During his graduate research, Vivek studied strategies employed by C. glabrata to acquire the critical nutrient iron under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Iron acquisition is one of the critical virulence factors and my work systematically identified a set of 13 genes, which are potentially implicated in iron acquisition and metabolism. At the University of Iowa, he started studying hypothalamus-dependent regulation of energy homeostasis. Hypothalamus integrates multiple metabolic sensory inputs to regulate appetite and energy balance. Particularly, I was involved in understanding the role of α-Klotho, a multifunctional membrane protein, in regulating energy balance and appetite. With the background in host-pathogen interaction and metabolic disorders, he transitioned into the field of Airway diseases, which encompass a broad spectrum of conditions, affecting the upper and lower airways. Tracheal epithelium is a crucial component of healthy airway; however, inflammation changes its cellular composition, which significantly impacts a person's quality of life. His current interest lies in understanding the epithelial ion transport and associated changes in inflammatory disease states. Additionally, he is also keen to understand, how environmental changes drive the  epithelial cell developmental fates.

When he is away from research, he enjoys spending time with his kids, family and friends. He loves cooking, travelling and playing chess.