Journal of Astrobiology & Outreach

Prakash C Joshi

Prakash C Joshi
NY Center for Astrobiology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, New York, USA

Biography

Prakash Joshi earned his Ph.D. degree in Chemistry on “Gas phase photochemical reactions and Photodegradation of Biomolecules” from Agra University, India. He carried out higher studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), John’s Hopkins University, Harvard Medical School, Queen’s University (UK) and French Atomic Energy Commission. He established a Photobiology Laboratory at Indian Institute of Toxicology Research and worked as a group leader (1984-97). His current research at the New York Center for Astrobiology (NASA), RPI is dedicated to “RNA World” hypothesis, which suggests that RNA was the first biopolymer formed in early Earth with dual properties as a catalyst (protein) and a genetic molecule. He is also pursuing research on oxidative stress & DNA damage with the undergraduates of Russell Sage College. He was part of the research team that discovered HCN as a single source of C, H and N to form three major classes of Biomolecules: purine, pyrimidine and amino acids.

Research Interest

Prebiotic synthesis of RNA by montmorillonite catalysis and investigation of regio-, sequence- and chiral selectivity, Studies of DNA damage by oxidative stress, drug-DNA binding and photosensitization reactions.