[citation needed] Following four years of lectureship at various colleges in Utkal University (1978–82), he received a teaching and research fellowship from Iowa State University in 1982 to pursue studies leading to a doctorate degree.

[citation needed] In December 1988, he received his PhD in Zoology (Molecular Endocrinology) from Iowa State.

[7][better source needed] Using Atomic force microscope on live cells, Jena was the first to report the discovery of a new cellular structure the Porosome in the mid 1990s.

Jena and his research team has determined the structure and dynamics of the Porosome in live cells, at nm resolution and in real time.

The isolated Porosome has been both structurally and functionally reconstituted in lipid membrane and live cells, and its composition determined.