Dr. Avinash S. Gaikwad, PhD


Research associate
Tel.: +49 (251) 83-53240
E-Mail: Avinash S. Gaikwad
Twitter/X | ResearchGate


  • University training and degree

    2011 – 2013 M.Sc. in Biomedical genetics, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), India
    2008 – 2011 B.Sc. in Microbiology and Biochemistry, St. Xavier’s College, India
  • Advanced academic qualifications

    2016 – 2019 PhD in Reproductive Biology, Monash University, Australia (supervisor: Prof. Moira O’Bryan)
  • Postgraduate professional career

    2021 – Postdoctoral Research Fellow, UKM, Germany
    2019 – 2021 Research associate, University of Melbourne, Australia
    2015 – 2016 Senior Research Fellow, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, India
    2013 – 2015 Junior Research Fellow, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, India
  • Academic memberships and activities

    2023 – Board member: Network for Young Researchers in Andrology (NYRA)
    2023 – Editorial board: Frontiers cell and developmental biology
    2023 – Spokesperson Early career scientist club (ESC), WWU
    2022 – Research grant funded by Innovative Medizinische Forschung (IMF), UKM
    2019 David Healy New Investigator Award at SRB 2019 conference
    2018 Best 3-Minute Thesis and People’s choice award in School of Biological Sciences and Faculty of Science, Monash University
  • Selected publications

    1. Yazdan FP, Veeraragavan S, Gaikwad AS, Powar S, Prabhakar R, O'Bryan MK, Nosrati R. Viscous loading regulates the flagellar energetics of human and bull sperm. Small methods. 2023. DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300928.
    2. Yazdan FP, Gaikwad AS, Prabhakar R, O’Bryan MK, Nosrati R. The cooperative impact of flow and viscosity on sperm flagellar energetics in biomimetic environments. Cell Reports Physical Science. 2023. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrp.2023.101646.
    3. Sieper MH*, Gaikwad AS*, Fros M, Weber P, Persio SD, Oud MS, Kliesch S, Neuhaus N, Stallmeyer BS, Tüttelmann F, Wyrwoll MJ. Scrutinizing the human TEX genes in the context of human male infertility. Andrology. 2023. DOI: 10.1111/andr.13511.
    4. Emich J, Gaikwad AS, Stallmeyer BS, Fietz D, Schuppe CH, Oud MS, Kliesch S, Gromoll J, Friedrich C, Tüttelmann F. Functional assessment of DMRT1 variants and their pathogenicity for isolated male infertility. Fertility and Sterility. 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.10.032.
    5. Gaikwad AS, Nandagiri A, Potter D, Nosrati R, O’Connor AE, Jadhav S, Soria J, Prabhakar R, O’Bryan MK. CRISPs enhance multiple aspects of sperm motility and power. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021. 9:693258. DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.693258. 
    6. Nandagiri A, Gaikwad AS, Potter D, Soria J, O’Bryan MK, Jadhav S, Prabhakar R. Flagellar energetics from high-resolution imaging of beating patterns in tethered mouse sperm. eLife. 2021. 10:e62524. DOI: doi.org/10.7554/eLife.62524. ;
    7. Gaikwad AS, Hu J, Chapple D, O’Bryan MK. The functions of cysteine-rich secretory proteins, Antigen 5 and pathogenesis-related 1 (CAP) superfamily proteins in mammalian fertility and disease. Hum Reprod Update. 2020. DOI:10.1093/humupd/dmaa016. 
    8. Gaikwad AS, Khan S, Kadam S, Shah R, Kulkarni V, Kumaraswamy R, Kadam K, Dighe V, Gajbhiye R. CFTR related male infertility: Relevance of genetic testing and counseling in Indian population. Indian J Med Res. 2020. 152(6):575-583. DOI: 10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_906_18. 
    9. Gaikwad AS, Loh KL, O’Connor AE, Reid HH, O’Bryan MK. Expression and purification of recombinant mouse CRISP4 using a baculovirus system. Protein expression and purification. 2020. 167:105543. DOI: org/10.1016/j.pep.2019. 
    10. Gaikwad AS, Anderson AL, Merriner DJ, O’Connor AE, Houston BJ, Aitken RJ, O’Bryan MK, Nixon B. GLIPR1L1 is an IZUMO binding protein required for optimal fertilization in the mouse. BMC Biology. 2019. 17:86. DOI: 10.1186/s12915-019-0701-1. 

    * contributed equally