Researcher Spotlight: Pavithra Chandromowlishwaran

What is your professional background?
My undergraduate degree was in biotechnology focused on engineering from Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering in my hometown of Chennai in India. Pursuant to that, I received a doctorate in biological sciences from Georgia Tech. My doctoral thesis adviser is Dr. Yury Chernoff and we worked on prion biology with a focus on protein misfolding diseases and neurodegeneration of the brain.

In what division do you work, and who is your mentor?
I currently work in the Division of Digestive Diseases as a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Shanthi Srinivasan.

Briefly describe your research. Why is it important?
Our research is focused on studying the effect of high-fat diet-induced stress on the nervous system of the gut, called the enteric nervous system (ENS). ENS-related stresses cause gut related disorders like stomach upset, bloating, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome. It can also trigger depression, anxiety, and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Understanding the ENS better can create better treatment opportunities as opposed to only addressing the symptoms.

What do you like most about Emory?
I like Emory’s emphasis on translational research that is quickly and efficiently put into practice to create new products. I believe that this brings evidence-based public policies into effect. I also want to appreciate and congratulate Emory’s unequivocal stance against racial violence.

What is your favorite movie or TV show?
My favorite movie is the ‘Pink Panther’ (the one with Steve Martin).

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to do cooking experiments and enjoy creating vegan versions of foods that I like to eat.

What is a fun fact about you?
I worked with NASA on the Mars 2020 Rover as a part of the Planetary Protection team to make sure that we don’t bring back harmful biological matter from space. Yikes!