Dr. Divya Prakash is currently, Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA. Dr. Prakash has published papers in peer-reviewed journal like Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Biochemistry, Journal of Bacteriology, Methods of Enzymology, International Journal of Nanomedicine, Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences. Dr. Prakash primary research interest at Penn State is in understanding the physiology and biochemical mechanism of a novel disulfide reductase from a methane-producing species and in-vitro re-constitution of protein components to convert methane and carbon monoxide as a source of bio-fuels and value added products.  As a model system, he focus on Methanosarcina acetivorans , a versatile methane producing microbe which is found in such diverse environments as oil wells, trash dumps, deep-sea hydro thermal vents, and oxygen-depleted sediments beneath kelp beds. He uses a multidisciplinary approach of biochemistry, molecular biology, genomics, proteomics, and spectroscopy (EPR and Mossbauer) to address the scientific questions related to his research.

Dr. Prakash has completed his doctorate in chemisty at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Auburn University. His doctorate research was focused on the understanding the process of activation of Methyl-co-enzyme M reductase (MCR) and study of the effect of the methanogenesis inhibit or 3-nitrooxypropanol on MCR.

Before Joining Auburn University, he earned a M. Phil. from the Jawaharlal Nehru University. During his M.Phil. he studied the “Synergistic Effect of Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles (HAp) and Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) to prevent osteoporosis in Rat Induced by Simulated Micro gravity.” He discovered that PEMF along with HAp has the potential to control bone loss induced by simulated micro gravity.

Research Interest:  Biochemistry; Microbiology; Molecular biology; Nanomedicine; Spectroscopy; Bio-engineering.

URL: http://bmb.psu.edu/directory/dxp31

Skype ID: divsingh21

Number of Publications: 11