Professor Basuthkar Jagadeeshwar Rao, currently serving as the Vice-chancellor at the University of Hyderabad, has a rich academic history. Previously, he held esteemed positions such as Senior Professor, Chair of Biology, and Dean of Faculty at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. His association with the Biology Department at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai spanned approximately 24 years, during which he served as a Senior Professor, Chair of the Biology program, and contributed significantly to the field.

Dr. Rao's academic journey began with receiving the National Science Talent Award (ranking first in Andhra Pradesh and 16th in India). He obtained his PhD from the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru and furthered his expertise as a Research Scientist at Yale University Medical School in the United States before joining TIFR, Mumbai.

He holds the prestigious distinction of being a Fellow of all three National Academies of India and has been honored with the Sir JC Bose award by the Department of Science and Technology. Dr. Rao has played pivotal roles in numerous National and International committees, shaping policies concerning Science, Technology, and Education. His editorial leadership as the Chief Editor of the Journal of Biosciences, a collaborative endeavor between the Indian Academy of Sciences and Springer Nature, significantly elevated its impact in the academic sphere. As a DST-Inspire teacher, Dr. Rao passionately shares the current advancements and excitement in basic Biology with undergraduate students nationwide, contributing significantly to educational outreach.