Harshini Mukundan is the winner of several awards such as the New Mexico Technology Council’s Women in Technology Award, in 2016, and the Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Fellows’ Prize, in 2017. Photo Courtesy LANL
LANL NEWS
She has a big vision for diagnosing infectious diseases, including a universal bacterial sensor.
It is evident more so than ever that emerging infectious diseases are a major concern to global health. Having efficient diagnostics that can be done quickly and easily at the point of need can greatly simplify decision making during routine medical visits and outbreaks.
In a virtual Night with a Nerd talk, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, biomedical scientist Harshini Mukundan will discuss current strategies for diagnosing infectious diseases, plus a universal bacterial sensor, developed by her team, that is an innovative option for the future.
Currently deputy group leader of Physical Chemistry & Applied Spectroscopy (P-CPS), Harshini also heads the Biomedical Applications team, a multidisciplinary team for the development of diagnostic solutions for infectious diseases.
To join the event on Zoom, please register here.
Harshini’s dream is to develop effective, inexpensive, technically simple point-of-care diagnostics with universal application for all infectious disease. A universal bacterial sensor, developed by her team, was awarded an R&D 100 award in 2018, including a gold award for corporate gold responsibility (the first ever for LANL).
Harshini, who has a doctorate in biomedical sciences, worked for two years as a team leader in a start-up biotechnology company and was instrumental in leading efforts for the development of sensors for the detection of bio-warfare agents. Subsequently, she joined Los Alamos National Laboratory as a National Institutes of Health postdoctoral fellow to develop diagnostics for active tuberculosis. After two years, she was converted as a staff scientist.
Harshini has authored more than 70 peer-reviewed manuscripts, as well as books and book chapters. She has five patents to her credit. She is the winner of several awards such as the New Mexico Technology Council’s Women in Technology Award, in 2016, and the Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Fellows’ Prize, in 2017.
This event is sponsored by the Bradbury Science Museum Association (BSMA), and Harshini is a BSMA board of directors member. The association, which runs the now online Gadgets gift shop, supports and inspires learners of all ages in Northern New Mexico and beyond through STEM education.