Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry

office: 452 Coulter Hall
phone: 662-915-1939
email: sray1@olemiss.edu

EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

B.S., Calcutta University, India, 2005-2007
M.S., Indian Institute of Technology, India, 2007-2009
Ph.D., Kent State University, 2009-2015
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Michigan, 2015-2020
Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University, 2020-2022
Sen. Research Assistant, University of Michigan, 2022-2024
Assistant Professor, University of Mississippi, 2024-present

RESEARCH INTERESTS
Nucleic acid-protein interaction in context of cellular stress response, DNA/RNA- nano structures, Molecular robotics, Single molecule biophysics/biochemistry, Fluorescence microscopy, Force spectroscopy.

Group Website

RESEARCH OVERVIEW
Our research group at the University of Mississippi studies how biological systems work at the nanoscale, focusing on cellular stress response. We look at how certain structures made of DNA/RNA help cells manage resources and adapt to challenging stress conditions by prioritizing essential functions. We aim to understand how these complex DNA/RNA structures interact with different proteins to manage the demands of the cell. Our goal is to clearly link between structural attributes and functional response and ultimately harness these insights for biotechnological innovations and clinical intervention. To accomplish this, we develop and apply novel single-molecule manipulation and detection techniques, and nanoscale engineering. Our research projects combine approaches from a variety of disciplines including chemistry, physics, molecular biology, and engineering we collaborate with researchers from these various disciplines.