Decoding the Conversations Between Organelles
Postdoctoral researcher Madhura Pandkar is investigating why mitochondria fail in seipinopathies, a group of rare genetic disorders.
Curiosity has always been the driving force behind Madhura Pandkar’s scientific journey. Since joining BCMB in April 2025 as a postdoctoral research associate, she has continued pursuing fundamental questions about how cells communicate internally and how disruptions in that communication contribute to diseases.
“As a high school student, I was fascinated by the fact that biological systems are incredibly complicated, yet so beautifully coordinated,” Pandkar said. That fascination grew while earning her master’s degree in microbiology, where she was introduced to cancer biology. The field immediately captured her interest and ultimately shaped the direction of her research career.
Upon earning her PhD in Professor Sanjeev Shukla’s laboratory at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal, she then joined Professor Marcelo Bonini’s laboratory at Northwestern University for postdoctoral research.
While studying mitochondrial biology throughout her PhD and former postdoc journey, she began looking beyond individual organelles. “When I look back on my research journey, one thing stands out— we often miss important biological information simply because we study organelles independently,” she said. “Cells do not function that way—they rely on constant communication between organelles. This realization sparked my interest in membrane contact sites, specialized regions where organelles communicate by forming close physical interactions. After reading several publications authored by Dr. Amit Joshi, I became interested in understanding how communication between organelles regulates cellular metabolism and decided to join the BCMB department.”
Today, as part of the Joshi Lab, Pandkar studies communication between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria, two organelles that work together to maintain cellular homeostasis. Although these interactions are essential for normal cell function, many of the molecular mechanisms governing their communication remain poorly understood.
“Having spent more than eight years studying mitochondria, I can confidently say that we still know surprisingly little about how communication between mitochondria and the ER regulates mitochondrial function,” Pandkar said. “Understanding what happens when these contacts are disrupted is a fascinating biological problem.”
Why Mitochondria Fail
Her research focuses on seipinopathies, a group of rare genetic disorders in which ER-mitochondria communication is disrupted, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired energy metabolism. “I am trying to understand why mitochondria fail when they lose contact with the ER,” she said. “If we can uncover the molecular mechanisms responsible for this defect, we may eventually identify ways to restore mitochondrial function in these patients.”
For Pandkar, the most rewarding part of science is the opportunity to solve biological puzzles.
“Every day in research is an opportunity to learn something new. I genuinely enjoy designing experiments to answer biological questions, and even unexpected results often reveal entirely new directions to explore,” she said.
Recently, Pandkar received the department’s C.W. Fite Research Incentive Award, which will support multi-omics studies aimed at understanding mitochondrial dysfunction in seipinopathies. Grant writing is an essential part of scientific training, she noted.
UT’s Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology is an excellent place to pursue those questions. “BCMB provides outstanding research infrastructure, a collaborative environment, and an incredibly supportive faculty and administrative team. It has been a wonderful place to establish my research and interact with scientists working across diverse areas of biology,” she said
“Writing grants does much more than provide funding. It teaches you how to communicate scientific ideas clearly and concisely, think critically about experimental design, and develop a well-defined roadmap for answering important biological questions,” Pandkar said.
Outside the laboratory, life has become even more exciting with the arrival of her first child. Much of her free time is now spent with her husband and baby. “Watching my baby grow each day has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” she said. “Family time is the best way for me to relax and recharge. Balancing research with family life requires organization and discipline. Following a structured schedule and keeping detailed records of my daily work helps me manage multiple projects while maintaining a healthy balance between my professional and personal life.”
As she continues her research at UT, Pandkar hopes her work will provide new insights into how organelle communication shapes mitochondrial function and metabolism. By uncovering the molecular basis of these interactions, she aims to advance our understanding of diseases associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and identify potential strategies for restoring cellular health.