The applications of Biotechnology have far reaching implications not only in feeding an ever-increasing population amid continuously declining agricultural land availability, but also in applying biochemical innovation to solve real-world health challenges, particularly in the areas of synthetic biology, RNA technology, and next-generation vaccines.
Manoj Pohare, our next pathbreaker, work as a Process Development Researcher on an Innovate UK–funded project at the University of Sheffield, focused on developing a compact and automated platform for end-to-end mRNA vaccine manufacturing .
Manoj talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about his PhD at Ehime University (Japan) where he was involved in the crucial field of Chloroplast research, as chloroplasts are the sites of photosynthesis—the fundamental process that sustains life by producing food and oxygen.
For students, build a strong foundation in basic concepts, as fundamental knowledge drives meaningful research and innovation.
Manoj, Your Background?
I come from a family where strong moral values such as honesty and integrity were deeply emphasized. My parents encouraged me to always seek the truth and remain committed to my goals. Over time, I realized that my core strengths are passion, perseverance, and the ability to stay focused even during challenging situations.
From childhood, I was curious about how science works and how technological advancements shape the world. During my school years, I was particularly drawn to hands-on learning, live experiments, and building functional scientific models. As I grew older, my curiosity deepened, especially toward biological sciences, which fascinated me because of their strong connection to natural laws.
I was born and raised in Ural BK, a small village in the Akola district of Maharashtra, India. Since my parents and most members of our community were farmers, I naturally developed a strong interest in agriculture and agricultural sciences, which later shaped my academic and professional journey.
What did you do for Graduation and Post-Graduation?
I did my bachelors and masters of science in Biotechnology, and a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Ehime University in Japan.
Influenced by my agricultural background, I chose agricultural science over engineering or medicine, even though most of my classmates opted for MBBS or engineering degrees. In the early 2000s, the launch of Bt cotton in India and the rapid growth of biotechnology research strongly motivated me to pursue a career in agricultural biotechnology and plant genetic engineering.
After completing my higher secondary education with distinction, I secured admission to the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Biotechnology at the College of Agricultural Biotechnology, Amravati (affiliated with Dr. PDKV, Akola). Throughout my undergraduate studies, I consistently ranked among the top students and developed a strong interest in agri-biotechnology and molecular biology.
What were some of the key influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional, and unique career in Biotechnology?
Our college was newly established, and we were the first batch of students in this program. This created an atmosphere of curiosity and optimism, as we believed biotechnology could solve many agricultural challenges. To strengthen my practical skills, we (I along with some of my class mates) actively sought hands-on training and attended specialized programs at the Sangene Institute of Biosciences, Bangalore, where I learned DNA fingerprinting (RAPD), recombinant DNA technology, cloning, and molecular biology techniques.
Alongside academics, I actively participated in extracurricular and social activities. I helped organize a National Service Scheme (NSS) camp, conducted social awareness programs, and helped perform street plays (“Path Natya”). I also co-organized a state-level seminar competition on Emerging Trends in Biotechnology, which significantly improved my leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
To further my academic goals, I qualified for the All India Combined Entrance Examination for master’s studies with a top rank and was awarded the prestigious DBT-JNU Junior Research Fellowship from the Government of India. This enabled me to pursue my Master’s degree at the Center for Plant Molecular Biology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore.
During my master’s program, I studied a wide range of subjects including molecular cell biology, plant tissue culture, transgenic technology, genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, and immunotechnology. My master’s research focused on “cloning and expression of the cry2A gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)”, where I gained extensive experience in molecular biology and biochemical techniques.
Bt research addresses the real-world problem of heavy crop losses caused by insect pests and the environmental and health risks of chemical pesticides. Bt naturally produces toxins that kill specific insect larvae without harming humans or beneficial organisms. Biotechnology solved this problem by isolating the Bt toxin gene and introducing it into crop plants, creating Bt crops that can protect themselves from pests. This reduced the need for chemical insecticides, increased crop yield, and made pest control more environmentally sustainable. This phase helped me understand how biotechnology can contribute to crop improvement and societal welfare.
Interaction with visiting international scientists at TNAU inspired me to seek research opportunities abroad. However, due to financial constraints, I knew that scholarships were essential. Before moving abroad, I fulfilled my long-standing dream of becoming a biotechnology lecturer, teaching undergraduate students and gaining valuable experience in academic mentoring.
Tell us about your career path
To gain industrial exposure, I subsequently joined MAHYCO, Jalna, a leading private seed company, where I worked in the Quality Assurance Department. My responsibilities included ensuring high-quality processes such as ELISA for Bt transgenic identification and electrophoresis techniques (PAGE and isoelectric focusing) for seed lot identification. I also maintained meticulous records and performed precise measurements, contributing to high standards in seed production and testing.
My persistent efforts paid off in 2013, when I was selected for the prestigious Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship. I obtained the MEXT scholarship through a competitive selection process that included submitting a detailed research proposal, academic transcripts, and recommendation letters, followed by written examinations and an interview. My strong academic background, prior research experience in plant molecular biology, and a well-defined research plan aligned with ongoing research in Japanese laboratories helped me secure acceptance from a host professor, which was a key factor in receiving the scholarship. I selected Japan because of its strong global reputation in basic and applied research, particularly in plant sciences and molecular biology. Japanese universities are known for advanced infrastructure, disciplined research culture, and high-quality mentorship. Japan’s emphasis on fundamental research aligned well with my interest in understanding chloroplast protein import mechanisms, which has direct relevance to improving crop productivity.
I pursued my PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Ehime University, Japan, focusing on chloroplast protein import mechanisms. To feed an ever-increasing population amid continuously declining agricultural land availability, improving crop productivity is the only viable option. Chloroplast research is therefore crucial, as chloroplasts are the sites of photosynthesis—the fundamental process that sustains life by producing food and oxygen. A deeper understanding of chloroplast function can lead to enhanced crop yield, improved stress tolerance, and better nutritional quality. Most nuclear-encoded chloroplast proteins are synthesized in the cytosol as precursors with N-terminal transit peptides and are imported into chloroplasts via translocons in the outer and inner envelope membranes. Although early protein translocation intermediates have been well characterized, the later stages of import remain poorly understood. To investigate these later stages, precursors carrying tightly folded C-terminal domains were designed using two strategies: fusion with a tightly folded protein domain and post-translational attachment of folded structures. In both approaches, neither methotrexate-stabilized DHFR nor biotin–streptavidin complexes could block translocation, indicating the presence of strong unfolding activity within chloroplasts that enables precursor import despite tightly folded domains.
During my PhD, I also worked as a Teaching Assistant, led funded research projects, and developed strong leadership and teamwork skills.
After completing my PhD, I rejoined MAHYCO as an Assistant Manager, here my role was to make sure Quality Assurance Facility was running smoothly which includes maintaining technical staff, skilled labour, chemical stocks and all the necessary lab equipment. Also, always need to make sure all the laboratory equipment were available and in perfect condition, making necessary arrangement to repair the damaged equipment so that they should be ready before the onset of heavy workloads. I was also involved in the ISTA, ISO and Business Excellence related activities in the facility. Health and safety was of course paramount for the facility as it was involved in use of many hazardous chemicals, and so arranging the necessary training for all the working members was the indispensable part of the process. Lastly, I was also involved in assisting the establishment of the new commercial level Hydroponic Facility in the company.
Around this time, I married Dr. Pallavi Patil, my long-time colleague from Japan, in January 2018.
Up to this point, my career was fully focused on “plant biotechnology”.
How did you get your 1st break into medical sciences?
In 2018, I relocated to the United Kingdom with my partner and transitioned into the field of Medical Biotechnology. Although the transition was challenging, it enabled me to apply my background in plant biotechnology to medical research.
I began my career at the University of Sheffield as a Research Technician in Professor Jon Sayers’ group and was soon promoted to Research Associate in recognition of my technical expertise and commitment. In this role, I worked on antimicrobial resistance research, focusing on the structural and mechanistic characterization of flap endonucleases from pathogenic bacteria from a drug discovery perspective. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I played an active role in coronavirus research, contributing to antigen production and later to national genome sequencing efforts through the COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium in Dr. Thushan de Silva’s group.
Tell us about your Current Work
As mentioned earlier, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reshaped my perspective on science and motivated me to focus my career on vaccine development, particularly mRNA vaccines. One of the major challenges highlighted during the pandemic was the need to transport mRNA vaccines at ultra-low temperatures, a requirement that many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are unable to meet.
Currently, I work as a Process Development Researcher on an Innovate UK–funded project at the University of Sheffield, where we are developing “RNAbox”, a compact and automated platform for end-to-end mRNA vaccine manufacturing under the guidance of Dr. Zoltan Kis. This technology is designed to require minimal operator training while delivering high-quality, low-cost vaccines. Its low resource demands and sealed, closed-loop system make it suitable for lower-grade cleanroom environments (e.g., EU GMP Grade D), particularly in LMICs (Low- and Middle-Income Country). By enabling distributed manufacturing, this platform aims to strengthen global preparedness for future pandemics.
In parallel, I am also developing cost-efficient mRNA production strategies, including in-house generation of DNA templates for in-vitro transcription (IVT), recycling unused components of IVT, and engineering immobilisable bacteriophage RNA polymerase fusions complex to enable scalable and affordable mRNA manufacturing.
How does your work benefit society?
In addition to research, I am deeply involved in science communication and mentoring. I am a founding member and Vice President of the Society of Plant Biotechnology (SPB), India, which aims to support young biotechnology students through career guidance, webinars, and access to opportunities.
Having personally faced uncertainty during my early career, I am committed to helping the next generation of biotechnologists navigate their paths with clarity and confidence.
Your advice to students and future plans?
I would advise students to build a strong foundation in basic concepts, as fundamental knowledge drives meaningful research and innovation. Stay curious, be persistent, and do not hesitate to explore interdisciplinary approaches. Gaining hands-on research experience, maintaining scientific integrity, and learning from failures are as important as academic achievements. Also, seek good mentors and remain open to global opportunities that can broaden both scientific and cultural perspectives.