocating for equity and integrity in research. Current cohort of Ambassadors
Gender Champion, Internal Complaints Committee, D.Y. Patil University (2017-2018): conducted institute-level audits on UGC guidelines, organized gender sensitization campaigns towards student and staff awareness about sexual harassment.
Liaison Executive, Biointerns- Training and Placement Cell, D.Y. Patil University (2016-2017): creating equal opportunities for professional development of undergraduate and postgraduate students. Aiding in building CVs and cover letters for research and industrial internships.
Kailash Satyarthi Children Foundation (2017): campaigning with Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi for Bharat Yatra, a national campaign against child trafficking and sexual abuse.
United Nations Volunteers and United Nations Women (2018): gender sensitization on campus and campaign for International Day for Women.
IIT BOMBAY Techfest CURED Campaign (2016): raising health awareness about diabetes and conducted free blood glucose test for over 200 people with a team of four students.
Campus Ambassador in education and skill development sector (2016-2019): Unacademy business development intern, Internshala Student Partner, Institute of Engineers- India- TSEC, Entrepreneurship Cell, IIT Bombay, Abhyuday- the social body of IIT Bombay.
Professional Affiliations
Electron Microscopy Society of India (EMSI), Life Member (LM-2021)
Contact Information
E-mail: snmishra8320@gmail.com (he/him)