Dr. Rao completed his graduate work in the area of neural biomimetic materials for investigating cancer cell behaviors under the guidance of Dr. Jessica Winter at The Ohio State University. His postdoctoral work performed at Northwestern University and The University of Michigan under the guidance of Dr. Lonnie Shea developed novel technologies for early detection of metastatic disease. Dr. Rao is a recipient of the National Science Foundation CAREER award, the American Institute of Chemists Outstanding Graduate Student Award, Joseph H. Koffolt Graduate Fellowship, Pelotonia Graduate Research Fellowship, and was invited as a “top student innovator” to the first Procter & Gamble Innovation Camp.