Recombinant proteins play a crucial role not only in developing therapeutic drugs but also in facilitating innovations in several other industries such as food, textiles, detergents and biofuels!
Anwesha Purkayastha (PhD), our next pathbreaker, works for the Quality Control team at Tempus Labs (Chicago), a company that sequences the genes from cancer patients and matches them with the best immunotherapy approaches.
Anwesha talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about her passion for extracurricular activities apart from her research (PhD) which culminated in her role in Netflix’s ‘Squid Game’which eventually became one of the biggest and most-watched dramas in Netflix’s history.
For students, your professional goals shouldn’t dictate who you are nor should they overshadow your personal hobbies !
Anwesha,Your background?
I was born in Guwahati, Assam, to a middle-class family. My father served as a computer programmer for the Indian Defense Accounts, while my mother dedicated her time to being a homemaker. From an early age, I exhibited a highly sociable and outgoing nature. Being fortunate to be born into a typical Bengali family, I was enrolled in numerous extracurricular classes such as music, dance, drawing, swimming, and karate. Developing a particular passion for dancing and acting, I believe this inclination stemmed from my father, who actively participated in theatre performances during his youth. Throughout my upbringing, my interests leaned more towards humanities than science. Although my initial aspiration was to become a journalist, life had different plans for me.
What did you study?
I did my bachelors degree in Biology, masters dehree in Microbiology and PhD in Protein Engineering from Dongguk University (South Korea).
What were some of the drivers that influenced me to pursue such an offbeat, unconventional and cool career?
Just like any other typical Indian family, my parents wanted me to pursue science as well. Although I did not have much interest in science as a subject, I was always intrigued by how medicines could detect and cure illnesses. What seemed like magic at that time revealed itself as science in later years. This curiosity led to my initial interest in biology.
I completed my entire schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya Salt Lake No.1, Kolkata, where I acquired a wealth of life skills that later proved valuable in my career development. The emphasis at my school was less on the pressure of achieving excellent grades and more on engaging in vocational activities, building relationships, and cultivating leadership qualities. I had the opportunity to interact with individuals from various states across India, forming friendships and immersing myself in diverse cultures and traditions.
With this solid foundation, I embarked on a journey to Bangalore to pursue both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. I must admit, my motivation to study biology stemmed from my father’s amateur practice of homeopathy, a common tradition in every Bengali household. Well, my homeopathy bottles travel everywhere with me. Haha.
My bachelor’s degree became a platform for me to actively participate in numerous intercollege dance competitions. Balancing my passion for dance with academic excellence was crucial, especially considering my middle-class background. I maintained decent scores in my coursework, showcasing my ability to juggle both academic and extracurricular pursuits. During my bachelor’s, I was fascinated by the pivotal roles that tiny microbes play in manufacturing industrially significant products. This revelation inspired me to choose microbiology as my major for my master’s course. Throughout my master’s degree, I had the privilege of learning from some exceptional professors who not only imparted knowledge but also encouraged me to consider research as a rewarding career choice.
Over the next few years, I dedicated my time to studying and successfully clearing competitive exams, including GATE and JGEEBILS, in pursuit of a PhD in India. I also took up an internship at the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology in Kolkata and served as a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), Assam, from 2013 to 2017. It was during this period that I received a fully funded scholarship to pursue my PhD.in South Korea.
How did you plan the steps to get into the career you wanted? Or how did you make a transition to a new career? Tell us about your career path.
My entry into the world of research did not happen overnight; it was slow and gradual. During my master’s degree, I had a professor who taught immunology. He consistently used colorful chalk to draw diagrams, interacted with every student, and maintained an interactive class environment. It was during this period that I realized the crucial role of proteins – they could be the enemies (antigens), victims (altering gene expression, genes translating to proteins), fighters (antibodies), and synthetic fighters (some vaccines and drugs).
I dedicated my time to studying proteins during my tenure at both IICB and IITG from 2013 to 2017. In this period, I worked with medically significant proteins, overexpressing them in both bacterial and yeast systems while studying their properties.
During my time at IITG, I met a postdoctoral researcher who introduced me to a research article published by a professor, who would later become my doctoral degree advisor. He was engaged in the recombinant expression of medically significant proteins and characterizing their properties. This inspired me to email him, expressing my interest in working under his supervision. Subsequently, I applied for and secured a fully funded PhD scholarship in South Korea to pursue my studies in protein engineering.
Can you tell us about your research?
Throughout my PhD, I honed my skills in gene editing and optimized conditions for both upstream and downstream processes. My primary focus was on the recombinant expression of an enzyme in E. coli sourced from a plant origin, and I substantiated its activity through various assays. The enzyme I expressed in E. coli is responsible for the cyclization of proteins. Cyclized proteins are known to be more stable against changes in pH, proteases, temperature, and denaturing agents. Producing such stable proteins could address various real-world challenges, such as shipping proteins from one place to another without worrying about storage conditions, creating medically significant proteinaceous drugs with improved properties, and developing bio-friendly pesticides to combat adverse soil conditions.
To recombinantly express this enzyme, I strategically designed the genetic cassette and optimized expression and purification conditions. This effort resulted in achieving the maximum production yield, surpassing that of any research group during the period from 2017 to 2021.
Apart from my research, my passion for extracurricular activities never died. My first break into the world of acting was with Pixelate Screen Production, an IITG production house, where I played a supporting role in the short film ‘9/4.’ Subsequently, in South Korea, I took on multiple small assignments with various brands. These experiences gradually culminated in me auditioning for a role in a K-drama, which eventually became one of the biggest and most-watched dramas in Netflix’s history. I had the privilege of portraying Ali’s wife in Netflix’s ‘Squid Game’ in 2021.
How did you get your first break?
My first breakthrough came when I secured admission into a PhD program in the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul. In this program, I dealt with multiple medically significant proteins, aiming to enhance their properties to better serve the medical field.
I completed my PhD work and moved to the US. While awaiting my employment authorization and social security number, I decided to use my time productively and volunteered as a researcher at Northwestern University. This experience later proved instrumental in securing my full-time position at Tempus Labs in Chicago.
What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?
PhD in itself is a challenge for at least 5 years, during which it enhances your strategic thinking, technical skills, and patience.
Where do you work now? Tell us about your current role
I work for the Quality Control team at Tempus Labs in Chicago. This company sequences the genes from cancer patients and matches them with the best immunotherapy. I am the sole individual responsible for the critical shift, where my duties include ensuring the proper performance of equipment during the loading of samples onto the gene sequencers. I am responsible for investigating, fixing, and documenting any equipment failures that may occur. To fulfill these responsibilities, I am proficient in using multiple robotic liquid handlers, bioinformatics software, and molecular biology assays.
Immunotherapy refers to a medical treatment that activates or strengthens the body’s natural immune system to combat diseases, with a particular emphasis on addressing cancer. A PhD equips us with skills in various fields, making it easier to work across multiple domains. I believe immunotherapy represents the future of medical science, and I am enthusiastic about contributing to its advancement.
How does your work benefit society?
Since the company works with samples from very sick patients, we must ensure that we are not delayed from our stated timeline. In order to do so, I need to ensure that I am skilled enough to investigate and fix issues during any emergency situations or, at the very least, provide an alternative solution.
Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you!
Ideally, it should have been my doctoral degree, but I find myself biased towards something unrelated to science. As mentioned earlier, I have always been inclined towards dance and acting, making sure to practice them as my hobbies. One of my most memorable experiences was securing a gig for Netflix, where I portrayed Ali’s wife in the original Netflix drama “Squid Game” (episode 2). Following this, I was interviewed by Rolling Stone India, and I also have an IMDb account. While I understand that it was not a substantial role, I take immense pride in the fact that it is uncommon to see a scientist participating in such platforms.
Your advice to students based on your experience?
I am still too insignificant to advise people on their choices. However, here are a few takeaways from my limited experience:
(a) It is alright to have multiple dreams.
(b) Discipline is the key to success.
(c) Your mental health is the most important of all.
(d) Make sure to maintain a good work-life balance. You want to die surrounded by your loved ones, not just your thesis.
Future Plans?
To make it to the Forbes list, maybe? Haha. Fingers crossed!