Sujit Pujhari

Sujit Pujhari, Ph.D., is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience at the School of Medicine, University of South Carolina Columbia. He also serves as the Director of the Viral Vector Core, supporting advanced neuroscience and infectious disease research through viral vector technologies.

Education:

• M.Sc. in Life Sciences, Sambalpur University, Odisha, India
• Ph.D. in Virology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
• Postdoctoral Training, Pennsylvania State University, USA
• Postdoctoral Training, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization International Vaccine Center, University of Saskatchewan, Canada

Dr. Pujhari's research focuses on developing and engineering viral vectors (AAV and lentiviral) for neuroscience and infectious disease applications. His lab utilizes human brain organoids to study psychiatric and neurological disorders and develops diagnostic tools such as Virus Reporter Particles (VRPs) and ELISAs for emerging and re-emerging viruses. His work adopts a One Health approach, integrating human, veterinary, and mosquito vector systems to understand disease mechanisms.

His recent publications highlight expertise in Zika and Mayaro virus biology, vector transmission dynamics, host-pathogen interactions, and innovative tools like microfluidic platforms and CRISPR-based gene editing in arthropods. Research themes span virology, molecular biology, vector biology, and biomedical engineering.

Scientific Funding:

• R21 AI151475 (NIH/NIAID, 2021–2023): Identification and validation of Zika virus receptor(s) in the midgut lumen of Aedes aegypti

Dr. Pujhari leads a research team including a postdoctoral researcher and lab manager, mentoring trainees in virology and molecular techniques. His lab has produced impactful work in emerging viral diseases and gene delivery systems, supported by NIH funding. He actively collaborates on interdisciplinary projects involving gene editing and transmission modeling.

Lab Members:

• Dr. Sanja Dokic (Postdoc)
• Mr. Andrew Shuler (Lab Manager)

• Mr. Ronald Smithwick
• Ms. Morgan Lano