The Rao Lab has mentored 18 postdoctoral fellows and 12 PhD students from diverse backgrounds. Many have won prestigious awards and fellowships and gone on to independent positions in academia and industry.
Members
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Rajini Rao, Ph.D.
Rajini received her Ph.D. in biochemistry (1988) at the University of Rochester, N.Y. and postdoctoral training in genetics at Yale University before being recruited to Johns Hopkins University as assistant professor in 1993. In 2004, she became the first woman to be promoted to professor in the century-old physiology department at Hopkins Med.
Rao is an active educator and mentor. As director of the NIGMS-funded T32 training program in Cellular & Molecular Medicine, she oversees a multi-departmental graduate program and has developed university-wide resources in teaching rigor and reproducibility, and career training as part of curriculum development for Ph.D. students. Rajini is a long standing advocate for women in science, having chaired the Committee on Professional Opportunities for Women at the Biophysical Society for nearly a decade, and co-founded stemwomen.net. She is a frequent panelist and speaker on gender equity and mentoring at local and international STEM venues. Rajini has held multiple elected leadership roles in the Biophysical Society and ASBMB, chaired FASEB and Gordon conferences, and served on journal editorial boards and grant review panels at the NIH, DOD, and HHMI, including the NIGMS TWD review panel for T32 training grants.
Outside the lab, Rajini is busy with her family which includes Samwise, the Aussie. She loves to cook, garden and write. Find her on Twitter/X @madamscientist. View CV
CURRENT MEMBERS
Rachana L. Patnayak, M.Sc.
I have a master’s in medical biotechnology from the Department of Biochemistry, Pt. J.N.M. Medical College Raipur, India. My previous roles encompassed tutoring in Biochemistry, contributing to a sickle cell anemia project, and a year of experience in viral research and diagnostics laboratory. I joined the Rao lab in January 2023 as senior research specialist, and currently I am attempting to elucidate the role of endosomal pH regulator- Na+ /H+ exchanger isoform 6 (NHE6) in metabolic processes through in vitro and in vivo studies. Beyond the lab, I enjoy cooking, writing poems, dancing, hiking and sports.
Ruby Gupta
I received a Ph.D. degree in Nanoscience from the Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research, India, in 2022 where I investigated the potential of magnetic nanoparticles for glioblastoma therapy. Prior to this, I received a Master of Research degree from University of Dundee, United Kingdom in 2012. I joined the Rao Lab as a Postdoctoral Fellow in 2022. My current research interests center around investigating calcium pumps localized in Golgi apparatus for therapeutic benefit in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and targeting organelle-level pH alterations in adipocytes to devise therapies for Christianson Syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder and for obesity and metabolic disorders such as Type 2 diabetes. I like to bake cakes and try different recipes in my free time.
Enrique O. Santiago, Ph.D.
I have a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology from UNAM, Campus Morelos in Mexico. My doctoral research focused on understanding the molecular mechanism underlying acrosomal pH-dependent Ca2+ signals in mouse sperm. My goal is to continue my academic preparation by studying how acidic organelles contribute to cell homeostasis. In the Rao lab I have established calcium imaging techniques to probe organellar homeostasis in neuronal and keratinocyte models of disease.
Misba Majood, Ph.D.
I earned my PhD from Amity University Uttar Pradesh (AUUP), where my research focused on the applications of carbon quantum dots and hydrogels in directing stem cell differentiation. Concurrently, I worked at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), gaining extensive experience with patient-derived organoids, isolating mesenchymal stem cells from various sources, and participating in several clinical trials. In 2024, I joined the Rao Lab, where I am currently investigating the use of mammary organoids to elucidate aspects of the lactation process and exploring the implications of SLCs in the progression of Polycystic Kidney Disease using PKD organoids. Outside of my research endeavors, I am passionate about photography and enjoy unwinding to Bollywood music.
Akash Chinchole, Ph.D.
Prior to joining the Rao Lab in 2024, I worked as a scientist at PopVax, a biotech company focusing on vaccine development in India. I received my PhD in Cell Biology at the Center for DNA Printing and Diagnostics in Hyderabad, where I discovered the role of MLL (mixed lineage leukemia) protein in the regulation of Rho GTPases. I have expertise in superresolution, confocal and light field microscopy, and a range of biochemical and molecular biology techniques. In the Rao lab, I am interested in the role of ion transporters on the cytoskeleton in keratinocyte models of Hailey Hailey and Darier Disease. During my spare time, I enjoy both cooking and photographing birds and landscapes.
RECENT ALUMNI
Ray Wesley Bowman, Ph.D. (2022-2023), postdoctoral fellow
Wes was a recent graduate from University of Pittsburgh where he worked on yeast cell biology. While in the Rao lab, Wes established two novel cell models for the study of neurodegenerative and skin disorders and contributed to many ongoing projects. He returned to Pittsburgh where he is now continuing postdoctoral training.
Allatah X. Mekile (2015-2022), graduate student
Allatah was a Ph.D. candidate in the Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology (BCMB) Graduate Program. Her thesis focused on the role of endosomal pH in adipocyte biology. She was a recipient of the Turock Young Scientist Award, and was a HHMI Gilliam Fellow. Currently Allatah is a Scientist at Thermo Fisher.
Monish Makena, Ph.D. (2017-2022), postdoctoral fellow
Monish obtained his Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, where he was awarded the outstanding outgoing graduate student for the year in 2017. He brought his formidable skills in cancer research to the Rao laboratory, working on the role of secretory pathway calcium ATPases in breast cancer. Monish received the AACR-AstraZeneca Breast Cancer Research Fellowship while in the Rao lab, as well as the Paul Ehrlich Award of the Young Investigator’s Day. Currently, he is working in the Clinical Trials division at Eli Lilly.
Myungjun Ko (2014-2020), graduate student
Myungjun “MJ” Ko was a Ph.D. student in the Cellular & Molecular Medicine (CMM) Program and was co-mentored by Drs. Rao and Quinones-Hinojosa. MJ came to us from the University of Hawaii where he trained in developmental biology. In his Ph.D. thesis work, MJ dissected novel molecular pathways in glioblastoma. He was the recipient of predoctoral fellowships from the JHU Center for Nanotechnology and the NRSA F31 from NIH/NCI. After graduation, MJ entered medical school at UCLA and is currently training to be a neurosurgeon.
Hari Prasad (2011-2018), graduate student
Hari was a Fulbright fellow from India and received his Ph.D. in the Cellular & Molecular Medicine (CMM) Program. Hari’s thesis work focused on the role of pH in neurodegeneration and cyst formation. Hari also co-chaired the Gordon Research Seminar of the GRC in Membrane Transport Proteins in Lucca, Italy. He received the Hopkins Young Investigator’s Day Award for his research and joined the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, India as Wellcome Trust DBT Alliance Fellow.
Donna K. Dang (2012-2018), graduate student
Donna was a Ph.D. candidate in the Cellular and Molecular Medicine (CMM) graduate training program. Her thesis work revealed the importance of secretory pathway calcium pumps in microcalcifications and cell adhesion in breast cancer. Following postdoctoral fellowships at UCSF and Vanderbilt University, Donna is now a Principal Associate for Biomedical Research at The Pew Charitable Trust.
Kalyan Kondapalli, Ph.D. (2008-2014), postdoctoral fellow
Kalyan received his Ph.D. from Wayne State University where he published prolifically on metal biochemistry. In the Rao lab, Kalyan pioneered work on the role of the endosomal sodium/proton exchanger NHE9 in models of autism and glioblastoma and was awarded a fellowship from the American Heart Association. Kalyan is currently an Associate Professor with tenure in Biology, at the University of Michigan at Dearborn where he continues his discoveries on NHE9.
PAST ALUMNI
Elizabeth Ploetz (2015-2017), postdoctoral fellow
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service (NRSA) Fellow, currently Instructor in Physical Chemistry, Kansas State University
Cassandra Patenuade (2011-2014), graduate student
BCMB program, Currently Medical Writer/Clinical Research Specialist at Technical Resources International, Inc.
Brandie M Cross (2008-2013), graduate student
BCMB program; Kelly Young Scholar. Currently Chief Scientific Officer of The Pot Lab, a non-profit cooperative of scientists supporting medical products, services and scientific research into Cannabis. Adjunct Asst Professor, California Polytechnic and California State University, Los Angeles, CA
Anniesha Hack (2008-2013), graduate student
Cellular & Molecular Medicine (CMM) Graduate Program, Porter Fellow of the American Physiological Association. Clinical Research Scientist at Novartis (NJ).
Sharon Leitch (2008-2010), postdoctoral fellow
Senior Scientist, BD Biosciences, Molecular Division of Women’s Health and Cancer
YongQiang Zhang (2006-2013), postdoctoral fellow
Senior Biostatistician (Thrive, Exact Sciences, Baltimore MD)
Mingye Feng (2005-2011), graduate student
Cellular & Molecular Physiology (CMP) Graduate Program, H.A. and Mary K. Chapman Young Investigator Fellowship, AHA Predoctoral Fellowship (2008-2010), Martin & Carol Macht Young Investigator Award (2011), Currently Associate Professor, City of Hope National Medical Ctr, Duarte, CA
Laura Kallay (2005-2010), postdoctoral fellow
Lab Manager, University of Cincinnati, OH
Sabina Muend (2004-2009), graduate student
Molecular and Cellular Physiology (CMP) Graduate Program. Currently at Delafield Corp in Duarte, CA.
Jyoti Yadav (2004-2006), postdoctoral fellow
Head, Recruitment and Assessment Board, CSIR, India
Minghui Xiang (2004-2009), postdoctoral fellow
Assistant Professor, University of Florida in Jacksonville, FL
Samuel Rulli (2001-2002), postdoctoral fellow
Experienced Global Product Manager in Life Sciences, Qiagen
Rashid Ali (2001-2004), postdoctoral fellow
Research Scientist, Mitrix Bio Inc., Farmington, CT
Sanchita Mukherjee (2001-2004), postdoctoral fellow
Staff Scientist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN
Van-Khue Ton (2000-2005), graduate student
BCMB Graduate program. Assistant Professor and Advanced Heart Failure Cardiologist at Harvard University Mass General Hospital, MA
Christopher L Brett (1999-2005), graduate student
CMM Graduate program, American Heart Association PreDoctoral Fellowship, David Israel Macht Young Investigator Award, Johns Hopkins. Currently Professor of Biology and University Research Chair of Applied Cell Science, Concordia Univ. Montreal
Debjani Mandal (1998-2001), postdoctoral fellow
Senior Scientist at the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Calcutta, India
Karen Wells (1998-2000), postdoctoral fellow
American Heart Association Postdoctoral fellow, Faculty, Sr. Lecturer, Advanced Academic Programs at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Gisele Rosas (1995-97), postdoctoral fellow
Fellow, Mexico City Justice Department
Richard Nass (1994-1998), graduate student
Cellular and Molecular Physiology (CMP) Graduate program; Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine