Investigates the pathogenicity of the bacteria Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

Jagadish Mangu, 'Excellence by Choice' postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Chemistry and UCMR at Umeå University.

ImageMattias Pettersson

The rewarding thing as a researcher is to see your approaches and ideas transform the scientific understanding of molecular processes important for the scientific community and society

What is your academic background?

“I have a PhD in Biology from Örebro University and Master of Science in Molecular Biology from Umeå University. Previously, I pursued my Bachelor of Engineering in Biotechnology, PG Diploma in Cellular and Molecular diagnostics from India, and also worked for a year as a Lecturer in Microbiology.”

How did you end up in Northern Sweden and at Umeå University?

“Umeå and Umeå university is a combination of many positive things in one place. The University has many scientists experienced with state of art technologies and are also focused on microbial pathogenesis, infectious and human diseases. This is the motivation for me to come to Umeå university, where I can develop my skills and utilize them to uncover molecular aspects of microbial pathogenesis, but also to interact and listen to other researchers and develop as a scientist.”

What is your research focusing on?

“My research is focused towards understanding the assembly of LcrV, a virulence protein in the Yersinia pseudotuberculosis pathogenic Type 3 secretion system (T3SS) and it’s interactions with the regulator LcrG.  In many-gram negative pathogens such as Yersinia, Pseudomonas, and Aeromonas. T3SS plays an important role in the establishment of infection in humans."

 

ImageMattias Pettersson

What is challenging and rewarding respectively with being a researcher?

“The challenging task of any researcher is to develop a model, or a hypothesis based on the existing knowledge (and also imagination) and to prove it experimentally using available technologies or through innovating newer technologies. Most of the times it may not be easY, but it takes patience, determination, resilience, quite a lot of focus, and time to prove or disprove it. “

“The rewarding thing as a researcher is to see your approaches and ideas transform the scientific understanding of molecular processes important for the scientific community and society. As I recall from my lectures in bacteriology, how difficult was it to identify and distinguish a pathogen causing a disease in the 18th century? This however was changed in 19th century when Dr Robert Koch introduced his postulates, which we use even today in understanding disease causing microorganisms.” 

Where do you see yourself in five years?

“I am passionate towards scientific research, and I also feel joy in guiding and teaching others. Therefore, I am interested towards a career as a scientist.”  

What are your impressions of Sweden?

“Sweden is a combination of many nice things like snow, cold, aurora borealis, and nice human beings.  This is like my home away from my home in India.”

What do you like to do in your free time?

“In my free time, I like to cook food, take care of my plants, play sports, painting pencil arts, listen to science podcasts, music, watch movies, and reading books.”

 

ImageMattias Pettersson