Tanay Prashant Rangankar

The human brain is a phenomenal organ, a sheer force of nature that has transformed the planet in unimaginable ways since the advent of early humans. Of course, the organ itself has gone through multiple obscure stages of evolution over tens of thousands of years. As far as our own knowledge about the human brain is concerned, we have barely scratched the surface. The study of the human brain is a relatively recent development; it requires unparalleled dedication and perseverance. Even before I started on the academic path that would lead me to neurobiology, I had an immense curiosity about how the human brain achieves the marvelous feats that make our species the most dominant on this planet. I have dedicated the last few years of my life to building a strong academic foundation to pursue my goals in the field of neurobiology.

Having completed my high school education in 2020, I initially considered pursuing an international degree, but the pandemic prompted me to stay in India for my bachelor's. However, now I am certain that this is the right time for me to pursue a global degree, as I have gained a solid foundation in biotechnology. I believe that furthering my education in neuroscience will allow me to contribute to novel research, particularly in a country like the USA, where scientific inquiry and research are highly valued and supported. The USA’s conducive environment for cutting-edge research and its rational approach to controversial topics make it the ideal place for my further studies and research.

I am in the ninth semester of my combined B.Tech and M.Tech programs, majoring in Biotechnology with a minor in Fashion Technology. Throughout both programs, I have studied a wide range of subjects including Plant, Animal, Industrial, and Food Biotech, stem cells and regenerative medicine, drug design and development, and nanobiotechnology. Out of these, I particularly enjoyed Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicines and Animal Biotechnology, which introduced me to concepts like animal cell culturing, antibody production, and transgenic animals. Learning about how our neurons can be maintained outside of bodies and used for therapeutic procedures was intriguing to the extent that it became the ground for my academic goals in neuroscience. Beyond the curriculum, I have obtained certifications in Medicinal Chemistry, Bioinorganic Chemistry, Biomedical Nanotechnology, Organ Printing, and Tissue Engineering. I have also completed Google courses in User Experience, UX Design Process, and building wireframes and low-fidelity prototypes.

My undergraduate dissertation was in microbiology, where I worked on the screening of potential FimH inhibitors exploring in-silico and in-vitro approaches. I worked on Uropathogenic Escherichia coli to find inhibitors of the fimbrial adhesion protein H for the prevention of urinary tract infections. The project I am currently working on is isolating probiotic lactic acid bacteria from the intestines of marine fish found in the Arabian Sea to assess their probiotic potential through a variety of tests. Additionally, through the last eight semesters of my program, I have written three semester term papers on topics such as Endophytes in Bioremediation, Neurotoxicity of metals, and Gut-brain axis and psychobiotics. Furthermore, the skill development program in Bioinformatics and Data Analytics has given me invaluable insights.

To gain practical experience and field exposure, I have completed two internships. During my bachelor’s, I joined a summer internship program at HBTMC & Dr Cooper Hospital, where I worked in the departments of Microbiology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Hematology, and the Emergency Laboratory. I analyzed patient samples including blood, urine, sputum, and tissues using different molecular techniques. I also assisted the doctors with diagnoses and learned about basic pharmacology and commonly prescribed medications. More recently, I completed another internship at Calantha Biotechnology, where I was involved in cultivating different fungi through solid-state fermentation to produce citric acid and assessing the stress conditions required for producing pigment in bacteria. Additionally, I studied the lipase activity of Candida tropicalis.

Working in the field of medicine has left a lasting impression on my mind, and I have developed a keen interest in public health challenges. I have realized that neurobiology and animal culture warrant our attention due to their potential to tackle neurological diseases and tissue engineering. My higher learning goals are an outcome of my desire to make contributions to these socially relevant fields of research. After completing my higher education in neuroscience, my goal is to dedicate years to working on neurodegenerative diseases, specifically Alzheimer’s. I intend to gain more knowledge through conferences and workshops while I continue to prepare myself for a life dedicated to developing innovative therapies by leading research programs. In the long run, my goal is to establish a research institute dedicated to neuroscience and neurodegenerative diseases.