Prof. Thomas Pucadyil, Ph.D.
The focus of Prof. Pucadyil's research is membrane integrity disruption and physiology.pucadyil@nccs.res.in
Research Interests
Pathway and mechanics of membrane fission leading to organelle biogenesis
Despite its resilience to rupture, cell membranes undergo a regulated fission process to form organelles. How is this achieved? The cell membrane is comprised of a lipid bilayer and has unique mechanical properties. Foremost among them is its ability to resist rupture. This property lies at the heart of evolution choosing the lipid bilayer as the material to contain life. However, all living cells display an active capacity to overcome the bilayer's resilience to undergo rupture and fission. This is possibly because of the evolution of specialised protein machines. Research in Prof. Thomas Pucadyil's group focuses on identifying such protein machines. The group uses novel supported membrane templates with tunable compositional and topological properties to mimic cell membranes and analyse these protein machines in action. These templates represent a convenient discovery platform for the rapid identification and mechanistic characterisation of such protein machines. The group uses a combination of biochemistry and cell biology to discover such protein machines, analyse their mechanism and learn about their functions in living systems.
Education
2005 Ph.D., Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India.
1999 M.Sc. (Biochemistry), First Class, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, India.
1997 B.Sc. (Biochemistry), First Class, St. Xavier’s College, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India.
Experience
- 2026-present, Director, Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC)-National Centre for Cell Science (BRIC-NCCS)
- 2021-present, Professor, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, India
- 2021-2024, Rahul Bajaj Chair Professorship, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, India
- 2019-2022, Chair, Biology Department, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, India
- 2016-2019, Associate Professor, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, India
- 2010-2016, Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, India
- 2007-10, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Postdoctoral Fellow, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, U.S.A.
- 2005-10, Postdoctoral Fellow, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, U.S.A.
- 2004-05, NBRC Postdoctoral Fellow, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
Publications
Please visit the Pucadyil Lab webpage for more on research and publications
Awards and Honors
2021 Rahul Bajaj Chair Professorship
2021 Fellow, Indian Academy of Sciences
2021 Fellow, Indian National Science Academy
2018 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in Biological Sciences
2017 International Research Scholarship, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, U.S.A.
2017 DBT-Wellcome Trust India Alliance Senior Fellowship
2017 Member, Guha Research Conferences
2011 Associateship, Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore, India
2011 DBT-Wellcome Trust India Alliance Intermediate Fellowship
Back
Last updated On : 26 May 2026 12:01