Priti Agarwal

I am a cell and developmental biologist and an Assistant Professor (Reader F) at the National Centre for Biological Sciences in Bengaluru, India. I earned my Ph.D. from IIT Kanpur, working with Prof. K. Subramaniam, where I investigated biochemical regulators of germ cell differentiation. While studying signaling pathways, I became captivated by the mechanical aspects of development. This curiosity led me to join Prof. Ronen Zaidel-Bar's lab, first at the Mechanobiology Institute (Singapore) and later at Tel Aviv University (Israel), where I explored how physical forces orchestrate organ development using C. elegans as a model system. Currently, I am interested in understanding the role of physical forces and their interaction with biochemical signals in regulating robust organ morphogenesis and homeostasis. I am an Early Career PI Fellow in Development journal's "Pathway to Independence" programme, which supports postdocs transitioning into independent research positions. For more insights into my scientific journey, check out my interview in Development journal. Beyond the lab, I co-organize the “International Seminar Series on Developmental Mechanics” alongside Prof. Rodrigo Fernandez-Gonzalez and Prof. Lance Davidson. This biweekly forum brings together leading researchers exploring the mechanical aspects of development. For those passionate about mechanobiology and development, and interested in attending or presenting their work in this seminar series, feel free to reach out to me at pritiagarwal@ncbs.res.in.