Profile
Dr. Harsh Shah is a researcher whose work bridges biochemistry, neuroendocrinology, and nutritional neuroscience to advance understanding of health and disease. He earned his PhD in Biochemistry from Navrachana University, Vadodara. His doctoral thesis, “Unravelling the possible neuroendocrine molecular interplay under different dietary regimes in the onset of puberty in rats,” examined how nutrition influences puberty through molecular and hormonal pathways, focusing on kisspeptin signalling.
Dr. Shah holds an MSc in Life Sciences with specialization in Biochemistry (2020) from Navrachana University, where he was awarded the Gold Medal for academic excellence, and a BSc (Hons.) in Chemistry (2018) from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda.
His research interests span reproductive biology, toxicology, and gut microbiome studies, with emphasis on the interplay between environment, diet, and endocrine regulation. He has gained valuable research experience as a Junior Research Fellow at the School of Science, Navrachana University (2020–2022), where he contributed to a DST-SERB funded project titled “Unravelling the kisspeptin–melatonin circuit on puberty onset in two vertebrate models.” This work deepened his expertise in neuroendocrinology and molecular biology. Alongside research, he served as a Teaching Assistant (2022–2024) as part of his PhD fellowship, where he conducted laboratory sessions for undergraduate and postgraduate students. His teaching focused on toxicology, neurobiology, and clinical biochemistry, reflecting his commitment to integrating hands-on learning with theoretical knowledge.
Dr. Shah has published in reputed journals including Molecular Reproduction and Development, Nutritional Neuroscience, ACS Applied Polymer Materials, and Microorganisms, and co-authored chapters in Futuristic Trends in Biotechnology. Passionate about both research and teaching, he aspires to bridge molecular biology with applied biomedical challenges.
Honors and Awards
- N.J Chinoy best oral presentation award – Received best oral presentation award at the “ICRSMM-2024”
- Received SHODH fellowship – Entitled for fellowship by the Govt. Of Gujarat for the duration of 2022-2024.
- GATE (Life sciences) Cleared the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (Life science) with AIR 646, 2020
- Gold medal – Received “Navrachana University Gold medal” for securing first rank in M.Sc. Life science.
- Best Oral presentation award – Received award for best oral presentation at Prerna Bio-Innovation and Research.
Publications
- A research article titled “Administration of Exogenous Kisspeptin Induces Breeding Competence in Post‐pubertal Female Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)” in Molecular Reproduction and Development.
- A research article titled “Different dietary compositions alter pubertal onset in Wistar rats” in Nutritional neuroscience.
- A research article titled “FeCl 3 -Entrapped Polymer: An Efficient Catalyst for One-Pot Five Multi-component Synthesis, Molecular Simulations & Anticancer Investigation” in ACS Applied Polymer Materials.
- A review article titled “Dynamic upstream controllers of kisspeptin and its possible interactions: A review elucidating the pleiotropic regulators”.
- A review article titled “Decoding the Gut Microbiome in Companion Animals: Impacts and Innovations” in Microorganisms.
- A research article titled “Decoding the effect of photoperiodic cues in transducing kisspeptin-melatonin circuit during the pubertal onset in common carp” in Molecular Reproduction and Development.
- Book chapter titled “Mammalian kisspeptin and puberty: mechanism, detection and recent advancements” in Futuristic Trends in Biotechnology.
- Book chapter titled “Puberty in Teleost: Biotechnological applications” in Futuristics trend in Biotechnology.
- A review article in “Interwoven” titled “Role of Kisspeptin, Serotonin, Melatonin in Pubertal Onset of Teleost: Review on recent advancements”.
Conferences & Presentations
- Poster Presentation: International Conference on Biochemistry: ongoing explorations of actions and reactions of life (MSU, Vadodara, 2024).
- Oral Presentation: ICRSMM, University of Delhi (2024).
- Oral Presentation: ICMMRE, Navrachana University (2023).
- Poster Presentation: ICRBED, CSIR & University of Hyderabad (2022).
- Oral Presentation: National Conference on Reproduction and Endocrinology, University of Mysore (2021).
- Organizing Member & Poster: ICPH, Navrachana University (2021).
- Poster Presentation: ICEES, Navrachana University (2020).
- Organizing Committee: ICRED, Navrachana University (2019).
- Participation in PREHD (2018) and Vibrant Gujarat Biotechnology Summit (2017).
Workshops & Training
- Research Proposal Writing workshop (IIT Madras, 2024).
- Histology & Immunohistochemistry Training (University of Hyderabad, 2022).
- Neuroscience Workshop (Navrachana University, with Dr. Vibhakar Kotak).
- Biotechnology & Molecular Biology Techniques (Navrachana University; RT-PCR training with Dr. Niraj Joshi, Michigan State University).
Skills
- Laboratory Techniques: Animal handling, dissection, drug administration, confocal microscopy, cryosectioning, immunofluorescence, animal cell and organoid culture, Western blot, PCR, biochemical assays, microbial culture, genotyping, neurotransmitter estimation.
- Software Tools: GraphPad Prism, Fiji, BioRender, Adobe Illustrator, Blender 3D, Inkscape, Mega X, Canva.
