Dr. Desai obtained her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Bombay, India in 1981 and 1983 respectively. She received her Doctorate in Biochemistry from the University of Bombay, India in 1991. Dr. Desai received New Jersey Cancer Research Award for Scientific Excellence in 1996 and 2003. She also received the American Association for Cancer Research-AFLAC Scholar Award in Cancer Research in 1999. Dr. Desai is serving as an editorial board member of the Journal of Antivirals and Antiretrovirals and the Experimental Cell Biology and Medicine.