Dr. Varun Shah

About

A biotech academician and passionate researcher having interests in amalgamating academics-research-entrepreneurship. Have gained expertise in ‘omics approaches’ of molecular biology and hands on experience in Human associated microbiome-metabolome studies; Wastewater Epidemiological Studies; and Surveillance of Emerging Contaminants (Pathogens & Pollutants). My thirteen years of experience includes three post-doctorates; attempted start-up; Project Scientist C; and Assistant Professor, wherein, I have been involved in research, teaching, administration, entrepreneurial journey and managing scientific projects.
Before joining GBU, I was working as Project Scientist C at NCCS in DBT sponsored project (national importance) entitled ‘Human Microbiome initiative of select endogamous populations of India’ wherein we are characterizing and generating baseline gut microbiome data and correlating to diet, lifestyle, geography, age, genetic and ayurvedic prakriti of body. My post-doctoral work at IISc was focused on elucidating the heat shock response mechanism in Plasmodium falciparum. My doctoral studies at SPU was focused on mapping the biodegradation capabilities possessed by indigenous microbial population at dye contaminated sites.

Background

• 2021-22; Project Scientist C, NCCS
• 2018-21; Assistant Professor, Atmiya University
• 2015-18; Founder Director, Aanvik Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd.
• 2014-15; Post-Doc, NCAOR
• 2013-14; Post-Doc, Ahmedabad University
• 2012-13; Post-Doc (DBT-PDF-RA), IISc
• 2006-12; Ph.D. in Biotechnology, Sardar Patel University
• 2004-06; M.Sc. in Biotechnology, Sardar Patel University
• 2001-04; B.Sc. in Biotechnology, Sardar Patel University

Honours and Awards

• DAAD Fellowship; 2010; CeBiTec, Bielefeld, Germany.
• Best Poster Award; 2008; ‘5^th BRSI Annual Convention and ICBF’ conference.
• Gold Medal; 2006; First position at the University level in M.Sc.

Research Group Overview

Lab Focus: Microbiome Interactions Influence Human and Environmental Health

 

A. Human Associated Microbiome-Metabolome Studies

• Microbiome-Metabolome interactions network to find evidence for reversing disease conditions; and lifestyle and behaviourial studies
• Medium Engineering for Culturing the Unculturable’s
• Indian Indigenous Probiotic Strains
• Gut-on-Chip Model

 

B. Sustainable Environment

• Wastewater surveillance based epidemiological studies: Characterizing threats of emerging contaminants (Pathogens & Pollutants).
• Synthetic and Molecular biology-based pollutant/biomolecule detection methods
• Solutions for key bottleneck steps/xenobiotics in current treatments of industrial and sewage effluents

 

As a lab, we are interested in working towards solutions which are focused on improving human health and addressing environmental restorations

Publications

Ten publications: 237 citations (Web of Science); 415 citations (Google Scholar). Selected five publications are given below:

• Sayeed S.K.^¶, Shah V.^¶, Chaubey S., Singh M., Alampalli S.V. and Tatu U.S. (2014) Identification of heat shock factor binding protein in Plasmodium falciparum. Malaria Journal 13: 118. (IF – 5; ^¶ equal authors)
• Singh M., Shah V. and Tatu U. (2014) A novel C-terminal homologue of Aha1 co-chaperone binds to heat shock protein 90 and stimulates its ATPase activity in Entamoeba histolytica. Journal of Molecular Biology 426: 1786-1798. (IF – 9)
• Shah V., Zakrewski M., Wibberg D., Eikmeyer F., Schlüter A. and Madamwar D. (2013) Taxonomic profiling and metagenome analysis of a microbial community from a habitat contaminated with industrial discharges. Microbial Ecology 66: 533-550. (IF – 3)
• Jain K., Shah V., Chapla D. and Madamwar D. (2012) Decolourization and degradation of azo dye-Reactive Violet 5R by an acclimatized indigenous bacterial mixed cultures-SB4 isolated from anthropogenic dye contaminated soil. Journal of Hazardous Materials 213-214: 378-386. (IF – 7)
• Shah V., Jain K., Desai C. and Madamwar D. (2011) Metagenomics and integrative ‘-omics’ technologies in microbial bioremediation: Current trends and potential applications. In Marco, D. (Eds) Metagenomics: Current Innovations and Future Trends. Norfolk, UK, Caister Academic Press, pp. 211-240.