Dr. Nivedita Kolvekar

Faculty of Life Science

Biotechnology

Faculty

Dr. Nivedita Kolvekar

Assistant Professor

Year of Joining/Teaching Experience

2025

Areas of Specialization

Protein Purification, Animal toxins, Cloning, Animal tissue culture

Contact Details

Email: nik000@chowgules.ac.in

BIO

I am a biotechnology researcher and educator with a Ph.D. from BITS Pilani, K.K. Birla Goa Campus (2024). My doctoral research focused on the purification and characterization of bioactive phospholipase and serine protease enzymes from Indian Russell’s viper venom, exploring their anti-platelet, anti-thrombotic, and anti-cancer properties. I have hands-on experience in protein purification, biochemical and cell-based assays, and toxinology research, with multiple publications in Toxicon. Alongside research, I have been actively involved in teaching, mentoring, and academic coordination, and my research interests are focussed on venom-derived bioactive molecules, protein biochemistry, and translational cancer biology.

Positions Held

Project Assistant II (National Chemical Laboratory Pune)2014-2016
Teaching faculty (Aryabhata Pre-University Science College, Dharwad)2017-2018
C. Research Associate (BITS- Pilani K K Birla Goa campus) 2018-2021

Accomplishments

Poster Award in the International Conference on Sustainable Healthcare from Biological Resources during 20-22 May 2025 at BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus.
Winner of Science exhibition “International year of chemistry 2011” held at JSS college Dharwad during Under graduate level.

RESEARCH PAPERS

Research Papers Research Publications:

Kolvekar, N., Bhattacharya, N., Sarkar, A., & Chakrabarty, D. (2022). How snake venom disintegrins affect platelet aggregation and cancer proliferation. Toxicon, 106982.
Kolvekar, N., Bhattacharya, N., Mondal, S., Sarkar, A., & Chakrabarty, D. (2024). Daboialipase, a phospholipase A2 from Vipera russelli russelli venom posesses anti-platelet, anti-thrombin and anti-cancer properties. Toxicon, 107632.
Bhattacharya, N., Kolvekar, N., Mondal, S., Sarkar, A., & Chakrabarty, D. (2023). SPAD 1, a serine proteinase associated disintegrin from Russell's viper venom disrupts adhesion of MCF7 human breast cancer cells. Toxicon, 221, 106979.
Bhattacharya, N., Kolvekar, N., Mondal, S., Sarkar, A., & Chakrabarty, D. (2023). Biological activities of Vipegrin, an anti-adhesive Kunitz-type serine proteinase inhibitor purified from Russell's viper venom. Toxicon, 232, 107213.
Kolvekar, N., Bhattacharya, N., Mondal, S., Sarkar, A., & Chakrabarty, D. Viprutoxin, a serine proteinase from Russell’s viper venom kills A549 lung cancer cells. 2024 (In communication)

RESEARCH PROJECTS

ACTIVITIES /PARTICIPATIONS

ACTIVITIES

WORKSHOPS

Workshops Conference Papers/Posters Presented:

Poster presentation and delivered a talk titled “Nature’s Double-edged Sword-Phospholipase and a Serine Protease from Russell’s viper venom” in the International Conference on Sustainable Healthcare from Biological Resources during 20-22 May, 2025.
I was part of the organizing committee for the world congress of International Society on Toxinology which was held at the National University of Singapore in May 2024. I have presented a poster entitled “Cytotoxic agents from Vipera russelli russelli venom” and also was selected to give a flash talk at the conference. Selected for being a member of future science committee at International Society on Toxinology 2024.
Selected to present my Ph.D work entitled “Anti-coagulant, anti-platelet and anti-cancer properties of a phospholipase from Russell’s viper venom” at a webinar organized by International Society on Toxinology (IST) November 2023.
Life time student member of Society of Biological Chemists (SBC).
Poster presentation on Proteomics Day (Two interesting toxins from Vipera russelii russelii venom) at BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus 2023.
Poster presentation in 21st world congress of the International Society on Toxinology 2022.

Conferences Seminars/Workshops/Training Programmes Participated:

Participated in one day workshop on Research with Animals and Animal care 2022 at BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus.
Volunteered for International Conference on Drug Discovery held at BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus Nov 10-11 2022.
Attended NMR workshop and hands on training held at BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus 2022.
Attended workshop on Schrodinger Drug Discovery software training held at BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus 2022.
Poster presentation in 11th Asia pacific congress of the International Society on Toxinology 2021.
Poster presentation at National Seminars on ‘Life and Life Processes: Interdisciplinary Approach for sustainable Development” 2021.
Participated in National Level conference on “Endocrinology and Reproductive biotechnology held on Feb 2013 at the department of biotechnology and Microbiology Karnataka University Dharwad, India.
Participated in National Level conference on environmental Studies, “Biotechnology for sustainable development” held on Nov 2012 at the department of biotechnology and Microbiology Karnataka University Dharwad, India.
Participated in State level conference on mesmerizing fields of Biotechnology (2011) held at S.D.M College Ujire, Karnataka, India.