Portrait image of Rajinikanth Mohan
Rajinikanth Mohan

Assistant Professor

Contact Information

OFFICE: Zurn 101
PHONE: 814-824-3089

Dr. Mohan combines active learning experiences in the classroom with research mentoring to make science learning an enjoyable experience for students in the Biology Department at Mercyhurst University. Dr. Mohan presently mentors 12 undergraduate students in research, while teaching majors Microbiology and Biochemistry courses as well as non-majors Microbiology in addition to teaching graduate-level Microbiology & Genetics courses for the Physician Assistant Studies program.  

About Dr. Mohan
    • Ph.D., Forest Molecular Genetics & Biotechnology, Michigan Technological University, 2007 
    • Master’s, Plant Science, University of Hyderabad, India, 1999
    • Bachelor’s, Botany & Chemistry, 1997
    • Microbiology
    • Biochemistry
    • Molecular Genetics
    • Plant Biology 
    • BIO 200/201: Microbiology & Lab 
    • BIO 370/371: Cellular Biochemistry & Lab
    • Molecular Mechanisms of Programmed Cell Death in Plants
    • Mechanisms of Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Bacteria 
    • Organized an essay competition at Mercyhurst University to promote a discussion on antiracism and diversity in the campus community.
    • Collaborated with students to measure the levels of toxic chemicals in the marginalized neighborhood of the now-defunct Erie Coke factory to assess community health risk.
    • Helped organize campus civil discourse initiatives.
    • 2022: Kour D, Khan SS, Kour H, Kaur T, Devi R, Rai PK, Judy C*, McQuestion C*, Bianchi A*, Spells S*, Mohan R, Rai AK, Yadav AN. Microbe-mediated bioremediation: Current research and future challenges. Journal of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, 10(2): 6-24. Review.
    • 2022: Mohan R, Spells S*, Wang D, Fu ZQ. Caffeoylputrescine-green leaf volatile compound-mediated nonhost resistance against Leafhoppers. Trends in Plant Science. 27(9): 837-839. Review. 
    • 2022: Devi R, Kaur T, Kour D, Hricovec M*, Mohan R, Rai PK, Rai AK, Kumar M, Yadav AN (2022) Microbes-mediated alleviation of heavy metal stress in crops: Current research and future challenges. Journal of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, ISSN: 2347-212X. Review.
    • 2021: Kaur T, Kour D, Pericak O*, Olson C*, Mohan R, Yadav A, Mishra S, Kumar M, Rai AK, Yadav AN. Structural and functional diversity of plant growth promoting microbiomes for agricultural sustainability. Journal of Applied Biology and Biotechnology. Review.
    • 2021: Anand K, Pandey GK, Kaur T, Pericak O*, Olson C*, Mohan R, Akansha K, Yadav A, Devi R, Kour D, Rai AK, Kumar M, Yadav AN. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as a potential biofertilizers for agricultural sustainability. Journal of Applied Biology and Biotechnology [ISSN: 2347-212X] Review.
    • 2020: Zavaliev R, Mohan R; Chen T; Dong X. Formation of NPR1 Condensates Promotes Cell Survival during Plant Immune Response. Cell 182(5):1093-1108. 
    • 2019: Chen J, Mohan R, Zhang Y, Li M, Chen H, Palmer I, Chang M, Guang Q, Spoel S, Mengiste T, Wang D, Liu F, Fu Z. NPR1 recruits CDK8 to promote its own and target gene expression to establish plant immunity. Plant Physiology 181 (1) 289-304.
    • 2017: Springer D, Mohan R, Heitman J. Plants promote mating and dispersal of the human pathogenic fungus, Cryptococcus. PLoS One 12:e0171695. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0171695. 
    • 2016: Mohan R, Tai T*, Chen A*, Arnoff A*, Fu Z. Overexpression of NIMIN1 promotes salicylic acid intolerance. Plant Signaling & Behavior, 2016 Jul 18:0. [Epub ahead of print]
    • 2015: Saleh A, Withers J, Mohan R, Zavaliev R, Marques J, Gu Y, Dong X. Posttranslational Modifications of the Master Transcriptional Regulator NPR1 Enable Dynamic but Tight Control of Plant Immune Responses, Cell Host & Microbe 18(2):169–182.
    • 2014: Wang S, Gu Y, Zebell S, Wang W, Anderson L, Mohan R, Dong X. A Noncanonical Role for the CKI-RB-E2F Cell-Cycle Signaling Pathway in Plant Effector-Triggered Immunity, Cell Host & Microbe 16(6):787-94.
    • 2014: Tada Y, Nomoto M, Oka N, Mohan R, Tsukagoshi H, Tokizawa M, Onishi Y, Yamamoto Y, Xinnian D and Spoel S. Redox-sensitive transcription coactivator NPR1 regulates salicylic acid-induced plant immunity, Genes & Genetic Systems 89(6):296. Review. 
    • 2013: Yan S, Wang W, Marques J, Mohan R, Saleh A, Durrant W, Song J, Dong X. Salicylic acid activates DNA damage responses to potentiate immunity in plants, Molecular Cell, 52(4):602-610. 
    • 2012: Fu Z, Yan S, Saleh A, Wang W, Ruble J, Oka N, Mohan R, Spoel SH, Tada Y, Zheng N, Dong X. NPR3 & NPR4 are receptors for the immune signal salicylic acid in plants, Nature, 486 (7402):228. 
    • 2007: Mohan R, Harding SA, Tsai CJ. The glycine decarboxylase complex multienzyme family in Populus, Journal of Experimental Botany, 58(7):1761-1770.
    • * = undergraduate co-author
    • Erie Community Foundation, Helping Today ($55,000)