Dr. Mendu, a research scientist who specializes in plant physiology and biochemistry is an associate professor in Texas Tech University's Department of Plant and Soil Science. Prior to joining the Texas Tech faculty, Mendu served as a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of Biology, École normale supérieure (IBENS) in Paris, and at the University of Kentucky's departments of horticulture and plant pathology. He also worked as a graduate research assistant with the University of Kentucky's Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, as well as a research associate in the Center for Plant Molecular Biology at Osmania University-India.

Mendu received his bachelor's degree in agriculture and master's degree in genetics and plant breeding from ANGR Agricultural University-India. His doctorate in plant physiology/biochemistry/molecular biology is from the University of Kentucky. Awards for Mendu include the Jeffery Fellowship at the University of Kentucky (2006); Kentucky Graduate Scholarship (2003-2008); and Junior Research Fellow, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test-India (1999).