About Prasanth

Pronouns: He/Him

From: Kochi, Kerala, India

Current research location

Clark University

Current Advisor

David Hibbett

Current project description

My current project is focused on the “evolution of nematophagy in Pleurotacaeae”. For this project, I am combining a wide range of techniques including classical mycology, metabolomics, comparative genomics, and transcriptomics to get a holistic view of the evolution of nematophagy in Pleurotaceae (Oyster mushroom and allies).

Which awards would you like to brag about?

My most recent awards include the graduate student research award from The Mycological Association of Washington DC and Sonoma Mycological Association scholarship award.

What are your career goals/plans for after you’re done with your current position?

I would like to be a professor at a research institution and continue doing research in fungi.

What is your favorite fact/thing about fungi?

My favorite fact of fungi is that they are hyper diverse and morphologically cryptic. Additionally they interact different organisms.

What is your favorite fungus and why?

Auriculoscypha anacardiicola. It is a relative of rust fungi that is parasites of phytopathogenic insects.

Who is your mycology role model?

Dr. P Mani Mohan

What do you like to do in your free time? What are your hobbies?

I love to hike, out door sports and cooking.

What is something inspiring or useful that you learned from your experiences in mycology?

Fungi are real bad ass and they can show fascinating adaptation to thrive different ecological niches.

Any great stories from field work?

During my last mushroom foray with the lab, we had to carry our canoe over a beaver dam.

Anything else you’d like to talk about, leave here!

I am heavily involved service with in and outside of Clark university. Currently we are establishing a mycology club in Clark university. I am also a member for FOSTER (Fostering Scientific Temper and Social Responsibility) at St. Teresa’s college Ernakulum, focused on the development of scientific temper in the community.

Current research location

Aime Lab (Purdue University)

Current Advisor

Dr. Catherine Aime/ Dr. Daniel Raudabaugh

Current project description

I am currently using DNA barcoding in the identification of nearly 2000 rust fungus samples.

What is your favorite fungus and why?

Mushrooms of the genus Cyptotrama for its incredible shade of yellow, much better than the shade of gold.

Which awards would you like to brag about?

I was the best undergraduate student twice! (I got two bachelors degree)

Any great stories from field work?

One day I found a mushroom similar to magic mushrooms growing near a palm tree and I ate it to see if it had hallucinogenic properties, but all I got was diarrhea.

What are your career goals/plans for after you’re done with your current position?

I would love to continue doing research on fungi and their potential use for the benefit of agricultural crops.

What is your favorite fact/thing about fungi?

Their impressive interaction with other organisms, their medicinal properties and their great taxonomic richness.

Who is your mycology role model?

Dr. Paul Edward Stamets for boosting mushrooms in the economy.

What do you like to do in your free time? What are your hobbies?

I love to travel and report biodiversity in iNaturalist. My favorite sport is ping pong and I like to watch videos of wild animals in Africa.

Anything else you’d like to talk about?

My first career was civil engineering, but I have discovered that nature has designed the best structures without the need to produce polluting waste.

What is something inspiring or useful that you learned from your experiences in mycology?

My interest in mycology began when I observed how some animals feed on fungi to alleviate some of their ailments and how plants create symbiosis with these organisms. It is incredible the medicinal and nutritional properties that these organisms have.