As the burden of cancer grows across the global population, it becomes imperative to understand how conditions such as HPV cause cancer, which is essential for developing better therapies.
Pushkal Sinduvadi Ramesh, our next pathbreaker, Postdoctoral Researcher at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, conducts research on how HPV transforms normal cells into cancerous ones.
Pushkal talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about how personal experiences deepened his interest in cancer biology and strengthened his resolve to pursue a career in translational research !
For students, keep trying, even if progress feels slow. Success often comes after multiple failures, and each attempt teaches you something valuable.
Pushkal, Your Background?
I was born in a lush, green region of the Western Ghats, in the Shivamogga district of Karnataka. Geographically, this area is called Malenadu, which literally means “the land of hills.” I grew up surrounded by nature. My father is a farmer who cultivated arecanut, coffee, and spices, while my mother, a homemaker, played a central role in shaping my upbringing.
Our home was in a fairly isolated area, and accessing a good school was not easy in those days. My mother learned about a new boarding school opening in Chickamagaluru and made the bold decision to enroll me there. I was only four years old at the time. Looking back, I can only imagine how difficult that must have been for my parents, but it turned out to be one of the most important decisions of my life. Eventually, my brother and sister joined the same school, and that decision changed the direction of all our lives.
I spent the next 12 years at Akshara Public Residential School, Aldur. I was a curious child, good at academics, drawing, and crafts, but not particularly good at sports due to my physique at the time. What really shaped me were the science teachers I had throughout my school days. Combined with my exposure to nature back home, I developed a strong interest in biology. During holidays, my brother and I would explore the area around our house and the nearby forest, catching all kinds of insects, crabs, spiders, grasshoppers, praying mantis, and occasionally even snakes (mostly inspired by Steve Irwin). At school, whenever someone spotted an insect or a spider, they would call us. Inspired by the science fiction movies, we would put a spider and a mantis in the same box hoping we would get a new breed of insect. By around 7th grade, I had already started mentioning in slam books that I wanted to become a scientist (although I wasn’t sure what kind of scientist).
For my 11th and 12th grades, I moved to another residential institution in Dakshina Kannada (SDMRC). The biology teachers there had a profound influence on me and reinforced my decision to pursue life sciences instead of the more conventional paths of medicine or engineering. My parents supported me completely and never pressured me to choose otherwise. In hindsight, I sometimes feel I could have explored entomology more seriously, but that path was not very clearly defined for me at the time.
What did you do for graduation/post-graduation?
After my 12th grade, while most of my friends chose MBBS or engineering based on their entrance exam ranks, I decided to follow my interest in life sciences. Based on my teachers’ advice, I joined a college affiliated with the University of Mysore. However, I soon realized that the subject combination I wanted- Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Zoology was not available. I settled for Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Botany instead. At Sarada Vilas College, my professors (especially Dr. Gururaj Puranik) played a crucial role in shaping my thinking. I became deeply interested in understanding microbes, human cells, and the mechanisms by which bacteria and viruses infect the body.
Because of my growing interest in the clinical side of science, I pursued a master’s in medical Biochemistry at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. This was a turning point. I studied subjects like anatomy and physiology alongside biochemistry and also gained hands-on experience through hospital lab postings, where I analyzed patient samples and reports. For my master’s project, I worked on oral cancer where I got to routinely visit the cancer hospital, be around cancer patients. Around the same time, I lost a close friend’s father to lung cancer, and a couple of years later, another friend’s mother to kidney cancer. These personal experiences strengthened my interest in cancer biology and made me realize that I wanted my work to have a meaningful, translational impact.
What made you choose this career?
I have always been curious about how things in nature work. Growing up, science fiction movies fascinated me and constantly triggered questions in my mind. As a child, my idea of being a scientist was simply doing exciting experiments with colorful chemicals all day. Over time, that understanding evolved. Today, I know that science involves careful planning, ethical considerations, funding constraints, and a sense of responsibility toward society. Before starting an experiment, I now think about whether it adds to scientific understanding, whether it solves a problem, and whether it is safe for people and the environment.
I was also deeply inspired by the stories of scientists like Alexander Fleming, Robert Koch, Marie Curie, and Kary Mullis. But more than those famous scientists, it was my teachers who had the biggest impact on me. Their passion for science made me believe that I could pursue this path myself. I think the key turning points were choosing life sciences over conventional career paths, my exposure to clinical biochemistry during my master’s, and personal experiences with cancer affected people. These collectively shaped my decision to pursue research in the field of cancer biology.
Tell us about your career path
One of the most important decisions I made early on was to step away from the pressure of pursuing MBBS or engineering. That decision gave me clarity and allowed me to focus on what I truly wanted. After my master’s, I worked as a lecturer in a private medical college (Subbaiah Institute of Medical Sciences) in my hometown, teaching biochemistry to medical, dental, and nursing students. At that point, my goal was to secure my own fellowship for a PhD. I chose this role so I could stay connected to academics while preparing for competitive exams like CSIR and ICMR JRF offered by the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India.
I attempted these exams multiple times (four attempts to be precise) without success. During my second year as a lecturer, an external examiner, Dr. Prashant Vishwanath, noticed my interest in research and encouraged me to apply to the institution he was affiliated with. That led me to join the Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology & Regenerative Medicine (CEMR) at JSS Medical College, where I began my PhD in cancer biology under the mentorship of Dr. Devanand Devegowda and Dr. Rajesh Thimmulappa. The lab had good funding support, which allowed me to carry out meaningful research. Even then, I continued attempting the CSIR exam (another two failed attempts). By my seventh attempt, I had a clear understanding of the exam pattern and strategy. Also, because I was in the research lab, I gained so much practical knowledge, it helped me secure an All India Rank of 121 in CSIR (life sciences category) that came with a stipend for the next five years.
The main purpose was to get myself a stipend. I joined the PhD program at JSS Medical College based on the institution’s entrance exam and interview. The CEMR lab I joined had multiple PI’s working under the same roof. So, all the students working for those PI’s would have access to the instruments, infrastructure and general chemicals. My mentor did not have grants which would pay me any salary at that time. I had already spent two years post my master’s degree away from not doing Ph.D. So, I joined the lab despite not having any stipend. My continued attempts at CSIR exam was also because I knew I was so close to clearing it. In all my previous attempts, I was almost nearing the cut-off marks and failed. One of the important traits in achieving your goals is to have a “never give up” attitude. This was instilled in my mind firmly and hence I did not stop till I made it. After securing the fellowship, even my mentor suggested I could try getting into IIT’s or IISER’s if I wish to. However, given that I was already into my third year of my Ph.D., I decided to stay at CEMR and I have no regrets.
(There was also some kind of irony even after clearing CSIR after 7th attempt. I made this attempt in December 2017 and usually we would have gotten the results in a couple of months. I checked the officially released key answers and saw I was getting more marks than all my previous attempts. But due to a pending case against CSIR (regarding a previous result), the results of December 2017 exams were delayed. It was delayed for so long that I applied and attempted the exam again in June 2018 just to be safe. As a result of all my hard work done previously, I was able to clear the exam again. This time with an AIR of 119!)
Although in general our lab was well funded, very few funds were accessible for my own research. This is where my mentors helped me improvise. In conferences I met people working in our field. Our expertise in analyzing Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in a variety of patient samples (fresh biopsies, FFPE tissues, saliva, cervical specimens etc.) garnered attention from other colleagues in various institutions who started collaborating with us. This helped us to acquire a small amount of funding for our own work and also be a part of some cool research papers. My work focused on understanding why HPV positive oropharyngeal cancer patients showed better treatment responses when the HPV negative oropharyngeal cancer patients had poor prognosis. Through my research we identified that HPV downregulates a redox signaling pathway that usually confers drug resistance. We even developed a method for predicting prognosis and guiding treatment de-escalation in HPV positive head and neck cancers using a panel of biomarkers for which we submitted a patent application and is currently under examination.
How did you get your first break?
My first major break came when I transitioned from being a lecturer to joining a research lab for my PhD. That opportunity arose because someone recognized my genuine interest in research and encouraged me to take the next step. Later, for my postdoctoral position, I applied to around 30 labs in the United States and went through multiple interviews before securing a position at the University of Pennsylvania. That experience taught me the importance of persistence and self-belief.
What were some of the challenges you faced and how did you address them?
Research comes with its own set of challenges. One of the biggest challenges during my PhD was collecting patient samples. Convincing patients and their families to contribute samples for research, especially when they were already dealing with the emotional burden of cancer, required sensitivity and empathy. With the support of clinicians and nursing staff, I learned how to communicate better and handle these situations respectfully.
Another major challenge was the COVID-19 pandemic. It disrupted experiments, delayed supplies, and made sample collection difficult. I used that time productively by writing my thesis, working on review articles, and revisiting my hobby of sketching.
Finding a postdoctoral position abroad was also challenging. Without strong connections, I relied entirely on my own efforts sending out applications, attending interviews, and staying persistent until I succeeded.
Where do you work now? What problems do you solve?
I am currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, working under Dr. Elizabeth White. My research focuses on understanding how HPV transforms normal cells into cancerous ones. Specifically, I study the HPV E7 oncoprotein and its interaction with host tumor suppressors. While it was known that E7 targets RB1, my work has shown that degradation of another tumor suppressor protein, PTPN14, is also essential for carcinogenesis. This helps explain differences between high-risk and low-risk HPV types in the context of their ability to transform a cell.
What skills are needed for job? How did you acquire the skills?
To do my job and conduct experiments, one should be well versed in molecular biology experiments such as DNA, RNA, protein isolation and downstream analysis, cloning, real time PCR, western blotting, culturing cancer cells, primary keratinocytes, transfection, transduction, manipulate genes by siRNA, shRNA, CRISPR/Cas9, CRISPR interference, and flow cytometry. Other than the wet lab bench work, one should be familiar with identifying research gaps in the literature, data analysis using statistical software, and some basic bioinformatic tools to work on the gene and protein datasets. An important aspect is data storage and management. Every single step and results from the experiments has to be noted down so that ultimately, they can be put together and published as a research paper. I did not have all the skill sets when I took up this job. I kept updating myself regularly from my previous experiences, and added more as I work every day. There are tons of free resources available out there which almost anyone can access.
What is a typical day like?
A typical day in the lab involves designing experiments, working with cells, performing molecular biology techniques, analyzing data, and reading scientific literature.
My research is 80% wet lab work, meaning most of the time I am gloved up and tucked inside my lab coat. Everyday I get exposed to various liquids, chemicals and biological samples. With my experiments I get to observe and verify the biological phenomena in a controlled environment. I study how certain viruses can cause cancer. Specifically, I work on a virus called Human Papillomavirus (HPV). In the lab, I grow human cells in dishes and then introduce small parts of the virus into these cells. These viral parts act like tools that can interfere with the cell’s normal control systems. Normally, cells have “brakes” that stop them from growing too much. These brakes are controlled by important proteins inside the cell. What I do is test how the virus disables these brakes. I use different versions of the viral proteins (mutants), each missing a specific function, to figure out exactly what each version does. It’s like removing one feature at a time from a machine to see how it affects overall behavior. I also use gene editing tools to turn off specific genes in the cells. This helps me understand whether those genes are important for controlling cell growth. Then I measure how the cells behave- do they grow faster? do they live longer than they should? do they start behaving like cancer cells? By combining all of this, I can understand how the virus pushes normal cells toward becoming cancerous.
Another 20% of my work is dry lab. After I collect data from experiments, like gene expression data, I analyze it to understand what is changing inside the cells. For example, I look at which genes are turned on or off when viral proteins are present. I use computational tools to find patterns in this data. Instead of looking at one gene at a time, I look at thousands of genes together to see which biological pathways are affected. I am especially interested in identifying groups of genes controlled by specific factors inside the cell. This helps me understand how the virus rewires the cell’s internal programs. I also compare my experimental data with publicly available cancer datasets. This allows me to check whether the patterns I see in the lab are also present in real human cancers. Overall, the dry lab part of my work helps me make sense of complex data and connect my experiments to what actually happens in patients.
What is it you love about this job?
What I enjoy most about my work is the opportunity to explore unanswered questions and perform experiments that once felt like science fiction.
How does your work benefit society?
While my current work is largely fundamental, understanding how HPV causes cancer is essential for developing better therapies. This knowledge can eventually contribute to improved treatment strategies for cancers such as cervical cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, and other HPV-associated cancers.
A memorable experience?
One of the most memorable moments in my journey happened in 2018, when I attended an international conference in Sydney (with a travel grant awarded by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India). I met Dr. Karl Munger, a leading expert in HPV research. He appreciated my work and offered valuable suggestions. I had read about his research and it was a fan moment for me and hence took a selfie with him. For me, it was a surreal moment. At that time, I had a quiet hope that I might one day work with scientists like him. Fast forward to 2026, the same professor is my department head, I see him almost every day, collaborate on research projects and he is also going to be a co-author in the upcoming paper I am publishing. This is a life coming full circle for me.
Advice to students?
In life it is important to recognize what you are good at and what you are passionate about. I understand not everyone’s situation will be the same; sometimes there will be pressure to forcefully take up a career you never want. But never lose sight of your goals. Life will work in a mysterious way if you keep manifesting. Almost twenty years ago, I started dreaming of being a scientist and now I am living it. Keep trying, even if progress feels slow. Success often comes after multiple failures, and each attempt teaches you something valuable.
Future plans
My long-term goal is to become a tenure-track professor, run my own research lab, mentor students, continue working on virus-associated cancers and someday be a leading expert in tumor virology.