Rajvee Shah Punatar

I have a background in biochemistry and molecular biology and have purified a number of proteins involved in DNA repair and homologous recombination (HR). I have extensive experience in making a variety of plasmid-based DNA substrates containing Holliday junctions (known as recombination intermediates) which are key tools in studying HR proteins in vitro.

I have studied the activity of several HR proteins, including the GEN1 resolvase, the SMX tri-nuclease complex, the DNA mismatch repair protein MutSb, RAD54 and, most recently, the BTRR complex.

From August 2021 to April 2022, I joined the Academic Training Team on secondment as Technician Commitment and Science Training Lead

I am an active member of the wider Crick community and am passionate about improving the visibility, recognition and career development of LRS staff.  I also have an interest in public engagement work and tackling science misinformation. In 2021, I was joint-winner of the Crick Award in the category "Inspires and Engages the Public".

Training/Qualifications

I completed my PhD in the laboratory of Prof James Scott (MRC Clinical Research Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, London), where I studied the mammalian mRNA-editing enzyme, APOBEC-1.

After post-doctoral fellowships in the DNA Repair laboratory of Dr Stephen West ( CRUK, Clare Hall laboratories, Herts) and in the Yeast Genetics group of Dr Leland Johnson (MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London), I returned to the DNA Recombination and Repair laboratory of Dr Stephen West  and have been with the group ever since. I relocated with the laboratory to the Francis Crick Institute in 2016, in my current role as Principal Laboratory Research Scientist.

In 2020, I achieved Chartered Scientist status and became a member of The Royal Society of Biology.