Welcome to our Meet the Researchers blog series, where each post features one of the DarChemDN researchers sharing insights into their personal journey and professional life.
Today we introduce DC9 – Bhawna Sharma!
Where are you from?
I am from Dinanagar, near Amritsar which is one of the most important cultural and spiritual cities in India, located in the state of Punjab near the India–Pakistan border. It is best known for the magnificent Golden Temple, famous for its golden architecture and peaceful atmosphere and a variety of food.
How did you adapt your new environment?
I adapted to Beersheba by gradually becoming comfortable with a new academic, cultural, and daily-life environment while pursuing my research work there. Moving to a different country likely required adjustments to the climate, language, food, transportation, and research culture, but over time I built familiarity through my university environment, interactions with colleagues, and everyday experiences. As a researcher working in peptide chemistry and origin-of-life studies, adapting to Beersheba also probably involved learning new laboratory techniques, using advanced instrumentation, and integrating into an international scientific community. The city’s student-friendly atmosphere and multicultural environment helped me feel more connected and independent while balancing research and personal growth.
Work experience & research
I did my master’s from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar and moved to JNCASR, Bangalore, for the research assistant position. There, I worked with Prof. Subi George mainly on Supramolecular chemistry including coacervates and did some organic synthesis of very cool and novel molecules.
Future professional plans
I want to work in the field of systems chemistry and supramolecular chemistry. I haven’t yet decided but I guess I will do one postdoc in Europe and then eventually I will move to Industry.
Hobbies
I just try doing new things, like baking, painting, solving some puzzles etc.
I love to watch movies which are full of suspense and thrill. I also love to travel and explore different cities, countries etc. and to try different local food they have.
Short project summary
During my PhD in Gonen’s lab, my project focuses on coupled oscillators in peptide replication networks. By combining experimental peptide chemistry with concepts from systems chemistry and synthetic biology, the project aims to explore how molecular interactions, oscillations, and phase transitions can lead to complex behaviors similar to primitive biological systems.
A day in my life
I start my day with coffee and breakfast at home, without which I can’t survive. Then I head to lab and work according to the day I have planned, like some days its synthesis and some days its experiments and analyzing data. Some days if I free early from the lab, I go for running also. After a long day at work, I go home and cook along with my husband.
My take on synthetic biology
Synthetic biology and synthetic life are fascinating because they combine chemistry, biology, and engineering to design systems that can mimic or even create lifelike behaviors from simple molecular components. I am especially interested in this field because it helps us understand how complex biological functions and life-like dynamics can emerge from minimal chemical systems, which connect closely to my interest in peptide chemistry and the origin of life. I believe synthetic biology can greatly benefit society by enabling sustainable technologies such as smart therapeutics, biosensors, artificial cells, and environmentally friendly chemical production. It may also help scientists better understand diseases, improve healthcare, and develop innovative solutions for energy and environmental challenges.
This blog series is set up by Kalliopi Fourli and Lukas Herold the DarChemDN outreach team.
Follow DarChemDN on LinkedIn and stay tuned for more updates on our journey in exploring the origins of life and the development of synthetic life forms!