Fischell Institute APIDA Heritage Month Spotlight: Divya Sivalingam

Divya Sivalingam is a second-year molecular and cellular biology Ph.D. student in Fischell Department of Bioengineering Associate Professor and Fischell Fellow Catherine K. Kuo’s research group.

Originally from India, Sivalingam was drawn to the University of Maryland by the unique research opportunities and her enduring curiosity about molecular and cellular biology.

“I love how tiny molecules in your body dictate every major phenomenon,” she said. “From musculoskeletal movements to injury responses, there’s an army of highly coordinated tiny molecules that decide how everything runs. I find that endlessly fascinating.”

Sivalingam’s research focuses on the effects of paralysis on embryonic craniofacial tendons. These tendons play a large role in congenital facial paralysis (CFP), a relatively common condition where weakness or paralysis of facial muscles presents at birth. While CFP is widespread, the impact of paralysis on craniofacial tendons remains largely unexplored.

“This project is particularly exciting to me as someone who has experienced the long-term effects of acute facial paralysis,” Sivalingam said.

Recently, she has been troubleshooting a protein purification process, an effort that has required patience and methodical problem-solving.

“It’s been a long process, but I’m pretty proud of how I systematically and rationally approached the issue,” Sivalingam said. “The completion of this experiment will help a lot of our lab’s experiments move forward, and could have a really significant impact on the translational research that will come out of our lab.”

In addition to investigating causes she is passionate about, working in Kuo’s lab has enabled Sivalingam to hone her research skills.

“The past year has been an incredible learning experience for me under Dr. Kuo’s tutelage,” she said. “I’ve been learning how to approach independent research while accounting for contingencies, how to communicate effectively, how to read the vast sea of literature relevant to my project, and so much more. I am so proud of how far I have come as a researcher since I first joined this lab, and I am incredibly excited for the scientist I envision myself becoming by the end of my Ph.D. career.”

After earning her doctorate, Sivalingam plans to continue working as a research scientist.

Outside of the lab, she enjoys crocheting and building LEGO flower sets.

Published April 15, 2025