AV¶ÌÊÓƵ

Nirmegh is currently a PhD candidate in Prof. Isabella Eckerle's lab at the Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, part of the AV¶ÌÊÓƵ and AV¶ÌÊÓƵ Hospitals Geneva. Originally from India, he completed his Bachelor's in Zoology at the AV¶ÌÊÓƵ of Delhi before pursuing a Master's at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER). With a strong passion for virology, his Master's thesis at the Virology Scientific Research (VSR) Lab focused on developing platforms to identify novel protein-protein interactions in viral pathways. He graduated in 2023 with a AV¶ÌÊÓƵ Gold Medal.

At the Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Nirmegh’s research will delve into the ongoing battle between viral evolution and population immunity, particularly regarding SARS-CoV-2 variants and endemic human coronaviruses. His work will also explore the intra-host evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in chronically infected, immunocompromised patients, and involve comparative phenotypic analysis of resulting viral mutants. Nirmegh is eager to study viral evolution within the unique immune landscape shaped by the pre-, intra-, and post-pandemic periods, as well as the adaptation of new viruses to the human population, with potential implications for related endemic human viruses.