Assistant Professor
Department of Biological Sciences

Shreya is the first PhD student in the MBL group, having joined in January 2025. She holds a BSc in Biochemistry and an MSc in Biotechnology from St. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad. Her research investigates how aging-related changes in lung tissue mechanics influence the cellular response to PM2.5 exposure. She focuses on how these mechanical cues drive PM2.5-mediated aging and disease progression. Using in vitro alveolar ECM-mimicking substrates, high-resolution microscopy, and molecular biology tools, Shreya studies the impact of PM2.5 collected from different regions of India across various age groups on an in vitro aging alveolar model. She is passionate about bridging lab-based discoveries with real-world health outcomes, particularly in the face of growing urban environmental challenges.

Tushar has a strong academic background in pharmaceutical sciences, having completed his Bachelor’s degree from Kumaon University, Nainital, Uttarakhand and a MS Pharm from National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Raebareli. He joined the LML group at BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus in August 2025 as a JRF and currently a PhD scholar in an ANRF-PMECRG project. His research focuses on identifying a PM2.5-driven molecular switch that differentially modulates pulmonary disease progression toward chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or pulmonary fibrosis. By investigating the imbalance in key molecular axes triggered by particulate matter exposure, his work aims to elucidate the mechanistic determinants underlying divergent pathological outcomes in environmentally induced lung diseases.

Suraj Bhaskar Warungase joined the Lung Mechanobiology Lab (LML) at BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, as a part-time Ph.D. scholar in January 2026. He is currently working as a Senior Research Associate at Aragen Life Sciences, with hands-on experience in in vitro biology and biochemical assays. His research focuses on understanding the impact of PM2.5 exposure on DNA damage and cell cycle regulation in lung cells, with particular emphasis on how environmental pollutants contribute to cellular aging and disease progression

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