Anindita Mahapatra (Onu)

Anindita, originally from India, relocated to Austin for her postdoctoral training in Professor Newberry’s lab at UT Austin, after completing her doctoral degree from the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (CSIR-IICB) in Kolkata, India.

​

In course of her doctoral research, Anindita investigated the membrane interactions and aggregation pathways of the Parkinson’s protein alpha-Synuclein, employing ensemble-average and single-molecule biophysical techniques. She also identified novel and repurposed molecules that were able to modify the pathogenic aggregation landscape of alpha-Synuclein in vitro, aiming to discover potential therapeutic agents against Parkinson’s disease. Currently, in the Newberry Lab, she is exploring the molecular determinants of liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) of alpha-Synuclein to gain deeper insights into the mechanistic details of this process and its implications in Parkinson’s disease.

​

Beyond her research pursuits, Anindita has a fondness for pets, enjoys exploring new places, and trying diverse cuisines.