Dr Sagar Satpathi

Profile

I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow specializing in experimental biophysics at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. My academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (BSc, Hons) at the University of Calcutta from 2008 to 2011. Subsequently, I pursued and completed my Master of Science (MSc) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur from 2011 to 2013, where my passion for Biophysics and Spectroscopy emerged.

Driven by my research interest, I earned my Doctorate (PhD) in Nucleic Acids Biophysics at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, from 2014 to 2019. Following this, I embarked on my initial Postdoctoral Research Scholar position at the Frontier Institute for Biomolecular Engineering Research (FIBER) from 2019 to 2022. During this period, I delved into the intricate realm of RNA biophysics, focusing on Phytochemicals modulated gene expression control and developing a structure prediction model for higher-order RNA tertiary structures.

In 2022, I transitioned to the Molecular and Nanoscale Physics collective at the University of Leeds, where I presently engage in unraveling the photophysics of bacterial and plant light-harvesting complexes.

Responsibilities

• Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Research
• Training and Mentoring Master Students
• Scientific Writing

Research interests

My research lies at the intersection of biophysics and spectroscopy, where I employ a diverse range of biophysical and spectroscopic techniques to delve into the intricacies of light-harvesting protein complexes. By focusing on the photophysics of these complexes, I aim to unravel the underlying mechanisms that govern their functionality.

A significant aspect of my work involves exploring the interaction and corresponding photophysical modulation of these proteins within the context of lipid membranes and nanodisc nanoassembly organization. These designed model membrane systems allow us to study transmembrane proteins in an environment that closely mimics their native conditions. By examining the interplay between proteins and model membranes, I try to understand the exact mechanism of these light-harvesting complexes' functionality in photosynthesis.

Qualifications

• Doctorate (PhD) in Physical Chemistry
• Masters (MSc) in Chemistry
• Bachelors (BSc) in Chemistry