Swastik is a PhD student in the Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, under the guidance of Dr. Yaniv Elkouby. His research focuses on unrevealing a century-old mystery: “How does the Balbiani Body form during early oogenesis?”. The Balbiani Body is a fascinating, oocyte-specific membraneless organelle essential for the formation of future embryonic axes and is conserved across species from insects to humans. Swastik is currently investigating the roles of various RNA-binding proteins and intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) in the formation of the Balbiani Body and oocyte polarity in zebrafish.

Inspired by his mother, a biology teacher, Swastik developed a deep interest in science during childhood. He pursued his BS-MS degree in Life Sciences at IISER Kolkata, India. Beyond academia, Swastik is a professional table tennis player who enjoys various indoor and outdoor sports, nature photography, and has a passion for exploring the beauty of the natural world.