Postdoctoral Fellow - Molecular and Cell Biology
University of California, Berkeley - 2025
-medium.jpg)
Sankalp Shukla
Incoming Assistant Professor - Biological Sciences
We study the problems pertinent to human health and disease through the lens of membrane biology.
Professional Preparation
Doctor of Philosophy - Physical Chemistry/Membrane Biophysics
The University of Pennsylvania - 2021
The University of Pennsylvania - 2021
Integrated BS-MS - Chemistry
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur - 2015
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur - 2015
Research Areas
Decoding the Cellular Roots of Neurodegeneration.
We are driven by a central question: How do disruptions in the function of individual organelles trigger irreversible cell death in the brain? We focus on uncovering the fundamental molecular events—both intrinsic and environmentally triggered—that compromise organelle health and lead to dysfunction across diverse brain cell types, including neurons, glia, and microglia.Lipid Transport and Metabolism in Human Health and Disease.
Our lab investigates how lipid transporters, membrane mechanics, and protein-lipid interactions coordinate to ensure efficient lipid trafficking. We use a multidisciplinary approach that combines membrane reconstitution, live-cell imaging, and biophysical manipulation to model lipid loading and transfer with precision.Cracking the Code of Tau Seed Propagation
Our lab focuses on uncovering how distinct tau assemblies interact with intracellular membranes—a critical, underexplored step in their spread. By building systems that recapitulate key aspects of tau behavior in controlled environments, we aim to reveal the principles that govern their movement across compartments and between cells.Publications
Tau fibrils induce nanoscale membrane damage and nucleate cytosolic tau at lysosomes 2024 - Journal Article
Mechanism and cellular function of direct membrane binding by the ESCRT and ERES-associated Ca 2+ -sensor ALG-2 2024 - Journal Article
In vitro reconstitution of calcium-dependent recruitment of the human ESCRT machinery in lysosomal membrane repair 2022 - Journal Article
Enzymatic trans-bilayer lipid transport: Mechanisms, efficiencies, slippage, and membrane curvature 2021 - Journal Article
Awards
Postdoc Achievement Award - UC Berkeley [2024]
MCB Outstanding Postdoc Award - UC Berkeley [2024]
BrightFocus Foundation Alzheimer's Disease Research Fellowship - BrightFocus Foundation [2024]
Alzheimer's FastTrack Travel Supplement Award - BrightFocus Foundation [2024]
Best Poster Award - ASBMB International Conference on ESCRT Biology [2022]
ASBMB International Conference Travel Award - ASBMB International Conference on ESCRT Biology [2022]
Travel Grant Award - Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, Penn [2019]
Academic Excellence Award - IIT Kanpur [2012]
INSPIRE Scholarship - Government of India [2010]
Appointments
Incoming Assistant Professor
Department of Biological Sciences at UT Dallas [2025–Present]
Department of Biological Sciences at UT Dallas [2025–Present]