My name is Manu Lopus. I was born in Kerala, India. After my preliminary education at Kottayam , I joined St. Berchmans' College for higher studies. Seven years of my life (Pre-degree, B.Sc., and M.Sc.) was enriched in countless ways at SB, one of the best colleges in Kerala. Organizations like Catholic Students' Movement and National Service Scheme helped me to shed those unnecessary inhibitions that prevent one from being oneself and expressing the self as it is. In addition, I served in the college union and got the taste of leadership politics and fareplays. During my college years I obtained a Black-Belt in Shaolin Kung-fu (A practice and tradition I eagerly follow eversince); Martial arts makes us fit and fearless. It teaches us to be polite and humble. It gives us the taste of pain and the extend of damage we can inflict on others. All these will help us to be humble, and at the same time, gracefully confident in all our undertakings.
Passing out from St. Berchmans' in the year 2000, I joined Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. IIT Bombay, as I fondly remember, is the crème de la crème among the seven IITs of India. IIT Bombay taught me the art of expanding one's comfort zones, that of dealing with criticism, of coping with those who are superior to you (both in ranks and in brain)- and still not to feel inferior, of being happy by obeying one's inner voices, and to stop comparing oneself with others. Well, I got my PhD in Biotechnology from this wonderful institution in the year 2007. From IIT Bombay, I learned to play tennis, to beat drums, and to organize and execute big events. I served as the Chief Election Officer for students general election, as the General Secretary of our department (School of Biosciences and Bioengineering), as the sports councilor of my hostel and ultimately, the Senate Member of IIT Bombay (representing the Masters and PhD students). While I was enjoying this multicolored life, I got Best Organizer Citation and the Best Research Scholar Award from IIT Bombay.
After PhD, which I defended in style, I joined the University of California at Santa Barbara as a Post Doctoral Scholar, with Prof. Les Wilson. Where, at its Neuroscience Research Institute, I am investigating the mechanism of progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
In addition to Biomedical Research, I am a passionate martial atist. I hold first DAN black belt in Kung fu (Shaolin), am 5th kyu in Aikido (sensei: Steve Ota, 5th DAN black belt) and at present blue belt in Taekwondo (Sensei: Patrick Galaustian, 3rd DAN black belt). In addition I am undergoing training in kick boxing and JKD.