We are thrilled to welcome Oindrila Bhattacharjee! Our new Postdoc.
After earning my master’s degree from the University of Calcutta in Kolkata, India, I became a part of Dr. Senjuti Sinharoy’s research group at the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR) in New Delhi, India, where I was first introduced to the fascinating field of root nodule symbiosis. This experience ignited my deep interest for exploring the intricate symbiotic relationships between plants and microbiota, leading me to pursue a PhD under the joint supervision of Dr. Senjuti Sinharoy from NIPGR and Dr. Kaustav Bandyopadhyay from Amity University. During my doctoral research, I focused on the symbiotic interaction between peanut (Arachis hypogaea) and Bradyrhizobium, where I identified both common and distinct molecular strategies, compared to the model legumes, that govern the intercellular crack-mediated entry of Bradyrhizobia into peanut roots. I identified the novel recruitment of a cell wall-modifying enzyme during the intercellular mode of rhizobial infection during nodulation. This finding triggered my interest to discover the diverse infection mechanisms.
To further pursue with this research interests, I joined Dr. Marin’s lab as a postdoctoral researcher in February 2025. My research will be focussed on characterizing the cell wall modifications that occur during rhizobial infection. Outside of the lab, I find joy in Indian classical dancing, cooking, gardening, and exploring new destinations.