PEOPLE
Nisha N Kannan
Associate Professor
School of Biology, IISER TVM
I completed Master’s Degree in Biotechnology from Kannur University, Kerala. My exposure to research during this period sparked a deeper interest, leading me to pursue a PhD at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore. At the Chronobiology Laboratory in JNCASR, I had the opportunity to design experiments and explore scientific questions. Following my PhD, I joined Prof. Kenji Tomioka’s lab at Okayama University, Japan, as a Postdoctoral Fellow, where I focused on uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying thermal entrainment of circadian clocks. In 2015, I joined the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Thiruvananthapuram as an Assistant Professor and as an Early Career Fellow of DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance.
Beyond research, I enjoy science outreach, traveling, landscape photography, painting, arts and crafts, and spending quality time with children.
I received my Masters degree in Genomics from the School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University. I was fascinated with Chronobiology during my masters and was keen on studying the circadian rhythms and their intricate connections with the other systems. This led me to joining the Chronobiology lab at IISER Trivandrum as a PhD student in August 2018. I will be working on understanding the unexplored link between the circadian clock and metabolism using the versatile Drosophila as a model system.
Other interests of mine include science writing, dramatics, music and literature.
I completed my Master’s degree in Human Genetics from Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai. Chronobiology is a really intriguing subject, and the more I study circadian rhythms, the more it fascinates me. I joined the chronobiology lab in August 2020. I will be working with chrono precise population of Drosophila melanogaster focusing on deciphering the molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock precision in these populations.
Apart from lab and science, I am a bibliophile and enjoy reading books. I also enjoy music, painting, and art and crafts in general.
I completed my master's degree in Zoology from University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram. I chose chronobiology for my PhD because I was genuinely intrigued by how our body's internal clocks affect our day-to-day experiences – it's like unravelling the secrets of our daily story! I joined the Chronobiology lab in August 2023, and here I'll be working on the interplay between circadian rhythms and metabolism in Drosophila. Besides my research, I'm all about music, dancing, movies, and even some calligraphy on the side.
I completed my master's in Zoology from Christ University, Bangalore. My journey toward chronobiology began with a foundation interest in neurobiology. I joined the chronobiology lab in August 2025 and will be working on understanding the connection between sleep, metabolism and neurodegeneration.
Apart from research, I enjoy music, movies and travelling.
I am a postgraduate in Molecular Medicine from the Central University of Punjab, where I worked to understand the neurotoxic effects and mitochondrial alterations caused by cadmium and how quercetin would ameliorate them. My curiosity lies in exploring different brain regions and their capacity to rewire and generate new connections by training them. Chronobiology caught my attention when I discovered the synchronised working of the central and peripheral clocks in regulating circadian rhythms and their functionalities. In the lab, I'll be assessing the specific roles of the core clock genes in carbohydrate metabolism and the related neuroendocrine signalling.
I am a fitness enthusiast by interest and will find time for badminton. Loves to binge-watch through platforms and is a melophile.
I completed my bachelor's degree in pharmaceutical science at MAKAUT, West Bengal. During my undergraduate studies, I became increasingly interested in fundamental biology and the possibility of integrating it with pharmaceutical interventions. Over time, I came to appreciate the significance of circadian rhythms in all physiological processes. So I joined the chronobiology lab at IISER as an Integrated PhD student. My research will focus on the impacts of long COVID-19 infection on circadian rhythms.
Besides my research, I enjoy binge-watching TV series and travelling with my family.
I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Zoology from Sir P.T. Sarvajanik College of Science in Surat, Gujarat. I've always been curious about how understanding biological rhythms can help us align our lives with nature's timetable, leading to better health and harmony. I'm particularly intrigued by how these processes are synchronized with environmental cycles, such as the day-night cycle. I previously did my Master's project on the role of microRNAs in regulating circadian rhythms using Drosophila melanogaster and currently help in the lab stock maintenance and also work on chronoprecise population in the lab. Outside of my research, I enjoy music, dancing, movies, and painting.
I am a fifth-year BSMS undergraduate student. My interest in chronobiology was first sparked during the chronobiology course, where I was fascinated by how organisms synchronise their internal clocks with external environmental cues. The complexity and precision of circadian regulation deeply intrigued me and motivated me to explore this field further. Currently, I am investigating the post-transcriptional regulation of core clock components in Drosophila melanogaster, focusing on the role of microRNAs in controlling and fine-tuning their expression. This project allows me to delve into the intersection of molecular biology and circadian rhythm regulation, which I find intellectually stimulating and rewarding.
Beyond my research, I enjoy travelling, playing kho kho, listening to music, dancing, and watching movies.
I'm a final-year BS-MS Biology student at IISER Thiruvananthapuram, currently doing my Master's thesis in the chronobiology lab. My journey into the world of biological rhythms began during an internship here, where I explored how sleep and memory are linked, and how our brains use rest to make sense of what we learn. That experience sparked a lasting curiosity in me about the inner clocks that quietly shape so much of our lives.
My project focuses on understanding how microRNAs regulate core circadian clock genes in Drosophila melanogaster, helping to fine-tune their expression at the post-transcriptional level.
When I'm off the clock, I’m usually travelling, swimming, bingeing on movies, or yelling at a football match on TV.
