Ashwani Rai

I obtained my Ph.D. from the Department of Biological Sciences in Louisiana State University, where I was mentored by James V. Moroney in characterizing carbonic anhydrases needed to maintain optimal photosynthesis in the regulation of carbon-concentrating mechanism (CCM) in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

I joined the Jonikas lab in 2022. My work in the lab focuses on engineering basic functional components of the Chlamydomonas CCM into the unicellular alga Auxenochlorella protothecoides, which lacks an endogenous pyrenoid.

In my free time I enjoy playing badminton and watching sport events.