Sandip Ghuge

I am a plant molecular biologist and biotechnologist specializing in stress biology, redox regulation, and selenoprotein engineering, with over 15 years of international research experience across India, Italy, Israel, and Belgium. My work focuses on understanding how plants and microalgae respond to environmental stress, using tools such as CRISPR–Cas9, multi‑omics, redox assays, and molecular engineering to enhance resilience and productivity.

Currently, I am a Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at VIB‑UGent, where I study antioxidant pathways and develop strategies to boost plant stress tolerance through selenocysteine‑containing proteins. My past work includes pioneering contributions in polyamine oxidation pathways, heavy metal stress, phytoremediation, flavonoid biosynthesis, and bioenergy‑related algal systems.

I am passionate about translational plant science, sustainable agriculture, redox‑driven innovation, and mentoring young researchers. I enjoy collaborating across disciplines to turn fundamental discoveries into real‑world solutions for climate resilience, environmental health, and bio‑innovation.

01/10/2023 - till now: Post doctorate Fellow (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions fellowship), VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, Belgium

Project 1- Boosting stress resilience of Arabidopsis by heterologous expression of a selenocysteine containing glutathione Peroxidase.

Project 2- Investigating role of GPX selenoprotein (GPX1 and GPX2) from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

05/06/2018 - 30/04/2023: Post doctorate Fellow, Agricultural Research Organisation, Volcani Center, Israel.

Project 1- Characterization of components involved in Selenocysteine incorporation process (21st amino acid) using CRISPR-Cas9 in Chlamydomonas. 

Project 2- Investigation of protein complex in flavonoid biosynthesis pathway using Bio-ID, and BiFC in Citrus plant and red grape cell lines.

05/10/2017-10/05/2018: Research Associate, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, MS, India.

I have worked on project “A Challenge to reveal biochemical and molecular basis of spongy tissue disorder in mango, threat to mango export”. Here we have identified differentially expressing proteins from spongy tissue and control tissue of mango using LC MS analysis. 

09/02/2016-29/09/2017: Research Associate & Associate Fellow, The Energy and Resources Institute, Gurgaon, India.

I have worked on project “Development of bio-encapsulated Laz (Lipid modified azurin) protein as an oral therapeutic for cancer by using tomato as a plant expression system”. I have transformed Laz gene into the tomato’s genome using various promoters to get the high Laz expression. Simultaneously, I have standardized the purification methodology for Laz protein using immobilized metal affinity chromatography from bacterial construct with an aim to see its effect on diseases like tuberculosis and HIV.

01/09/2014-12/11/2015: Post doctorate Fellow, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy.

Investigated phytoremediation capacity of the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii upon Bisphenol A (BPA) treatment and key players involved in phytoremediation. Leads obtained show that C. reinhardtii can tolerate high dose of BPA by bioaccumulation and biodegradation.

01/01/2011-29/07/2014: PhD and five months of Post doctorate Fellow in the same lab, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy. 

Investigated role of apoplastic Copper amine oxidase in root development, xylem differentiation and stomatal closure signaled by various stress-related hormones using multi-omics approaches in Arabidopsis thaliana.

1/10/2008 – 10/06/2010: Junior Research fellow, Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur, India.

I was primarily responsible for a DBT‑funded project on identifying molecular markers and tagging genes for bacterial blight resistance in cotton. Using immune cotton sources available in India, I developed disease‑resistant hybrids by crossing resistant and susceptible genotypes. I generated four F₂ mapping populations (300–400 plants each) for genotyping using RAPD and SSR markers and phenotyping for bacterial blight disease. 

 01/01/2011–24/02/2014: Phd in Biology (Biomolecular and Cellular Sciences), Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy. Thesis title: Plant Amine oxidase in development and stress responses. Advisor: Prof Alessandra Cona, Co-supervisor- Prof Riccardo Angelini