Rohita Roy

I am currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at Stanford University, where I focus on studying bacterial population dynamics using quorum-sensing bacteria and synthetic biology modules. I completed my PhD at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, specializing in the development of biosensors for detecting hazardous aromatic pollutants in water. My research utilizes molecular biology, synthetic biology and protein-engineering tools and techniques to address a variety of scientific challenges.

I am a researcher specializing in Molecular Biology and Synthetic Biology, with expertise in designing and engineering bacterial systems for biosensing and therapeutic applications. My work focuses on exploiting fundamental molecular biology techniques and synthetic circuit design principles to create programmable bacteria that can autonomously detect disease-relevant signals and respond with therapeutic outputs. Over the course of my research career, I have gained substantial experience in genetic circuit construction, bacterial population control strategies, and molecular cloning, applying these tools to develop robust, controllable, and application-oriented synthetic systems.

In addition to circuit engineering, I am well-trained in a wide array of molecular biology and biochemical methods, including protein extraction, purification, and biophysical characterization to understand protein structure–function relationships and ensure system reliability at the molecular level. My technical skillset further extends to spectroscopy and advanced microscopy imaging techniques, enabling me to visualize bacterial dynamics, protein localization, and system performance in real time. This combined expertise at the interface of molecular biology, systems biology, and quantitative imaging equips me to pursue translational synthetic biology research, bridging proof-of-concept circuit designs with real-world biosensing and therapeutic needs.

At Stanford University’s School of Engineering, my research focuses on designing synthetic gene circuits that control bacterial population dynamics for autonomous sensing and diagnostic (theranostic) applications. By integrating quorum sensing modules with growth-limiting and feedback-based designs, I engineer bacteria that can not only detect disease-relevant biomarkers but also regulate their own population size to ensure safety and stability within host or environmental systems. These circuits allow the bacteria to sense molecular signals, process them through synthetic regulatory networks, and execute defined therapeutic or diagnostic responses.

The population control element prevents uncontrolled bacterial growth, creating a self-contained system capable of functioning as a living diagnostic tool or therapeutic delivery vehicle. This approach merges synthetic biology, systems biology, and control theory, providing a proof-of-principle framework for next-generation engineered probiotics with applications in human health monitoring, targeted therapy, and gut–immune interface engineering.