Bio

My pursuit of a deeper understanding of how the human brain influences, and is influenced by movement, took me from a big(ish) university city in India to a small university town in Belgium.

Over these past years, I have investigated the mechanisms of a particular walking difficulty in Parkinson’s disease and have trialed a new potential therapy for it. My hope is that these insights will improve care and minimize burden for people with neurodegenerative disease.

Education

Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven) | Leuven, BE
PhD in Biomedical Sciences | Freezing of Gait in Parkinson’s disease
Supervised by Prof. Alice Nieuwboer | September 2016 - October 2021

Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven) | Leuven, BE
Master of Rehabilitation Sciences (Neurological Disorders) | September 2014 - July 2016

Maharashtra University of Health Sciences | Nashik, IN
Bachelor in Physiotherapy | August 2006 - March 2011

Experience

Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven) | Leuven, BE
Postdoctoral researcher | Asymmetric motor control in Parkinson’s disease
Supervised by Assistant Prof. Moran Gilat | October 2022 - Present

Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven) | Leuven, BE
Postdoctoral researcher | Motor control and neuroplasticity across the lifespan
Supervised by Prof. Stephan Swinnen | October 2021 - October 2022

Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven) | Leuven, BE
Researcher | September 2016 - Present

Noble Hospital | Pune, IN
Consultant Physiotherapist | August 2012 - August 2014

Awards

Flanders Research Foundation (FWO), BE | Junior Postdoctoral Fellowship
October 2023 - September 2026

King Baudouin Foundation, BE | Research in neurodegenerative brain disorders (Project)
Co-Principal Investigator | November 2021 - October 2023