Vatsan Raman is a professor in the Department of Biochemistry. His research takes a systems and synthetic biology approach to understanding and engineering biological systems at protein-wide and genome-wide scales. He sat down with Department of Biochemistry science writer Renata Solan to talk about his research, collaborations, and experience as an innovator.
What is your research about?
My lab creates advanced technologies at the intersection of biochemistry, computing, and engineering to understand how biological molecules and cells work. To understand how cells and proteins operate, we can engineer changes and observe the impact. In my lab, we do this on a large scale, introducing thousands of changes at once and measuring how these changes affect function. This process helps us uncover the molecular ‘blueprint’ of how a cell or protein works. With this knowledge, we can design new cells or proteins to perform useful, specialized functions.
What excites you about scientific research?
At the heart of biology is sequence: DNA sequences encode how cells function, and protein sequences determine how proteins behave. What excites me most is exploring the connection between sequence and function, including how we can design new sequences that perform novel functions. We can uncover basic principles about how life works and apply that knowledge to engineer biology in ways that could benefit humanity.
How do you develop research questions?
In my lab, every research project bridges fundamental science and real-world applications. We take a use-inspired approach to basic science — combining a deep curiosity about how biological systems work with the goal of solving meaningful societal challenges. This dual focus ensures that our work not only advances scientific knowledge but also has tangible benefits for society. For example, we investigate how changes in a protein’s sequence affect its function. That’s the basic science question. From an application perspective, we explore ways to engineer proteins to have new capabilities. For instance, we design proteins to detect environmental contaminants.
How does your work benefit from research partnerships and collaborations?
I strive to stay closely connected to the startup world and the biotechnology industry, which influence how we shape our research projects. Understanding the challenges facing industry helps us identify opportunities where our scientific discoveries can lead to real-world impact. Collaborations — whether with industry partners, other researchers, or clinicians — often provide fresh perspectives, helping us refine our questions and align our work with pressing societal needs. Whenever possible, I like to ensure that our research not only advances fundamental knowledge but also has a clear path toward practical applications that can make a difference.
What inspires you to innovate?
I’m driven by the challenge of identifying and developing tools that don’t just refine current approaches but fundamentally transform the way we study and engineer biological systems. Often, a field reaches a standstill, where progress slows because existing methods can’t push the boundaries any further. But the right technological innovation can break through these barriers, opening possibilities to explore new questions that were previously out of reach.
How have the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) and entrepreneurial programs across UW–Madison’s campus contributed to your experience as an innovator?
I’ve had a fantastic experience working with WARF and Discovery to Product (D2P), both of which have played a key role in supporting innovation in my lab. We’ve filed several patents through WARF, and their Accelerator Award has helped advance key technologies we’ve developed. WARF has connected us with potential investors. Additionally, multiple students from my lab have participated in the Morgridge Entrepreneurial Bootcamp — an outstanding program that equips them with the skills to bridge the gap between academic science and the startup world. These resources have been invaluable in translating our research into real-world impact and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset within my team.
The Raman Lab is funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, the United States Department of Agriculture, and WARF.