10 Questions With... Vaishnavi Padaki, microbiology Ph.D. candidate

10 Questions With… Vaishnavi Padaki, fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in microbiology, who will be defending her thesis in April. Padaki has created mixed-media artwork for part of her thesis which is on display March 31-April 16 in the Strand Gallery in Strand Ag Hall on the Corvallis campus.

What drew you to Oregon State University initially?

I earned a master’s degree in biochemistry and aimed to explore microbial physiology. Algal labs in the U.S. were my primary focus. Upon researching Kimberly Halsey’s lab in the Department of Microbiology at OSU, I became interested in her research in algal-bacterial interactions and microbial ecology and desired to join her team.

In the lab at Oregon State, Vaishnavi Padaki stands in the foreground wearing a lab coat. She has long dark hair and wears glasses. She is holding a flask with liquid in it. In the background, you see her mentor, Dr. Kimberly Halsey wearing a floral top and red cardigan sweater. She stands with one hand on her hip, looking at the flask in Vaishnavi's hands. She smiles widely as though she's laughing. The bench in front of them is littered with various lab equipment.

Vaishnavi and her mentor, microbiology professor Kimberly Halsey work in the lab together.

What is the most exciting or interesting thing you’ve learned as you’ve studied marine microbiology?

As I investigate deeper into marine microbiology, I find myself with even more questions than before. I am fascinated by the metabolic processes occurring in the environment. What excites me most is not just understanding how algae grow and produce these organic compounds, but also learning about the dynamics and fates of these compounds. My research focuses on a subset of these organic compounds called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are released by algae, which have three important fates in the ocean: biological, chemical oxidation and sea-air emission. VOC sea-air emission plays a significant role in cloud formation and climate regulation. One of the most intriguing insights I gained from my program is understanding the dynamics of this VOC microbial cycling.

Vaishnavi Padaki works in the lab. In the foreground are many flasks, bottles and pieces of lab equipment. Beyond, she stands working with a pipette. She wears a lab coat, has long dark hair and glasses.

What makes you passionate about higher education?

My passion lies in grasping the basics of science, which fuels my creativity. I maintain that participating in scientific endeavors is vital for awareness of our environment and understanding sustainability. Thus, pursuing higher education has strengthened my beliefs. It has not only enhanced my critical thinking skills but also deepened my understanding of others.

How does your love of art enhance your skills as a researcher?

My passion for art stems from the ability to create works with a theme. I have been practicing zentangle art for over 15 years, where you draw structured or repeating patterns to produce detailed artwork; it serves as a meditative outlet. Since 2022, I have also been studying glass art under the guidance of Jerri Bartholomew. Art allows me to visualize scientific data creatively. For example, I often depict my scientific findings as puzzle pieces, connecting them to various scientific concepts. I applied this concept to develop an exhibition that transformed my PhD research findings into illustrations and glass sculptures.

Vaishnavi Padaki stands in Strand Gallery where her art, inspired by her work in microbiology, is on display. She wears a black blazer over a black and white striped top. She has long dark hair and wears glasses. She looks over at her art piece to her right, perched on top of a white museum pedestal with a slight smile.

Vaishnavi looks at one of her pieces during her show in the Strand Gallery on campus at Oregon State in Corvallis, OR.

A glass art piece in Vaishnavi's show stands on top of a white museum pedestal. It is in shades of blue and black.

On display in Strand Gallery, April of 2025.

One of Vaishnavi's art pieces inspired by her microbiology research hangs in Strand Gallery. It is a series of smaller circles with multiple colors.

Read the full article on OSU Today.

Read more stories about: graduate students, women in science, microbiology, art and science

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