Memories are a very fundamental part of being human. Everything we learn, every experience we remember, shapes who we are !
Annapoorani Udhayachandran, our next pathbreaker, works as Post-Doctoral Researcher at Max Delbrück Center (MDC, Berlin), an institute with a mission to study biological mechanisms — basically, how the body and brain work — with the long-term aim of improving human health.
Annapoorani talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about her research which is focused on how sensory experiences (like temperature) influence memory formation.
For students, don’t be afraid to take small steps. You don’t need a perfect plan. Focus on doing your work sincerely, and opportunities will come.
Annapoorani, Your background?
I grew up in Coimbatore in a middle-class family. My father worked in BSNL (the telephone department), and my mother was a homemaker. I also have a younger sister.
As a child, I was very curious and loved doing creative things like drawing, painting, and crafts. But one of my biggest interests was something quite unusual – SNAKES !!!.
What did you do for graduation/post graduation?
For my graduation I studied BSc Biochemistry in PSG college of arts and science, Coimbatore and did my post-graduation (MSc) in Biomedical Genetics, Dr ALM PG IBMS from University of Madras, Chennai.
I did Summer research fellowships at IAS, JNCASR)
I have a PhD in Neuroscience from Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI, Basel)
I also cleared exams like GATE and UGC-NET, which gave me more academic opportunities.
Do you recollect any strong influences during your “growing up” years that led you to a career in Biological Research related to the brain (Neuroscience)?
I was fascinated by snakes! I would read books , articles and watch videos ( back then it was mostly National geographic channel and discovery channel) about them whenever I could.
Over time, this curiosity grew deeper. I started wondering not just what snakes are, but how they work—especially their venom. I became really interested in how snake venom affects our body, particularly how it interacts with the neuromuscular junction (the place where nerves talk to muscles).
This curiosity led me to an even bigger question: how do neurons (nerve cells) transmit information so quickly in our body? That sense of wonder about how the body works eventually shaped my interest in science.
I honestly feel like I didn’t choose this career in one moment—it naturally evolved from my curiosity. As a child, I wasn’t just interested in snakes, but in all living things—plants, animals, everything around me. I was always asking, “How does this work?”
I spent a lot of my early years with my grandparents. My grandfather, in particular, had a big influence on me. He had a small piece of land where he grew different crops, and I used to spend a lot of time with him there. Looking back, he was one of my first influencers.
He was very experimental—he would always set aside a portion of land to try new farming methods. In a way, he was a scientist by nature. Watching him made me curious about how things grow and work, and that curiosity stayed with me.
As I moved into higher studies, teachers and mentors played a huge role.
During my undergraduate studies, the late Dr. Abitha Devi, who was the Head of the Department, really encouraged us to go beyond the syllabus. She didn’t just teach—she inspired curiosity. That pushed me to read a lot, and I spent most of my time in the library, not because I had to, but because I enjoyed it.
My project guide, Mrs. Jayanthi, also had a strong influence. She helped me work on a real-world problem I noticed every day—the rapid growth of water hyacinth in Coimbatore lakes. I studied its potential uses, and the project turned out to be quite successful. I even developed a model with my cousin and won second place in a district-level competition.
Another very important mentor in my life is my English professor, Dr. Jayanthasri Balakrishnan, who continues to guide me even today. She saw the potential in me and played a crucial role in convincing my parents to let me pursue higher studies. I still remember what she told my father:
“A whale belongs to the ocean and not a fish tank, please do not restrict her growth by limiting her possibilities.”
That one sentence changed my life.
There were several small but important moments along the way.
During my undergraduate studies, I worked on an assignment about learning and memory. That’s when I read books by Oliver Sacks and V.S. Ramachandran, who wrote about how the brain adapts and changes. This concept—called brain plasticity—really fascinated me.
Another major experience was when I got selected for summer fellowships at the Indian Academy of Sciences and JNCASR. I chose JNCASR and worked at IIT Kanpur for two summers. That experience was eye-opening. I met people doing cutting-edge research, had the freedom to explore ideas, and realized that I could actually build a career doing something I genuinely enjoy.
Can you talk about your early exposure to research that shaped your path to a PhD?
Initially, I wanted to study Neuroscience for my master’s, but due to financial reasons, I chose Biomedical Genetics instead. This course was not my first choice , so I stillcontinued reading and learning about the brain on my own.
My first real experience in research was during summer internships at JNCASR (at IIT Kanpur). I spent two summers there, where I worked with fruit flies (Drosophila). Even though they are tiny, they are very useful for studying genes. Genes contain the instructions cells use to make proteins, so studying genes helps us understand how proteins work. I studied proteins that control how cells grow, and how problems in these can lead to diseases like cancer.
Later, I had opportunities to start a PhD early, but I chose to take an exchange program in Italy instead. This opportunity came through one of my mentors Dr A.K. Munirajan – then my professor in Madras university. As for me, something in me was already being pulled toward the brain, and that curiosity pushed me to look beyond the immediate opportunities in front of me.
This gave me time to grow, gain confidence, and also convince my parents that I was ready for a PhD.
In Italy, I studied bone marrow disorders by working with patient-derived immune cells, mainly B cells and T cells. The project helped me see how research can directly inform human health, and it eventually led to a publication. Still, as meaningful as this experience was, my interest in neuroscience continued to grow stronger.So I applied again—this time for Neuroscience PhD programs—and got accepted into institutes in Basel and Vienna. I eventually chose FMI, Basel, where I worked on learning and memory.
My PhD in Neuroscience was at the University of Basel (Switzerland) . During my PhD, I studied how neurons ( brain cells) develop connections during development and how they affect behaviour later in life. This was a very important phase because I was now fully working on my main interest—the brain and how it works.
I got a fully funded PhD position. The funding was enough for me to live independently abroad, away from my parents, and even save a little. Coming from a middle-class family, this made a huge difference. It meant I could follow my dream of doing research without putting financial pressure on my family. In my case, the institute even paid for my flight when I went for the interview. That made the opportunity much easier and more accessible for me.
There are many PhD programs like this that are very supportive for students who may not otherwise be able to afford studying abroad.
Typically research can be categorised as fundamental research or applied. Looks like your research in Neuroscience was more fundamental. Can you explain the goal here and what did you accomplish in your PhD?
My PhD research was more fundamental research. That means I was not directly trying to make a medicine or treatment. Instead, I was trying to understand how the brain works at a basic level.
The goal of my PhD was to understand how brain cells connect during early development, and how these early connections affect learning and behavior later in life. I studied a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which is very important for learning and memory in the lab of Prof.Dr. Pico Caroni
Inside the hippocampus, information usually flows through different regions, almost like stations on a train/ bus route. The main regions I studied were the dentate gyrus, CA3, and CA1 within the hippocampus . When I joined the lab, the team had already found that there were two parallel circuits running through these regions. In one circuit, one subtype of cell in the dentate gyrus connected to the same subtype of cell in CA3, and then to the same subtype of cell in CA1. The second circuit followed a similar route, but with another subtype type of cell.
So, we knew that these two “tracks /roads” existed inside the hippocampus, but we did not know why the brain had them or what each one was used for.
During my PhD, I found that these two circuits were important for different kinds of learning. One circuit was needed for fast, immediate learning, while the other was needed for slower, step-by-step learning. I used experiments in brain tissue and in living animals to study this.
I also developed a way to disturb these connections early in development. When I did that, the animals later had problems with these specific types of learning. This showed that the way brain cells connect early in life can shape how the brain learns later on.
So, in simple words, my PhD helped show that early brain wiring in the hippocampus — especially across the dentate gyrus, CA3 — is important for different types of learning later in life.
My work was mostly in the excitatory neurons and this was further developed and extended to inhibitory neurons into a bigger study and was published in a peer reviewed journal.
That decision—to return to what I was truly interested in—was a major turning point.
How did you plan your career after your PhD in Switzerland? Can you mention a few approaches that helped you in your journey?
After completing my PhD, I moved to Berlin for my postdoctoral research. Today, I study how memories are formed after sensory experiences—especially temperature-related (thermal) experiences. In simple terms, I’m trying to understand how we learn from what we feel and how those experiences turn into memories.
Today, I continue working in neuroscience as a postdoctoral researcher in Berlin.
My path was not very linear or perfectly planned. My main approach was simple: follow what genuinely interested me and keep learning. I didn’t study just for exams—I studied because I enjoyed understanding things.
Whenever I had to make decisions, I balanced two things:
What I was interested in?
What was practically possible at that time?
Mentors and connections played a very important role. My professors, internship guides, and later research supervisors helped guide me at every stage.
Opportunities like internships and exchange programs also helped me meet people in the field, which opened doors for future positions.
One thing that really helped me was staying consistent with my curiosity. Even when I wasn’t formally studying neuroscience, I kept reading and learning about it because I genuinely enjoyed it.
I also didn’t rush into decisions. For example, taking the exchange program in Italy gave me time to grow, gain confidence, and make a more thoughtful decision about my PhD.
Most importantly, I strongly believe that when we keep working on what truly interests us, opportunities will naturally come our way. There is a beautiful line from a Tamil devotional work called Devaram:
“En kadan pani seithu kidappathuve” , which means “My duty is to do my work sincerely, and the rest will be taken care of.”
This idea has stayed with me—I focused on doing my work with interest and dedication, and the right opportunities followed.
How did you get your first break?
I would say my first big break came when I got selected for the summer research fellowship at JNCASR summer fellowship (IIT Kanpur).
Until then, I was mostly learning from books, but this was the first time I got to actually do science in a research environment. I worked in a real lab, interacted with researchers, and understood how experiments are designed and carried out.
This opportunity didn’t come suddenly—I had been consistently studying, reading beyond my syllabus, and staying curious. That preparation helped me get selected.
That experience gave me confidence and made me realize that I could build a career in research. It also opened doors for future opportunities like my exchange program and PhD.
What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?
Challenge 1: Financial limitations
When I wanted to pursue Neuroscience for my master’s, it was a self-financed course and quite expensive( to give a scale- it was 10 times more expensive than the one I had taken ). I didn’t want to put that burden on my family.
How I addressed it:
I chose a related field—Biomedical Genetics, which was more affordable. At the same time, I continued learning about neuroscience on my own through books and papers. So even though I changed the path slightly, I didn’t give up on my interest.
Challenge 2: Convincing my family about higher studies (especially PhD)
While my parents supported my education, doing a PhD felt like a long and uncertain path to them. I also come from a fairly conservative family, where most of my cousins had studied only up to a bachelor’s degree, and some even less. So choosing to study further, especially for many more years, was something very new for my family.
How I addressed it:
I took a gradual approach. Instead of jumping directly into a PhD, I first went for a 1-year exchange program in Italy. This helped me gain experience, build confidence, and also show my parents that I was serious and capable. With time, conversations, and support from my mentors, my parents became more comfortable, and I was able to continue towards a PhD.
Challenge 3: Non-linear career path and uncertainty
My journey was not straightforward—I moved between different fields like biochemistry, genetics, and then neuroscience. At times, it felt uncertain.
How I addressed it:
I stayed focused on my core interest, understanding how living systems work, especially the brain. I kept learning, stayed open to opportunities, and didn’t worry too much about having a “perfect plan.” Over time, everything started to connect.
Even during my postdoctoral research, I faced new challenges. I had to learn how to build equipment from scratch and set up experiments. In fact, with the help of in-house engineers, I even built my own setup (rig) to study animal behavior.
This taught me that learning never really stops—you keep picking up new skills at every stage. Being open to learning new things helped me grow and handle uncertainty better.
Where do you work now? What problems do you solve?
I currently work as a Post-Doctoral Researcher at Max Delbrück Center (MDC) in Berlin, where I study how the brain forms and stores memories.
MDC is a biomedical research institute in Berlin and part of the Helmholtz Association, one of Germany’s largest research networks. I would broadly compare it to research institutes in India like IISc, TIFR, NCBS, or IISERs.
Their mission is to use today’s scientific discoveries to improve tomorrow’s medicine. So, scientists there study biological mechanisms — basically, how the body and brain work — with the long-term aim of improving human health.
I try to understand how our brain turns experiences into memories. For example, if you touch something cold or hot , how does your brain remember that experience so you can react faster next time?
I am especially interested in how sensory experiences (like temperature) influence memory formation. Understanding this can help us learn more about how the brain works in both healthy and disease conditions.
What skills are needed for your role? How did you acquire the skills?
This job requires a mix of skills:
- Scientific thinking (asking the right questions)
- Experimental skills (working in a lab)
- Data analysis (understanding results)
- Patience and problem-solving
I developed these skills over time—through my studies, internships, PhD, and research experiences. A lot of it also came from practice, making mistakes, and learning from them.
What’s a typical day like?
There is no “fixed” day in the lab , which makes it exciting!
On some days, I do experiments in the lab, analyze data on the computer,read research papers, or discuss ideas with my team.
Other days involve writing reports , planning new experiments , discussions with collaborators, teaching students the experimental procedures. Every day is a bit different.
Outside the lab, life is just as lively. I have a very curious and sporty seven-year-old daughter, a naughty two-year-old Labrador, and a husband who supports me in every way, both emotionally and practically. I also love spending time in my garden especially between spring and autumn- where I grow fruits and perennial vegetables and make my own compost( bokashi , vermiculture ) . For me, science does not stop in the lab — I use it at home too. For example I observe how plants grow, improve the soil, make compost, and experiment with what helps the garden thrive.
What is it you love about this job?
What I love most is the freedom to explore questions that I am curious about.
I also enjoy the moment when something works after many attempts—it’s very rewarding. And of course, learning something new about the brain is always exciting.
How does your work benefit society?
My work may not create immediate change that we can see today, and that’s the nature of basic science—it takes time. But every small discovery adds to a larger understanding.
I study how memories are formed, which is a very fundamental part of being human. Everything we learn, every experience we remember, shapes who we are. By understanding this process, we are slowly building knowledge that could one day help people with memory-related conditions like Alzheimer’s or other brain disorders.
I like to think of my work as adding one small piece to a very big puzzle. Science moves forward because many people contribute their small pieces over time.
For me, it’s meaningful to know that I am part of that journey—helping expand human knowledge, even if the impact is not immediate. And someday, this knowledge might help improve lives in ways we cannot fully imagine today.
Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you!
One piece of work that is very special to me is my current research on how memories are formed and stabilized in the brain.
During my postdoctoral research, I worked on understanding how sensory experiences—especially things like temperature—can shape memory. For example, how does the brain remember something like touching something cold, and how does that memory help us respond faster the next time?
What made this work even more meaningful for me was that I didn’t just use existing tools—I actually had to build my own experimental setup (a behavioural rig) along with engineers. This was a completely new challenge for me. It pushed me to learn how to design experiments from scratch, think like an engineer, and be patient when things didn’t work the first time. I am very grateful for the opportunity given by my lab head Prof. Dr James Poulet and support by then a colleague but a friend I have earned for life, Dr. Clarissa Whitmire.
There were many moments when experiments failed, or things didn’t go as planned. But when it finally worked, and I could see meaningful results, it felt incredibly rewarding.
This work became very close to me not just because of the science, but because of the journey—learning new skills, solving problems, and staying persistent.
I was fortunate that this work and my overall contributions to memory research were recognized with the Brenda Milner Award 2026, which is given to scientists working in the field of memory for their research contributions.
For me, the award was not just about recognition—it was a reminder that if you keep working with curiosity and dedication, your efforts are seen and valued.
Your advice to students based on your experience?
My biggest advice would be: stay curious and follow what genuinely interests you.
You don’t have to have everything figured out from the beginning. It’s okay to explore different subjects and even feel confused at times—that’s part of the journey.
Don’t study just for marks. Try to understand why things work the way they do. When you enjoy learning, it becomes much easier and more meaningful.
Also, don’t be afraid to take small steps. You don’t need a perfect plan. Focus on doing your work sincerely, and opportunities will come.
At the same time, be patient with yourself. Good things take time—whether it’s building skills, gaining confidence, or reaching your goals.
And finally, seek out mentors and ask questions. The right guidance at the right time can make a huge difference. I cannot stress enough how much the people you meet along the way can shape your thinking and your life. So be present, stay open, and nurture those connections.
If I had to summarize it in one line:
Stay curious, keep learning, and trust your journey.
Future Plans?
Right now, I am exploring teaching positions. I really enjoy teaching and sharing knowledge, and I would like to be in a role where I can interact with students and guide them.
At the same time, I want to stay connected to research, because asking questions and understanding how the brain works is something I am deeply passionate about.
In the long term, I hope to balance both teaching and research—where I can contribute to science while also inspiring and mentoring students along the way.