Upasana Roy

As Scientific Program Manager for the Visiting Scientist Program, I facilitate research collaborations between Janelia’s labs and external scientists. Before joining Janelia in 2023, my research focused on using multidisciplinary approaches to understand how damaged DNA is repaired. 

I completed my postdoctoral research at Columbia University in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics. I used a single-molecule imaging technique called DNA Curtains – that combines biochemistry, nanolithography, microfluidics and microscopy – to  understand how physical breaks in DNA are repaired by a process called homologous recombination. 

I received my Ph.D. in Chemistry at Stony Brook University, where I studied the repair of DNA interstrand crosslinks – a type of DNA damage where two strands of the DNA helix become inseparable. I synthesized a range of DNA interstrand crosslinks with specific structural properties, to determine how structure influences the efficiency and accuracy of DNA repair. 

My initial scientific training was in India, where I completed a Bachelor's in Chemistry from St. Stephen’s College and a Master's in Biology from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.

Beyond the lab bench, I served as co-President of the Columbia University Postdoc Society, and as an executive committee member of Stony Brook University’s Graduate Women in Science and Engineering group. In these roles, I designed new programs, organized events and created resources for community members. 

In my current role, I learn about new and interesting research, work with many Janelia teams to support visitor projects, and meet visiting scientists from all over the world, spanning a range of disciplines and career stages.