Kanchan Aggarwal

Kanchan Aggarwal has a diverse work experience in the field of research and academia. Kanchan is currently working as a Scientist-I at Lumen Bioscience since October 2021. Prior to this, they worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The University of Texas at Austin from June 2021 to October 2021. In this role, they focused on the regulation of Carbonic Anhydrase (VA and VB) and employed photopharmacology to gain control over these mitochondrial enzymes. Kanchan also developed cell-based functional assays to investigate the effect of selective inhibition of CA VA/VB on cellular metabolic processes.

Before their postdoctoral fellowship, Kanchan worked as a Graduate Research Assistant at The University of Texas at Austin from August 2015 to May 2021. Kanchan conducted research on light-mediated control over metalloenzymes and designed a photopharmacophore to regulate enzymes using biocompatible green/blue light. Kanchan achieved significant enzyme activity turn on and developed assays to regulate cellular pH homeostasis and response to external stress at the single-cell level. During their time as a graduate student, they also worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and Student Representative, and held leadership positions in various organizations.

In 2019, Kanchan had a Biochemistry Summer Internship at MyoKardia, where they worked on the ACT-1 project, studying the mechanism of drug interaction with cardiac muscles. Prior to this, they worked as a Research Scholar at the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee from January 2015 to May 2015, and as an INSPIRE Fellow from August 2010 to May 2015.

Kanchan has also gained research experience through internships at Simon Fraser University, where they worked on the development of protein-nanoITO electrodes, and at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, where they focused on the design and synthesis of amino acid and peptide appended arylene diimide for potential biomedical applications. Kanchan also had a Summer Research Internship at the National Chemical Laboratory, where they worked on the fabrication of photo-anodes for the photo-electrochemical water splitting process.

In addition to their research work, Kanchan has a passion for science communication and has participated in various competitions and events to communicate their research to non-scientists. Kanchan won the 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) competition at the university level and represented UT Austin in the 3MT regional competition, winning the People's Choice award in the heat round.

Kanchan Aggarwal completed their education in a chronological manner. Kanchan started in 2010 and finished in 2015 at the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, where they obtained an Integrated Masters in Science with a focus on Chemistry. Kanchan then furthered their education by pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Inorganic Chemistry at The University of Texas at Austin from 2015 to 2021.

In addition to their formal education, Aggarwal also obtained additional certifications. In June 2018, they participated in the ExxonMobil PALS Safety Workshop offered by ExxonMobil. Kanchan also completed the Biosafety and Chemical Safety Training provided by Simon Fraser University in May 2014.