I’m Ikshitaa Dinesh. I obtained my BSc (Hons) in Biomedicine in 2017 from the University of Huddersfield. During my degree, I was able to undertake a placement year at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Porton Down from 2019-2020. This is where I discovered my passion for scientific research, especially virology. Initially my project involved, investigating the effect of new nebulisers and air samplers on the survival of influenza virus. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was unable to continue this research, but I was able to partake in UKHSA’s response to COVID-19. I was part of a team, that carried out a series of experiments to assess the environmental and aerosol survival of SARS-CoV-2. This experience culminated, in being part of 2 research publications titled ‘Persistence of SARS-CoV-2 virus and viral RNA on hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces and investigating contamination concentration’ and ‘Characterisation of Particle Size and Viability of SARS-CoV-2 Aerosols from a Range of Nebuliser Types Using a Novel Sampling Technique’ in the journals, Applied and Environmental Microbiology and Viruses, an open access journal published by MDPI, respectively. Here, I was credited for investigation, data acquisition, methodology.
Publications
- Paton, S., Spencer, A., Garratt, I., Thompson, K. A., Dinesh, I., Aranega-Bou, P., Stevenson, D., Clark, S., Dunning, J., Bennett, A., & Pottage, T. (2021). Persistence of SARS-CoV-2 virus and viral RNA in relation to surface type and contamination concentration. Applied and environmental microbiology, AEM.00526-21. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00526-21
- Paton, S., Clark, S., Spencer, A., Garratt, I., Dinesh, I., Thompson, K. A., Bennett, A., & Pottage, T. (2022, Mar 19). Characterisation of Particle Size and Viability of SARS-CoV-2 Aerosols from a Range of Nebuliser Types Using a Novel Sampling Technique. Viruses, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/v14030639
After completing my undergraduate degree, I decided to pursue my interests in virology by completing an MSc in Medical and Molecular Virology at the University of Manchester in September 2022. My thesis investigated the viability of mink lung cell culture as a method for the propagation and quantitative enumeration of Influenza virus. I am continuing to work in the field of virology by pursuing a PhD at the University of Surrey, studying RNA regulation pathways in human coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2.
Besides my passion for research science, I enjoy writing, leading me to pursue this opportunity with Azo life sciences which integrates my interests perfectly. I am also an avid reader, who delves into anything related to mythology/history, philosophy, classic literature, crime, and mystery. My other interests include dance, and I am currently training in a classical art form, named Kuchipudi which originates from the south of India.
My research interests centre around virology and immunology and I have had the opportunity to write about this with AZoLifeSciences and learn about these topics.