Prof. Yamuna Krishnan

Prof. Yamuna Krishnan received her B.Sc. in Chemistry from the Women’s Christian College, Chennai. She went on to obtain her M.S. in Chemical Sciences and her Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Following her postdoctoral work at the University of Cambridge, UK, Prof. Krishnan was appointed to the faculty at the National Centre for Biological Sciences in Bangalore, India. In 2014, she moved as Professor of Chemistry to The University of Chicago.

Prof. Krishnan’s research explores the chemical environment inside nanoscale compartments within cells called organelles. Using DNA nanotechnology she has developed a platform to probe these nanoscale spaces inside cells. The Krishnan Lab at The University of Chicago conducts seeks to understand the functions of DNA beyond that of its traditional role as the genetic material. Among the advances made by the lab is the development of versatile chemical imaging technology using nanodevices composed of DNA to probe or manipulate organelles inside living cells and in genetic model organisms.

Prof. Yamuna Krishnan was awarded the Infosys Prize in 2017 in the Physical Sciences category, the Sun Pharma Foundation Award for Basic Medical Research in 2020 and the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award for Chemical Sciences in 2013. She is a AAAS Fellow and was on Cell's 40 under 40. Other accolades include the Ono Pharma Breakthrough Science award, Scientific Innovations Award from the Brain Research Foundation, Wellcome Trust - DBT India Alliance Senior Fellowship Award, and an 1851 Research Fellowship from the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851.