Prahlad Rao has over 5 years of experience conducting proteomics research to understand protein regulation in mycobacterial cells and their interactions with macrophages. He has a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical biotechnology from the University of Illinois and experience working in proteomics facilities analyzing various sample types. Rao has published several papers analyzing protein turnover and networks in mycobacterial cells under different stresses using mass spectrometry techniques.

1. PRAHLAD RAO
575 W Madison St. Apt. 4301, Chicago IL 60661
Email: prao123@gmail.com 312-493-7347
Carrier Summary
5 years of experience in conducting extensive research in proteomics and applied innovative techniques to
understand the behavior of mycobacterial cells and their interactions with macrophages through label and
label-free techniques to understand the dynamics of protein regulation and its effects on the proteome.
Experienced in analyzing complex regulatory networks in cells. Over 2 years of experience in handling
custom user samples ranging from neural stem cells to macrophages at Proteomics and Informatics facility at
University of Illinois. Experienced with various bioinformatics tools such as Bioworks and Mascot. Strong
analytical ability, troubleshooting skills and work ethic.
Education
Ph.D., Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, University of Illinois August 2011
M.S. Biotechnology, Bharatidasan University, India
B.S. Zoology, Mumbai University, India
Other Certifications
Teacher training program, UIC, Chicago, IL
Professional Experience
Graduate Researcher August 2005 – Present
Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
• Investigated stress response from the point of protein turnover in mycobacterial cells under low pH or low iron
stresses to understand the dynamic nature of protein regulation by using non-radioactive labels as well as label-free
techniques to quantify the proteome.
• Theorized an active role of protein secretion in the dynamics of the proteome by studying and comparing protein
turnover and protein abundance studies in stressed mycobacterial cells.
• Used Principal Component Analysis to underline the importance of studying protein turnover along with Hotellings
T2 test to analyze significantly represented functional groups in M. tuberculosis.
• Simulated environment as experienced by mycobacteria in macrophages by designing an integrated stress
environment mimicking low iron and oxidative stress. The results obtained were used to understand how protein
networks act when exposed to an integrated stress via network and gene ontology analysis.
• Compared three different quantitation programs (IDEAL-Q, Sieve and Scaffold) and presented a report on the
usability of the three applications in different scenarios for example in a scenario when different fractionation
strategies are used.
• Investigated stress response in mycobacterial cells using RT-PCR analysis to validate results from targeted
proteomic experiments.
• Trained graduate and undergraduate students in small-scale summer projects.
Graduate Research Assistant January 2009 – May 2011
CBC/RRC Proteomics and Informatics Facility (PISF), University of Illinois, Chicago IL
• Worked on design and workflow of user samples for different projects involving various sources such as neural stem
cells, macrophages, etc.
• Worked with users to streamline protein separation, digestion and peptide extraction of their samples to quantify and
obtain better coverage for protein identification.
• Experience with fractionation strategies including HPLC, Off-Gel electrophoresis and purification strategies
involving trapping peptides (C18) columns.
• Evaluated and streamlined peptide labeling procedures involving iTRAQ for maximum labeling.
• Evaluated various strategies and worked with different sample types to obtain maximum protein identifications.
• Illustrated labeling (iTRAQ) techniques to professors and students in proteomics workshops.

2. Graduate Teaching Assistant August 2005 – May 2007
Doctor of Pharmacy courses, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
• Taught molecular biology to undergraduate students
• Graded tests and proctored exams
Lecturer August 2003 – May 2005
Department of Biotechnology, The Institute of Science, Mumbai, India
• Taught and trained students enrolled in Masters program in Biotechnology the theoretical and practical aspects of
biochemistry and molecular biology to.
• Successfully placed 15 out of 20 students at various research institutes and leading industries.
• Designed the layout the of biotechnology laboratory and managed the various resources and financial strategies
associated with successfully maintaining the lab.
• Organized guest lectures in collaboration with various researchers from institutions such as Tata Institute of
Fundamental Research.
Graduate Research Student January 2003 - December 2003
Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), India
• Studied the effect of heavy water (D2O) on over-expressed Dmc1 protein from D. radiodurans.
• Designed pBR322 expression vector, cloned, overexpressed Dmc1 protein in BL21(DE3) cells.
• Characterized and optimized the percentage of heavy water required for stabilization of overexpressed Dmc1 protein
from inclusion bodies and successfully stabilized 10% of Dmc1 from inclusion bodies as analyzed by
electrophoresis.
Skills
Wet lab techniques: Cell cultures, Protein extraction, fractionation by SDS-PAGE, Off-Gel electrophoresis, protein
over-expression, ELISA, Western blots, non-radioactive protein and peptide labeling, phosphopeptide enrichment,
Nucleic acid isolations, separations, PCR, RT-PCR.
Equipment: HPLC, Tandem Mass spectrometry, MALDI-TOF, Tissue and cell extraction procedures.
Mass spectrometry tools: Xcalibur, MSight, Mascot, SEQUEST, Bioworks, Trans-Proteomic Pipeline,
IDEAL-Q, Massmatrix, Sieve
Bio-Informatic tools: STRING, Cytoscape, BioMart, Reactome, Cluster, Genesis, Bingo, OBO-Edit.
Soft Skills
Team player, collaborative, excellent communication skills, motivated and fastidious with a will to learn.
Publications
Li Q, Jagannath C, Rao PK, Singh CR, Lostumbo G; Analysis of phagosomal proteomes: From latex-beads to
bacterial phagosomes; Proteomics; 2010, 10(22): 4098-4116.
Rao PK, Li Q; Protein turnover in Mycobacterial proteomics; Molecules; 2009, 14(9), 3237-3258.
Rao PK, Singh CR, Jagannath C and Li Q; A systems biology approach to study the phagosomal proteome modulated
by mycobacterial infections; International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine; 2009, 2(3): 233-247.
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.
Professional Memberships
American Society of Mass Spectrometry (ASMS)
American Chemical Society (ACS)