Rohith Rajasekaran, a recent graduate of the Integrated Program in Biochemistry, has received the Harold M. Weintraub Graduate Student Award. The prestigious award, given by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, recognizes outstanding research achievement during graduate studies in the biological sciences.
As a doctoral researcher in the Coyle Lab, Rajasekaran explored how to repurpose cellular systems that exist in nature to engineer new functions into cells. His work focused on engineering a biochemical signaling system that creates dynamic patterns of biochemical activity, organizing molecules to the right places at the right time in a cell. The system, known as the MinDE reaction-diffusion system, is native to bacteria. Rajasekaran engineered MinDE protein systems into mammalian cells to produce patterns of organization that couple to native function in a cell.
Rajasekaran will soon begin a position at the University of California, San Francisco as a post-doctoral researcher.
“This award is a great reminder of how important it is to stay curious. I feel really lucky that I get to spend my time wondering about things and exploring new ideas. That’s where the real magic happens,” says Rajasekaran. “I’m grateful to the many people who gave me the support and freedom to pursue my Ph.D. [research] and grow into an independent scientist — especially my PI, Scott Coyle, for his mentorship. I also thank the UW–Madison Department of Biochemistry for providing me opportunities to grow, and my incredible colleagues, collaborators, family, and friends for their constant support.”
Rajasekaran will join his fellow awardees at a scientific symposium in May at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington where he will present about his research.
Written by Renata Solan.