CV

Chetana Sachidanandan PhD

Chief Scientist

CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), South Campus, New Delhi, India

Professor

Faculty of Science, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Delhi, India

Head, Human Resource

CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), South Campus, New Delhi, India

AcSIR Coordinator

CSIR-IGIB, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Delhi, India

Writer/Translator

Address: CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), South Campus, New Delhi 110025

Phone: 9717444144

Email: chetana@igib.in, chetana.igib@csir.res.in

Website: https://www.chetanasachidanandan.com, http://www.igib.res.in

Date of Birth: 01 December 1973

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My lab studies human neurodevelopmental disorders using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and model organisms. We direct our efforts to probing the genetics of neurodevelopmental disorders such as Dyslexia, Autism, Intellectual Disability, Epilepsy etc.

Research Keywords: human disease, iPSCs, zebrafish, neurodevelopmental disorders, embryonic development, autism

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Education:

1996-2002: PhD in Life Sciences from CSIR-CCMB, Hyderabad, India

1994-1996: MSc in Biotechnology from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi

1991-1994: BSc in Biochemistry from Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi

Research Experience:

Nov 2025 - Present

Chief Scientist at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Delhi, India

Nov 2021 – Nov 2025

Senior Principal Scientist at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Delhi, India

Nov 2015 – Nov 2021

Principal Scientist at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Delhi, India

Nov 2010 – Nov 2015

Senior Scientist at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Delhi, India

June 2010 – Nov 2010

Senior Scientist Ad hoc at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Delhi, India

April 2006 - March 2010

Research fellow in medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA

March 2002 - March 2006

Post-doctoral research fellow at the Cancer Research UK, London, UK

Writing:

· Translation of Stolen Gods (Apaharikkapetta Daivangal by Anand) from Malayalam published by Thornbird, Niyogi Books

· Translation of The Book of Destruction (Samharathinte Pustakam by Anand) from Malayalam published by Penguin Books India. This book was among the 6 shortlisted for The DSC Prize for South Asian Literature in 2016

· Dyslexic children today, but tomorrow’s future. Appeared in Hindustan Times on Nov 2023

· Lalji Singh (1947-2017): The pioneer of DNA evidence. Article co-authored with K Thangaraj. Appeared in The Indian Express dated Dec 2017

· March for Science: Indian science needs more funds, more faith and more support. Opinion piece. Appeared in Hindustan Times on Aug 2017

· Anxiety in a child’s world. An article on childhood anxiety. Appeared in The Indian Express June 2020

· Helping dyslexic children bloom. A public science article on Dyslexia. Appeared in The Hindu October 2020

· It doesn't add up (living with dyscalculia). A public science piece on Dyscalculia. Appeared in The Indian Express October 2021

· Opening our arms and minds (to Autism and diversity). A public science piece on Autism. Appeared in The Indian Express April 2022

· Panelist on Neurodiversity unveiled: Decoding the Brain for Evolutionary Success at the India Science Festival 2023

· Featured on The Life of Science© Calendar 2022 (https://thelifeofscience.com/2022/02/11/calendar-2022/)

· Writes a science blog, Peregrinations (https://peregrinations-mine.blogspot.com/)

Awards:

2010-2012 EMPOWER (Encouraging and Motivating Pursuit of World Class Exploratory

Research) from CSIR, India

2010-2015 Ramalingaswami Fellowship, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), India

2010- Selected for Ramanujan Fellowship (DST), India (did not avail)

2007-2008 Executive Committee on Research-Fund for Medical Discovery (ECOR-

FMD)

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

2002-2006 Post-doctoral Research Fellowship awarded by Cancer Research UK,

London, UK

Memberships:

· Indian Society of Developmental Biology, India (Life) [Board Member]

· Chemical Biology Society, India (previous)

· Editorial Board Member, Scientific Reports, Nature Publishing, London, UK (previous)

· British Society for Developmental Biology, UK (previous)

Responsibilities (IGIB and others)

· AcSIR Coordinator for CSIR-IGIB: Coordinating the IGIB PhD Program (~200 students at any time) (2015- 2020), (2023-present)

· PhD Coursework Coordinator for the IGIB PhD Program (~171 students went through coursework during this period) 2010-2015

· Chair, Students’ Affairs Committee, Academic Committee

Writing and advocacy: