Promod Pratap

Promod R. Pratap is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), where he has served for over 30 years. His research centers on the energetics and molecular mechanisms of membrane ion transporters, particularly the sodium-potassium pump (Na/K-ATPase), which plays a critical role in cellular energy metabolism and heart function. Using advanced spectroscopic techniques such as ensemble and single-molecule fluorescence, FTIR spectroscopy, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), Pratap investigates the reaction cycles and energy conversion efficiency of the pump.

• Ph.D. in Biophysics from Syracuse University (1989)
• Postdoctoral fellowship at SUNY Health Science Center
• Joining UNCG as Assistant Professor in 1994, promoted to Associate Professor

His work bridges biophysics, biochemistry, and engineering, with publications on ATP binding, conformational changes in membrane proteins, and applications of piezoelectric materials in structural health monitoring systems. He teaches courses like Biophysics and Conceptual Physics, emphasizing hands-on learning and hypothesis-driven experimentation. While no explicit scientific awards are documented in the provided texts, his long-standing contributions to understanding Na+/K-ATPase function highlight his impact in membrane biophysics. Pratap has mentored students including P. Indic and Pravitha Ramanand, whose work appears in his publications. His lab at UNCG focuses on the intersection of biological energy systems and material science innovations.