Alumni Flag Bearers

Suresha G. Prabhu (2019-2024): Defended his PhD thesis entitled, “Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) genomic RNA (gRNA) packaging: selective gRNA encapsidation is facilitated by long-range interactions (LRIs) that facilitate specific Gag binding”. Briefly, Suresha thesis project was directed towards validating the existence and the biological significance of U5-Gag LRIs and the architectural role these LRIs may play in stabilizing the overall RNA secondary structure of MMTV packaging signal RNA employing a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches. Part of his thesis work was published in the top 1% journal (Prabhu et al., PLoS Biology, 2024). In addition, he contributed significantly to other projects in the laboratory to be a co-author on other manuscripts from the laboratory (Pillai et al., J. Mol. Biol., 2021; Pillai et al., Heliyon, 2023; Krishnan et al., RNA, 2024; Jehad et al., FEMS Microbiology Reviews, 2025). He also presented his thesis work at the prestigious annual Retrovirus meeting of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, 2024. Currently, Suresha is working as a postdoctoral fellow at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), Dubai. Link to the thesis defense. more..

Akhil Chameettachal (2016-2021): Defended his PhD thesis entitled, “Insights into the packaging of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) genomic RNA by identifying Pr77^Gag binding sites involved during its selective encapsidation”.  His thesis work was directed towards expressing, purifying, and characterizing MMTV Pr77^Gag, characterizing Pr77^Gag binding site(s) on the MMTV gRNA, and establishing correlations between the Pr77^Gag binding site(s) and gRNA packaging (Chameettachal et al., Viruses, 2018; Chameettachal et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 2021; Chameettachal et al., J. Mol. Biol., 2023).  In addition, he contributed significantly to other projects in the laboratory to be a co-author on other manuscripts (Pitchai et al., Sci. Rep., 2018; Krishnan et al., Viruses, 2019; Ali et al., Front. Micro., 2020; Pitchai et al., J. Mol. Biol., 2021; Pillai et al., J. Mol. Biol., 2021; Krishnan et al., RNA 2024; Prabhu et al., PLoS Biology, 2024).  Finally, he also gave a talk at the prestigious annual Retrovirus meeting of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, 2019 (https://youtu.be/zvkAraQVowM). Akhil is currently working as a postdoctoral fellow at the HIV Dynamics and Replication Program (HIV DRP), National Cancer Institute (NCI), MD USA. Link to the thesis defense.  more..

Rawan Mohammad Khaleel Kalloush (2012-2015): Defended her MS thesis entitled, “Optimal packaging of Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (MPMV) genomic RNA depends upon conserved long-range interactions (LRIs) between U5 and Gag sequences”.  Her thesis was directed towards validating the structure-function relationship(s) of various stems and loops of the recently predicted RNA secondary structure of MPMV packaging determinants. Specifically, she validated the existence and the biological significance of U5-Gag long-range interactions (LRIs) and the architectural role these LRIs may play in stabilizing the overall RNA secondary structure of MPMV packaging signal RNA that has been published in two leading journals of the field (Kalloush et al., RNA, 2016; Kalloush et al., RNA Biology, 2019). Rawan is pursuing her scientific career at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, Canada. more..

Soumeya Jaballah (2007-2010/2023-2025): Defended her master’s thesis entitled, “Delineation of MPMV RNA packaging determinants: Structure-function correlation of the 5′ end of MPMV RNA genome”. Her MS thesis work involved investigating the nature of the intervening sequences located between the two disconnected packaging determinants of MPMV.  Furthermore, she addressed the question whether the in situ presence of these intervening sequences on the RNA to be packaged is essential for RNA packaging or not.  She has published her findings in a leading journal of the field (Jaballah et al., J. Mol. Biol., 2010).  In addition, she also contributed to other published work (Al Dhaheri et al., Retrovirology, 2009).  After obtaining her PhD degree from the School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand, she rejoined the Rizvi laboratory as a postdoctoral fellow and worked on testing the next generation of MMTV-based retroviral vectors in tissue culture and animals. Part of her work has recently been published in a leading journal (Jaballah et al., J. Mol. Biol., 2025). Soumeya is currently working as a postdoctoral fellow at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), Dubai.  more..

Matthew T. Browning (1997-2001).  Defended his doctoral thesis entitled, “Cross-packaging among retroviruses and characterization of the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) packaging signal: Implications for the development of FIV-based gene transfer systems”.  His thesis related work resulted in several publications in the leading journals of the field (Browning et al., J. Virol., 2001; Browning et al., J. Gen. Virol., 2003; Browning et al., Virus Research, 2003).  Matt pivoted himself from being an active scientist to becoming a patent lawyer. Currently, Matt is working as an intellectual property lawyer in Houston, TX USA.  more..

Kathy Law (1992-2001).  Kathy Lew was an important member of our team, working as a Research Assistant. During her time with us, she contributed strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a dedication to research excellence. After leaving our organization, Kathy transitioned into healthcare, where she built on her scientific background by completing the Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) training program and pursuing a new career in the clinical laboratory field.  more..

Preethi Jayanth (2002-2006).  Preethi Jayanth got hired in Rizvi Lab, when Prof. Rizvi moved to the UAE and worked in the laboratory from 2002 until 2006. She was instrumental in establishing the laboratory from the ground up. She later moved to Canada to pursue her PhD at Queen’s University and is currently working as the Animal Ethics Coordinator at the University of Guelph.  more..