Bala P. Venkata, Ph.D. is a Senior Research Scientist and Principal Investigator at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, where Bala develops novel and sustainable bio-technologies for crop protection. Bala is also a Co-Founder of RNAissance Ag LLC. Previously, Bala worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Purdue University Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, where Bala elucidated novel insect resistance pathways in maize. Venkata also has experience as a Scientific Consultant at the Keck Graduate Institute, providing strategic consulting for developing drought tolerance and enhancing detection of spurious transgenic events in corn. Venkata holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Molecular Genetics from The University of Sydney, Plant Breeding Institute.
January, 2019 - present