Curriculum Vitae
Dr Meghna C Rao
Final-year M.Sc. Biomedical Sciences student with hands-on experience in CRISPR-Cas9 gene knockout, neuronal gene expression analysis, zebrafish research, and over a decade of clinical medicine exposure focused on neuroscience research.
Research Profile
Clinical training shapes how Meghna approaches neuroscience, allowing her to study the brain not in isolation but as part of a broader, interacting system underlying mind and behavior.
Long-term goal: to spend the next few years working in molecular neuroscience, epigenetics, and behavioral neuroscience, with the aim of eventually leading an independent research lab.
Education
Current CGPA: 8.88
Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology.
Research
Under the guidance of Dr. Gunimala Chakraborty, HOD & Associate Professor, Dept. of Molecular Genetics & Cancer.
- Working toward stable tprkb mutants using CRISPR-Cas9 with validation through HRMA and HD assays.
- Assessing developmental phenotypes and neuronal transcription factor expression through WISH and RNA-based analysis.
- Techniques used include CRISPR-Cas9, HRMA, HD assay, developmental screening, WISH, and cDNA synthesis.
Under the guidance of Dr. Vilma D'souza, BHMS, MD(Hom), MS (Counselling & Psychotherapy).
- Conducted a 25-patient case series evaluating pre- and post-treatment SCORAD scores.
- Observed statistically significant reduction in SCORAD scores (p = 0.006), while noting design limitations including no control group and small sample size.
Research intern working in a life sciences environment aligned with translational and public health genomics questions.
Selected Projects
Designed an interactive game exploring the functions of hippocampal place cells and their role in cognition and spatial navigation.
Developed an interactive experience that helps players reason about temporal connections and causally related events.
Built a visual perception demo inspired by David Eagleman to study motion processing and the constraints of the visual system.
Created an interactive demonstration showing how motion adaptation can produce perceived movement in static objects.
A minimal online quiz platform designed to assess personality traits through self-reported answers.
Consulted on chronotype categorization, health risks, research inputs, and user experience for a questionnaire-based chronotype app.
Work Experience
Instructed first-year bachelor's students in physiology and used varied teaching methods to improve comprehension.
Provided medical care along with lifestyle counselling in dietetics, nutrition, exercise, counselling, and psychology to support holistic wellness.
Contributed to comprehensive care during pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum health, women's hygiene education, and menopause awareness.
Skills
Certifications
Brief Introduction to Psychology, IIT Kanpur
Neuroscience of Human Movements, IIT Madras
Introduction to Basic Cognitive Processes, IIT Kanpur
Neurobiology, IIT Kanpur
Molecular Biology, IIT Guwahati
Genetic Engineering: Theory & Application, IIT Guwahati
Demystifying the Brain, IIT Madras
Conferences & Workshops
National Conference on Biochemistry Connect, St Aloysius School of Life Sciences, 9 March 2026.
Understanding the Dynamic Interplay of Genes, Pathogens & Host Response in Diseases: A Systems Biology Approach, NUCSER India-Netherlands Collaborative Program, 19 November 2025.
Immune Biology & Precision Medicine: Deciphering Cross-Talks Through Multi-Omics, Nitte at NUCSER, 19-20 March 2025.
Cancer Epigenetics: From Laboratory Studies to Precision Medicine, Manipal School of Life Science, 22-23 January 2025.
Utilizing Microbiome & Genomic Resources for Understanding & Mitigating Antimicrobial Resistance in One Health Context, FAO Reference Centre, November 2024.
Multi-Omics Approaches in Understanding Environmental & Lifestyle Influences on Health, Nitte at NUCSER, October 2024.
Cell Therapy Conclave, Manipal Centre for Biotherapeutics Research & Consultancy, October 2024.
Computational Techniques for Drug Discovery & Drug Delivery, NGSMIPS, January 2026.
NASA's Open Science 101 Curriculum, Neuromatch x NASA, November 2024.
AI for Neuro: How Modern AI Technologies Enable Advances in Neuroscience, Chen Institute for Neuroscience at Caltech, December 2024.
Languages
English: Fluent (C1, IELTS)
Kannada: Mother tongue
Hindi: Native
Tulu: Native
Urdu: Native
Malayalam: Conversational
French: Basic