1. Prahlad Rao
Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, College of Pharmacy, 900 S. Ashland Ave. Rm. 3218,
Molecular Biology Research Building, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607.
Email: prao123@gmail.com Phone: 312-493-7347
Objective
To apply for a scientific position which challenges analytical and method development skills.
Education
Fourth year graduate student, Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, UIC. 2005 – present
Research Topic: Tuberculosis is one of the leading disease affecting mankind. My research focus is to
use systems biology to understand the complex biology of the causative pathogen Mycobacterium
tuberculosis. Proteomics is one of the effective tools in studying the pathogen through a systems biology
approach. Using global protein turnover, we are investigating the response of M. tuberculosis to stress
factors such as low iron, acidic conditions and exposure to nitric oxide in order to study the bacilli in
actively replicating as well as dormant states. This enables us to understand how the tubercle bacilli is
able to overcome the stresses it encounters within the host and is able to successfully establish an
infection. My doctoral work is carried out under the guidance of Dr. Qingbo Li.
M.S. Biotechnology, Bharatidasan University, India 2001 - 2003
B.S. Zoology, Mumbai University, India 1997 – 2000
Experience
Graduate Research Assistant 2008 - present
CBC/RRC Proteomics and Informatics Facility (PISF), University of Illinois at Chicago
Job Profile: The CBC/RRC PISF caters to investigators interested in proteomic analyses of their
samples. My work in the facility involves the use of various biochemical methods to process the user’s
samples for downstream analysis with high accuracy mass spectrometers. Samples are simple or complex
mixtures of proteins, which need to be digested with various enzymes (trypsin, LysC, GluC,
chymotrypsin), fractionation of complex proteins or peptides using the state of the art Off-gel
fractionation system, sample labeling, phospho-peptide enrichment and working with LTQ and LTQ-
FT. Along with Dr. Larry Helseth, I interact with various investigators to understand their needs and also
to guide them on the type of samples needed for mass spectrometric analyses and problem solving based
on the type of results they expect. I was actively involved in organizing 4-day CBC/RRC Proteomics &
Informatics workshop held on August 2009. My work in the facility is carried out under the direction of
Dr. Alexander Schilling and Dr. Larry Helseth.
Graduate Teaching Assistant 2005 – 2007
Teaching assistant for Doctor of Pharmacy courses, University of Illinois at Chicago
Job Profile: My work involved teaching first and second year Pharm. D. students in the subjects of cell
and molecular biology and physiology, recitations, grading quizzes, examinations and proctoring
examinations.
Lecturer 2003 - 2005
The Institute of Science, Mumbai, India

2. Job Profile: My job profile involved teaching courses to students pursuing Masters degree in
Biotechnology. Along with teaching duties, I was also entrusted with managerial duties to coordinate and
invite visiting professors, manage laboratory courses, collaborate with vendors for state of the art
instruments and recommend the purchase of instruments for the Department of Biotechnology. In the two
years of work at the Institute, I have helped design the laboratory and set up the department with
necessary infrastructure for a fully functional department.
Graduate Research Student 2003
Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), India
Research Topic: I was involved in a project titled “ Effect of heavy water (D2 O) on the stability of
cloned and over-expressed RecA from Deinococcus radiodurans”. RecA is a protein that is important in
DNA repair and forms a major component of DNA repair system in D. radiodurans which can tolerate
high amounts of radiation. Study of RecA involved cloning and over-expression of RecA in E. coli.
However, over-expressed RecA was found to be unstable and formed inclusion bodies. Effect of
Deuterium oxide (D2 O) was studied on over-expressed RecA protein to find out if the protein can be
stabilized. This project was carried out under the guidance of Dr. J.K. Sainis.
Publications
Rao PK, Li Q; Principal Component Analysis of Proteome Dynamics in Iron-starved Mycobacterium
Tuberculosis; Journal of Proteomics and Bioinformatics; 2009, 2(1): 19-31
Rao PK, Rodriguez M, Smith I and Li Q; Protein dynamics in iron-starved Mycobacterium tuberculosis
revealed by turnover and abundance measurement using hybrid-linear ion trap-Fourier transform mass
spectrometry; Analytical Chemistry; 2008, 80(18): 6860-6869
Rao PK, Roxas BA and Li Q; Determination of global protein turnover in stressed mycobacterium cells
using hybrid-linear ion trap-fourier transform mass spectrometry; Analytical Chemistry; 2008, 80(2):
396-406.
Rao PK, Singh CR, Jagannath C and Li Q; A systems biology approach to study the phagosomal
proteome modulated by mycobacterial infections; submitted to International Journal of Clinical and
Experimental Medicine
Rao PK, Li Q; Protein turnover in Mycobacterial proteomics; review article submitted to Molecules
Poster Presentations
Determination of global protein turnover in stressed Mycobacterial cells using mass spectrometry –
presented at UIC College of Medicine Research Day, 2008
Analysis of Mycobacterial protein turnover under environmental stress – presented at UIC Student
Research Forum, 2007
Professional Memberships
American Society of Mass Spectrometry (ASMS)
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Other Certifications
6 month Teacher training program, UIC, College of Pharmacy conducted by Dr. Nicholas Popovich,
Head, Department of Pharmacy Administration, UIC.
References
Available upon request