Affiliated Department or Office
Education
Expert Bio
Professor Rao's research focuses on understanding and managing fungal diseases. She uses a variety of biochemical, molecular-genetic, and genomic tools and model hosts to explore fungal virulence and host defense strategies. She is interested in identifying novel therapeutics against emerging and drug-resistant fungal pathogens, and study multi-kingdom microbial interactions and probiotics to understand inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s Disease, and ulcerative colitis.
News
Media Coverage
The Worcester Business Journal covered a WPI forum on the gene-editing technology known as CRISPR. Noted in the article were: Dean, Arts and Sciences, Jean King; Assistant Professor, Social Science, Patricia Stapleton; Associate Professor, Humanities and Arts Bethel Eddy; Associate Professor, Biology and Biotechnology, Rita Rao; and Associate Teaching Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Destin Heilman.
Worcester News Tonight covered a forum held at WPI on the gene-editing technology known as CRISPR.
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Colleen B Wamback
Director of Public Relations
Jack Levy
Senior Public Relations Manager
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