[1] He has earned international recognition for his work on molecular chaperones as well as his contribution to the field of photoacoustic spectroscopy in health and disease.

[2] He is a former director of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and served as a CSIR-Distinguished Scientist.

Mohan Rao pursued his academic journey at Osmania University, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in botany, zoology, and chemistry in 1975.

In 1984, he earned his PhD in chemistry from the University of Hyderabad, focussed on photoacoustic spectroscopy of chemical and biological systems.

[12] Additionally, he played a key role as an Executive Committee member for the Centre of Excellence in Bioinformatics at Madurai Kamaraj University.