Assistant professor of chemical and life science engineering receives National Science Foundation Career Award

Raj Rao, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemical and life science engineering in the VCU School of Engineering, has received a National Science Foundation Career Award, one of the foundation’s most prestigious awards, to engineer systems to propagate stable human embryonic stem cells in the laboratory setting and to educate students and the general public about the latest advances in stem-cell research. 

Previous work conducted by Rao and colleagues demonstrated that human embryonic stem cells are prone to genomic instability based on their propagation conditions. The award will fund research that aims to ascertain molecular mechanisms that cause these changes and develop propagation systems that aim to be efficient, while generating high quantities of stable, human embryonic stem-cell lines.

The award also will enable Rao to develop educational and laboratory modules for high school students, undergraduate students and the general public. These modules will increase awareness of engineering, molecular genetics and cellular biology skills. He will work with high school teachers, public educators at museums and faculty at undergraduate universities to disseminate the information.

Through this project, the goal is to communicate and engage students and the general public about the far-reaching potential of research in this field.

In 2006, his work was featured on Science magazine’s career Web site, ScienceCareers.org, in a career development article titled, “U.S. Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Can Young Researchers Succeed?” The article highlighted several researchers, including Rao, who are conducting research using human embryonic stem cells.

In the article, the researchers discussed the difficulties in obtaining funding, restrictions placed on new and established stem-cell scientists, and the importance of diversifying one’s funding portfolio work. In addition, they talked about the importance of educating the public about this work.