About:

Rahul submitted his doctoral thesis in October 2024. During his PhD, he worked on structural studies of non-coding RNAs using cryo-EM under the supervision of Prof. Sebastian Glatt at the Malopolska center of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian university in Krakow, Poland. The non-codong RNAs are particularly challenging targets for cryo-EM because of their inherent flexibility and small molecular size. He was successfully able to determine multiple full length protein-free RNA structures such as GlmS riboswitch/ribozyme, Hammerhead ribozyme and Clostridiales-1 RNA motif. He also determined the tRNA              structures involved in neurological disorders in a collaborative project. Besides, he has been part of other research projects during his PhD where in the effect of different RNA modifications (pseudouridines) were determined on tRNA structure and the molecular basis of tRNA selectivity by human pseudouridine synthase 3 enzyme was studied.

Rahul joined Jagtap lab as postdoctoral research fellow in January 2026 to further his training and employ a integrative structural biology approach to understand the physiological roles of different RNA helicases reported in various disorders. In particular, he will use and combine biochemical data for different protein-RNA complexes to uncover the fundamental roles of various RNA helicases and their respective accessory domains. He has a profound interest in bridging the gap between basic research and its clinical applications.