Rhiju Das, PhD

Professor of Biochemistry at Stanford University

Speaker

Rhiju Das is seeking to solve three main problems related to the visualization and design of RNA. Das and his team are focused on: predicting RNA structure from sequence alone; identifying the 3D structure of RNA-driven machines and their partners and substrates in situ; and designing RNA machines without going through numerous rounds of trial-and-error. The team works at the intersection of theoretical physics, experimental biochemistry, and computer science. Recently, they have investigated the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome and identified 3D structures relevant to inhibiting viral replication and have contributed to COVID-19 mRNA vaccine development.