.jpg) Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Program
B.Tech, SRM University, Chennai, India
Email: gokul.swaminathan@drexel.edu
Advisor: Julio Martín-García
Thesis Research Summary:
I am Gokul Swaminathan and I hail from the hottest, yet happening city of south India, Chennai. I developed an interest in biology and infectious diseases at an early age and decided to major in biotechnology. I got a B.Tech. degree from SRM University, Chennai. Apart from the intense course work, I learned laboratory techniques by attending training workshops at several research institutions, where I worked in many virology labs and got engrossed in the field of virology. In my continued interest in the area of antivirals and vaccines I got a rare opportunity to work at Dr. Padmanabahan’s laboratory at the Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C., on my final year thesis titled “Identification and Analysis of Dengue and West Nile virus protease inhibitors.” I went back to India, graduated from SRM University and while getting prepared to enter grad school, worked at the Recombinant Gene Products Laboratory of the International center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB — a UN industrial Development organization), New Delhi.
At ICGEB, I worked on a project exploring RNA interference as a possible antiviral strategy against Dengue virus infection and got trained at several molecular biology and cloning techniques under Dr. Swaminathan. With my lab experience and continued interest in virology, I chose to apply to Drexel University College of Medicine, which had a good number of virologists and researchers on translational medicine. I have loved my experience here so far and would like to continue my fascination for viruses, in particular, translational virology for my thesis work.
Apart from being in the lab, or studying for exams, or reading journal articles, or dreaming about viruses, I try to pursue my other interests. I love salsa, hip-hop and jazz and I am a trained singer. I love travelling, photography, cooking and playing table-tennis. |