Rakhi Rajan

Rakhi Rajan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Oklahoma, affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on CRISPR-Cas systems, particularly the structural and biochemical mechanisms underlying protein-nucleic acid interactions in bacterial immunity and genome editing. She holds a B.S. from Kerala Agricultural University (1998), a Ph.D. from Ohio State University (2007), and postdoctoral training at Northwestern University (2007-2014).

Her lab investigates CRISPR-Cas9 and Cas12a systems, exploring how bridge helix conformations regulate DNA cleavage specificity, CRISPR adaptation processes, and CRISPR contributions to bacterial pathogenicity. Techniques include X-ray crystallography, biochemistry, and collaborations with computational methods (e.g., EPR studies with Dr. Peter Z. Qin).

Recent work includes engineering Cas proteins for improved specificity, characterizing allosteric regulation via bridge helix dynamics, and understanding CRISPR’s role in pathogen virulence. Her research bridges structural biology and biotechnological applications, with implications for precision gene editing and diagnostics.

Lab activities and collaborations emphasize structural-functional insights into CRISPR systems, with projects supported by grants focusing on mechanistic and applied aspects of CRISPR-Cas proteins.