Statement of Purpose
Nilansh Sharma | 21110140
Junior Undergraduate, Chemical Engineering
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been surrounded by science, thanks to my dad being an agricultural engineer and my mom
working as an ayurvedic doctor. They gave me the freedom to explore science and play around with ideas. One distinct
memory stands out: a school visit to a heavy water plant near my town, where I was amazed by the hugeness of the
reactors and the cooling towers. Only during my high school days did I learn real-life chemistry and concepts like chem-
ical bonds, chemical reactions, enthalpy, and energy conservation. When COVID-19 hit, it affected students worldwide,
including me. To help me feel better, my father took me to the factory where he worked. When I saw the machines and
their outputs this time, which was pure science in action, I was forever hooked.
This incident made me pursue an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering at IIT Gandhinagar. My research at
the institute started by taking a project under the supervision of Prof. Karthik S. Pushpavanam. I had an initial discom-
fort due to the involvement of biology in my research but the course by Prof. Eric S. Lander on life sciences acquainted
me with all the important concepts in molecular biology and genetics. During the summer break of my sophomore, I
did a project that aimed to understand the molecular basis of the formation of biomolecular condensates. I visualized
the formation of worm-shaped coacervates, which was different from my initial assumption, as most of the literature on
biomolecular condensates only talks about their spherical morphology. This can be studied further to model intracellular
biomolecular condensation and to test emerging theories of active liquid-liquid phase separation. Through this project,
I learned protein purification techniques with special emphasis on immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography and
ion exchange chromatography. I also acquired proficiency in analytical techniques like SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis,
centrifugation, Protein concentration determination, protein assays, SDS gel electrophoresis, and other microbiology tech-
niques.
During this time, I was introduced to the protein folding problem and its recent advancements through AlphaFold 2. This
ignited my interest in computational biology, and I started exploring this domain while working on a project that aimed
to design rare earth elements binding peptides. I learned the simulation of peptide sequences using GROMACS, through
which I am determining the affinity of these peptide sequences with rare earth elements.
The projects which I had done in the last one year had implanted a research interest in me, particularly in the domain
linking biology and chemical engineering. Working as a lab member at SParK lab under the guidance of Dr. Karthik
has granted me a plethora of laboratory and research experience in both computational and experimental fields. His
mentorship has enabled me to appreciate the challenges of a career in research.
Consequently, I have resolved to pursue higher studies, specifically a Ph.D. in the field of Protein Engineering and learning
its new aspects, following my bachelor’s degree. An international internship stands as a pivotal step toward realizing my
research ambition. It promises exposure to diverse work cultures and groups elsewhere, enriching my experience.
