Praneetha Sundar Prakash

I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate specializing in the development of unique DNA nanostructures for bacterial uptake studies. My graduate research focused on developing DNA nanotechnology based tools for spatial and structural characterization of membrane proteins.

Current Projects

  1. Development and optimization of DNA origami structures using custom-made scaffolds for enhanced bacterial uptake.

Selected Publications

  • Prakash, P. S.; Joshi, F. M.; Vogelsberg, E.; Cremers, G. A. O.; Gür, F. N.; Sato, Y.; de Greef, T. F. A.; Ader, M.; Kurth, T.; Nunes Gonçalves, D. P.; Schmidt, T. L. DNA Origami Barcodes for Immunostaining. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2025. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.4c19153.
  • Agarwal, N. P.; Chandrasekhar, S.; Prakash, P. S.; Joffroy, K.; Schmidt, T. L. Block Copolymer Micellization of DNA Origami Promotes Solubility in Organic Solvents. Langmuir 2022, 38 (38), 11650–11657. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c01508.
  • Chandrasekhar, S.; Prakash, P. S.; Schmidt, T.-L. Stability and Stabilization of DNA Nanostructures in Biomedical Applications. In DNA Origami; John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2022; pp 333–377. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119682561.ch16.

Previous Research Experience

2021-2026: Graduate Research Assistant, Schmidt Lab, Kent State University - Developed novel ideas and conducted research in the field of DNA nanotechnology that helped advance structural characterization studies using cryoEM technology. - Developed a unique imaging modality for ultra-characterization studies of tissue samples using DNA nanotechnology.

2018: Research Intern, Reinhardt Lab, TU Dresden - Independently troubleshooted and worked on organelle-based assays for understanding evolutionary significance of mitochondrial genes in a fruit-fly model.

2016-2017: Undergraduate Research Intern, Raman Lab, SASTRA University, India - developed nanoscience based sensor with real-time application in the field of pesticide technology.

Education

  • 2021-2026: Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology - Cellular Biology and Structure, School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Ohio
  • 2013-2018: M.Tech. (Integrated) in Medical Nanotechnology, Department of Bioengineering, SASTRA University, Tamil Nadu, India

Awards and Honors

  • Biomedical Sciences President, Departmental Graduate Student Councils, Kent State University, AY 2024-25
  • GSS Travel Award, Kent State University, AY 2025
  • Student Council Secretary, Deparment of Bioengineering, SASTRA University, India, AY 2015-16

Scientific Presentations

  • Flashtalk: Peptide-based DNA Modifications for formation of nanodiscs, BPS 2025, February 2025, Los Angeles, California
  • Barcoded Immunostaining, 66th Annual MSNEO Conference, May 2024, University Heights, Ohio
  • Barcoded Immunostaining, AMLCI Materials Day 2023 - Biological and Biomimetic Materials, April 2022, Kent, Ohio

Contact Information

ORCiD | LinkedIn | Google Scholar Email ID: psundarp at andrew dot cmu dot edu