Lleida, Spain, January the 7th, 2018 Dr. Disha Chauhan hold a PhD fellowship from the Catalan Government (Catalonia is one of the leading regions in Spain on innovation and research) to study the molecular mechanisms of a particular family of transmembrane proteins involved in the development of the mammalian forebrain, under my supervision, from July 2011 until June 2014. These proteins are characterized by the presence of a conserved motif in the extracellular part of the protein, the leucine-rich repeat or LRR, which is known in other systems to regulate protein-protein interaction. These LRR-containing proteins are specially enriched in the nervous system and our idea was that they could contribute to the molecular mechanisms involved in nervous system connectivity. To address this contribution, Disha first performed an exhaustive expression map, by in situ hybridization, of many of the genes encoding for these LRR-proteins at different stages during mouse brain development (only embryonic stages). Detailed information about the expression pattern of these genes is still missing in the public resources such as Allen Brain Atlas. As expected, most of the genes Disha studied gave positive expression. But what was really important is that she could obtained a very accurate expression map for each gene during brain development revealing unpredicted possible new functions and functional interactions between them. After Disha finished this first part, she picked a couple of candidates based of their expression pattern and started to perform a more functional approach to address their role in nervous system connectivity. The expression screening is currently being submitted for publication where Disha contributes as a first author and the second part, the functional characterization, is still an ongoing work in my laboratory. From the technical point of view, Disha has mastered several techniques, including, tissue processing, in situ hybridization, histology, immunofluroescence and confocal imaging, organotypic and cell cultures and in vivo electroporation of embryonic mouse brains. Worth of notice is the fact that she basically started these techniques from scratch in my laboratory and put a lot of effort, with success, in setting-up these techniques, which, some of them, like the in vivo electroporation, are very challenging. Besides that, Disha also acquired experience in basic molecular biology (DNA handling and cloning) and biochemistry (protein extracts and Western blot). During the three years that Disha spent in my laboratory I noticed from the very beginning that she is an passionate and commited person for science. And I was very impressed by her enthusiastic attitude towards lab work and her willingness in constantly learning new techniques and new concepts. She was originally formed as a biotechnologist but she made a huge effort to get involved in the mouse development field, specifically in nervous system development in where I c

I worked together with Disha Chauhan on a research project at IRB Lleida. I was very impressed by her enthusiasm, hard and high-level work, and positive attitude at all times. I would strongly recommend her as she combines perfect professional and personal skills.

Lleida, Spain, January the 7th, 2018 Dr. Disha Chauhan hold a PhD fellowship from the Catalan Government (Catalonia is one of the leading regions in Spain on innovation and research) to study the molecular mechanisms of a particular family of transmembrane proteins involved in the development of the mammalian forebrain, under my supervision, from July 2011 until June 2014. These proteins are characterized by the presence of a conserved motif in the extracellular part of the protein, the leucine-rich repeat or LRR, which is known in other systems to regulate protein-protein interaction. These LRR-containing proteins are specially enriched in the nervous system and our idea was that they could contribute to the molecular mechanisms involved in nervous system connectivity. To address this contribution, Disha first performed an exhaustive expression map, by in situ hybridization, of many of the genes encoding for these LRR-proteins at different stages during mouse brain development (only embryonic stages). Detailed information about the expression pattern of these genes is still missing in the public resources such as Allen Brain Atlas. As expected, most of the genes Disha studied gave positive expression. But what was really important is that she could obtained a very accurate expression map for each gene during brain development revealing unpredicted possible new functions and functional interactions between them. After Disha finished this first part, she picked a couple of candidates based of their expression pattern and started to perform a more functional approach to address their role in nervous system connectivity. The expression screening is currently being submitted for publication where Disha contributes as a first author and the second part, the functional characterization, is still an ongoing work in my laboratory. From the technical point of view, Disha has mastered several techniques, including, tissue processing, in situ hybridization, histology, immunofluroescence and confocal imaging, organotypic and cell cultures and in vivo electroporation of embryonic mouse brains. Worth of notice is the fact that she basically started these techniques from scratch in my laboratory and put a lot of effort, with success, in setting-up these techniques, which, some of them, like the in vivo electroporation, are very challenging. Besides that, Disha also acquired experience in basic molecular biology (DNA handling and cloning) and biochemistry (protein extracts and Western blot). During the three years that Disha spent in my laboratory I noticed from the very beginning that she is an passionate and commited person for science. And I was very impressed by her enthusiastic attitude towards lab work and her willingness in constantly learning new techniques and new concepts. She was originally formed as a biotechnologist but she made a huge effort to get involved in the mouse development field, specifically in nervous system development in where I c

I worked together with Disha Chauhan on a research project at IRB Lleida. I was very impressed by her enthusiasm, hard and high-level work, and positive attitude at all times. I would strongly recommend her as she combines perfect professional and personal skills.

Lleida, Spain, January the 7th, 2018 Dr. Disha Chauhan hold a PhD fellowship from the Catalan Government (Catalonia is one of the leading regions in Spain on innovation and research) to study the molecular mechanisms of a particular family of transmembrane proteins involved in the development of the mammalian forebrain, under my supervision, from July 2011 until June 2014. These proteins are characterized by the presence of a conserved motif in the extracellular part of the protein, the leucine-rich repeat or LRR, which is known in other systems to regulate protein-protein interaction. These LRR-containing proteins are specially enriched in the nervous system and our idea was that they could contribute to the molecular mechanisms involved in nervous system connectivity. To address this contribution, Disha first performed an exhaustive expression map, by in situ hybridization, of many of the genes encoding for these LRR-proteins at different stages during mouse brain development (only embryonic stages). Detailed information about the expression pattern of these genes is still missing in the public resources such as Allen Brain Atlas. As expected, most of the genes Disha studied gave positive expression. But what was really important is that she could obtained a very accurate expression map for each gene during brain development revealing unpredicted possible new functions and functional interactions between them. After Disha finished this first part, she picked a couple of candidates based of their expression pattern and started to perform a more functional approach to address their role in nervous system connectivity. The expression screening is currently being submitted for publication where Disha contributes as a first author and the second part, the functional characterization, is still an ongoing work in my laboratory. From the technical point of view, Disha has mastered several techniques, including, tissue processing, in situ hybridization, histology, immunofluroescence and confocal imaging, organotypic and cell cultures and in vivo electroporation of embryonic mouse brains. Worth of notice is the fact that she basically started these techniques from scratch in my laboratory and put a lot of effort, with success, in setting-up these techniques, which, some of them, like the in vivo electroporation, are very challenging. Besides that, Disha also acquired experience in basic molecular biology (DNA handling and cloning) and biochemistry (protein extracts and Western blot). During the three years that Disha spent in my laboratory I noticed from the very beginning that she is an passionate and commited person for science. And I was very impressed by her enthusiastic attitude towards lab work and her willingness in constantly learning new techniques and new concepts. She was originally formed as a biotechnologist but she made a huge effort to get involved in the mouse development field, specifically in nervous system development in where I c

I worked together with Disha Chauhan on a research project at IRB Lleida. I was very impressed by her enthusiasm, hard and high-level work, and positive attitude at all times. I would strongly recommend her as she combines perfect professional and personal skills.