Résumé
Research Profile: GitHub, Google Scholar, ORCID
Hello! I recently completed my Ph.D. in the Department of Biological Sciences at North Dakota State University (NDSU). My research focuses on computational biology, particularly genomics and transposable element evolution.
My dissertation investigated small RNA defense systems (piRNA) and transposable element invasion dynamics in Drosophila, combining population genetics simulations, comparative genomics, and large-scale phylogenetic analyses. I am broadly interested in the intersection of computational biology and software engineering, applying modern tools to solve complex biological problems.
Education
- Ph.D., Biological Sciences — NDSU, Fargo, ND, USA (Aug 2022 – May 2026)
- BS-MS, Biological Sciences — IISER, Pune, MH, India (Aug 2017 – May 2022)
Publications
- Pritam, S., Signor, S. (2024). Evolution of piRNA-guided defense against transposable elements. Trends in Genetics.
- Pritam, S., Scarpa, A., Kofler, R., Signor, S. (2025). The impact of insertion bias into piRNA clusters on the invasion of transposable elements. BMC Biology, 23, 258.
- Pritam, S., Signor, S. (2025). Recent horizontal transfer of transposable elements in Drosophila. bioRxiv, 2025-10.
Work Experience
- Graduate Research Assistant: Signor Lab, NDSU (Aug 2022 – May 2026)
- Graduate Teaching Assistant: Biological Sciences NDSU (Spring 2024, Fall 2024)
- Masters Research Student: COSPI Lab, IISER Pune (Jun 2021 – Aug 2022)
Skills
- Programming Languages: Python, Bash/Shell, Go, Rust
- Analysis Methods: Evolutionary Biology, Population Genetics, Phylogenomics, Comparative Genomics
Presentations
Conference Presentations
- The Allied Genetics Conference (TAGC), Washington DC, March 2024
- Northern Plains Biological Symposium, Grand Forks, ND, March 2024
- Midwest Drosophila Conference, Allerton Park and Retreat Center, November 2024
- 66th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, San Diego, CA, March 2025
- 67th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Chicago, IL, March 2026