Sangeetha Selvam
BSc in Chemistry, MCW, University of Madras, India
MSc in Organic Chemistry, University of Madras, India
PhD in Chemistry, Kent State University
Sangeetha Selvam is the Science Communications Specialist at The RNA Institute, with a passion for translating complex scientific concepts into engaging and accessible content. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Kent State University and has extensive experience in research and science communication. Her early career focused on developing environmentally friendly organic compounds for stabilizing collagen in the leather industry, leading to patents for innovative leather processing techniques.
During her doctoral research in Dr. Hanbin Mao’s lab, she specialized in analyzing the mechanical stability and transition dynamics of DNA secondary structures, particularly G-quadruplexes and i-motif, using single-molecule optical tweezers. She worked extensively on quantifying the influence of torsional stress on the non-B DNA structures using custom-built magneto-optical tweezers.
As a postdoctoral fellow in the Fuchs lab at the RNA Institute, she worked on developing fluorescent labeling of protein molecules with small peptide groups with fluorescence labeling to initiation factors. Her research focused on studying translation regulation and signaling pathways in mammalian cells using biochemical and molecular biology techniques, including single-molecule Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence microscopy.
With a strong background in academia, she now focuses on effectively communicating complex scientific research to broader audiences, bridging the gap between scientific discovery and public understanding.
Google Scholar Page
Selected Publications
- Selvam, S., Koirala, D., Yu, Z., Mao, H. Quantification of topological coupling between DNA superhelicity and G-quadruplex formation, Journal of American Chemical Society, 2014, 136 (40), 13967-13970.
- Selvam, S., Yu, Z., Mao, H. Exploded View of Higher Order G-quadruplex Structures through Click-Chemistry Assisted Single-Molecule Mechanical Unfolding, Nucleic Acids Research, 2016, 44(1), 45-55.
- Martin, E. T., Blatt, P., Ngyuen, E, Lahr, R., Selvam. S., Yoon, H., Pocchiari, T., Emtenani, S., Siekhaus, D. E., Berman, A., Fuchs, G., Rangan, P. A translation control module coordinates germline stem cell differentiation with ribosome biogenesis during Drosophila oogenesis, Developmental Cell, 2022, 57(7). 883-900.e10.