Prerna Sharma opted for a career in pure science, more specifically the study of soft condensed matter physics— material such as creams, gels, shampoos and even cell membranes that may resemble but are not really simple fluids. As she recounts her journey in research at the intersection of physics and biology, it became clear that her modest smile belies her achievements.
Prerna is taking forward a niche area of academics; she is also challenging popular notions of being a physics nerd in India. “Biophysics is the use of physics tools to study biological systems. For example, a large effort in biophysics has been to determine protein structure using x-ray diffraction. This is the same technique that Rosalind Franklin used in 1952 to determine the molecular structure of DNA,” Prerna explains of her domain of expertise.
Keeping up with cell membranes
We know a lot about the cells in our bodies,....
