Smruthi S. Rudraraju

Smruthi is a technology specialist supporting the Intellectual Property practice and Life Sciences industry team. She is focused on intellectual property matters in the life sciences industry, with particular experience in molecular biology. She assists clients with developing and protecting patent portfolios by drafting and prosecuting U.S. and international patent applications, conducting patentability and freedom-to-operate analyses, and supporting intellectual property due diligence.

Smruthi brings a research scientist’s perspective to intellectual property work. She earned her Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences, where her doctoral research examined the RNA-binding activity of the transcription factor SNAIL using biochemistry techniques and next-generation sequencing, as well as its functional role during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. This combination of advanced scientific training and patent experience enables her to engage closely with inventors, understand technically complex innovations, and identify the details that can be important to protecting valuable intellectual property.

During her academic career, Smruthi served as president of both the University of North Dakota Biomedical Graduate Student Association and UND Women in Science. Her research and presentations received several honors, including the NIH CoBRE Pilot Genomics Award, and she helped secure funding for science outreach to underrepresented populations.