Sep 2024 – Dec 2024 · 3 mos · Paris, France

Aug 2024 – Apr 2025 · 8 mos · Ithaca, New York, United States

Jun 2024 – Present · 1 yr 9 mos · Ithaca, New York, United States · On-site

• Johnson Summer Startup Accelerator (https://eship.cornell.edu/item/johnson-summer-startup-accelerator/)

Mar 2021 – Present · 5 yrs

Dec 2020 – Present · 5 yrs 3 mos · Ithaca, New York, United States

Sep 2012 – Nov 2020 · 8 yrs 2 mos · Ithaca, New York, United States

• Advanced to the senior role to lead research to invent novel technologies, which required assessing complex data sets, designing and executing experiments, identifying patterns, and drawing meaningful conclusions. Facilitated multi-disciplinary teams conducting collaborative research projects. Ensured compliance with scientific protocols and research methodologies.
• ► Co-researched and invented small-molecule-based crop protection technology, constituting the foundation for establishing Ascribe Bioscience.
• ► Authored groundbreaking research publications in agriculture, biochemistry, biotechnology, and natural chemistry journals, identifying the novel pathways through which plants and animals respond to external signals.
• Hu, X., Lee, S., Manohar, M., and Chen, J. (2024) The fate of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli on alfalfa and fenugreek seeds and sprouts as affected by ascaroside #18 treatments. Food Bioscience 58, 103633
• Manohar, M., Tenjo, F., Chen, S., Zhang, Y., Kumari., A., Williamson, V., Wang, X., Klessig, D. F., and Schroeder, F. C. (2020) Plant metabolism of nematode pheromones mediates plant-nematode interactions. Nature Communications 11: 208.
• Manosalva, P. M*., Manohar, M*, Reuss, S. H., Chen, S., Micikas, R. J., Koch, A., Choe, A., Kaplan, F., Wang, X., Kogel, K-H., Sternberg, P. W., Williamson, V. M., Schroeder, F. C., and Klessig, D. F. (2015) Conserved nematode signaling molecules elicit plant defenses and pathogen resistance. Nature Communications 6:7795. *Co-first author.

Jan 2017 – Jul 2024 · 7 yrs 6 mos · Tompkins County, New York, United States

• Launched the company with a vision to offer a disruptive technology to revolutionize practices farmers utilize to protect crops from pests and pathogens, shifting their reliance on synthetics to the utilization of natural biochemicals. Steered the transition of lab technology developed at Boyce Thompson Institute (below) into a market-ready product, articulated the technological roadmap, and formulated the strategic plan. Administered a multi-million-dollar R&D budget and oversaw multi-national field tests. Submitted the technology for EPA review, with projections for commercialization/market launch in 2026.
• ► Defined and executed the technological roadmap with 3 milestones: field validation, ecological safety study and EPA submission, and mass production cost-effectiveness scalability analysis.
• ► Directed grant writing and investor pitches, acquiring multi-millions in non-dilutive federal (SBIR/STTR) and state funding and instrumentally contributed to increasing equity investments.
• ► Interacted with 100+ growers across the US and Brazil for market research and to validate and test the technology. Cultivated those partnerships in addition to relationships with ag-tech firms and academic scholars.

Sep 2010 – Sep 2012 · 2 yrs · Greater Houston · On-site

Jan 2009 – Mar 2012 · 3 yrs 2 mos · Houston, Texas, United States · On-site

• As a Graduate Research Assistant at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, I concentrated on studying nutrient transport in plants. I used Arabidopsis, tobacco, and yeast models to better understand calcium transport and its signaling mechanisms. My goal was to improve crop yield and nutrient content by examining how calcium transport impacts the acquisition and distribution of other essential nutrients in plants, such as potassium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and iron.
• Hocking, B*., Conn, S. J*., Manohar, M*., Xu, B., Athman, A., Webb, A. R., Hirschi, K. D., and Gilliham, M. (2017). Heterodimerization of Arabidopsis calcium/proton exchangers contributes to regulation of guard cell dynamics and plant defense responses. Journal of Experimental Botany 68, 4171-4183. *Co-first author.
• Manohar, M., Shigaki, T., Mei, H., Park, S., Marshall, J., Aguilar, J., and Hirschi, K. D. (2011). Characterization of Arabidopsis Ca2+/H+ Exchanger CAX3. Biochemistry 50, 6189–6195.
• Manohar, M., Shigaki, T., and Hirschi, K. D. (2011). Plant cation/H+ exchangers (CAXs): Biological Functions and Genetic Manipulations. Plant Biology 13, 561-569.
• Manohar, M., Mei, H., Franklin, A. J., Sweet, E. M., Shigaki, T., Riley, B. B., MacDiarmid, C. W., and Hirschi, K. D. (2010) A Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Endomembrane Antiporter Similar to a Yeast Cation/H+ Transporter is required for Neural Crest Development. Biochemistry 49, 6557-6566.

Oct 2005 – Jul 2007 · 1 yr 9 mos · New Delhi, Delhi, India · On-site