Mohanish Deshmukh received his PhD in 1994 from Carnegie Mellon University and then completed his postdoctoral training in Dr. Eugene Johnson’s lab at Washington University. He started his academic career at the University of North Carolina (UNC) in 2000, where he has focused on identifying unique mechanisms by which the apoptotic pathway is regulated in neurons and embryonic stem cells. His lab also works on developing strategies for preventing neurodegeneration as well as for triggering apoptosis in brain tumors.

In addition to for his research, Mohanish has been recognized with awards for his teaching and mentoring. He is currently the associate director for the MD/PhD program at UNC and serves on the editorial boards of Oncogene and Cell Death and Differentiation.