Dr. Sharma has published over 227 scientific papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals, authored 54 book chapters, edited 2 books, and presented about 400 abstracts at both national and international scientific meetings. He is a member of several professional societies, including: American Society of Reproductive Medicine, American Society of Andrology, and the Society for the Study of Male Reproduction. Dr. Sharma is an ad hoc reviewer for the Journal of Andrology, Human Reproduction, Fertility & Sterility, Urology, Journal of Urology, Reproductive BioMedicine Online, Biology of Reproduction, Asian Journal of Andrology. Rakesh has served as the reviewer of the Israel Science Foundation, National Research Foundation, Medical Research Council, South Africa, Wellcome Trust, UK and NIH-Specialized Cooperative Centers Program in Reproduction and Infertility.

Rakesh is an investigator on 60 research grants. He is the recipient of several awards such as Merlyn F. Bumpus Junior Investigator Award, Research Excellence Award, Fellow of the Year, Mentor Recognition award, Scientist of the Year Award, Excellence in Male Infertility Research award, Cleveland Clinic Innovations award, Scholarship in Teaching (SIT) Awards for Summer Internship (2012-2013) and ART Training (2013), and the Star Award from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2012-2016).

His current research interests include the role of free radicals in the pathophysiology of male and female infertility, apoptosis and semen quality, fertility preservation, DNA damage, oxidative stress and embryo quality, endometriosis associated infertility, and proteomics in infertility and cancer.