Education

Ph.D. (2003-2010): Departments of Molecular Genetics and Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus OH-USA

M.Sc. (Agri) (1997-1999): Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, India

B.Sc. (Agri) (1993-1997): University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad, India

Work Experience     

Since Mar 2023: Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences (BITS)-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, India

July 2017-Feb 2023: Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences (BITS)-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, India

July 2012-May 2017: Postdoctoral Fellow/Research Associate, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Departments of Biology, Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Indiana University (IU), USA

Jan. 2011-Mar. 2012: Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Biochemistry, The Ohio State University (OSU), USA

Sept. 2003-Dec. 2010: Graduate Teaching Associate at Departments of Molecular Genetics/Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology and Center for Life Sciences Education, OSU, USA

Dec. 2002-Jul. 2003: Research Associate, Dept. of Crop Physiology, UAS, Bangalore, India

Sept. 1999-Jan. 2002: Research Associate, Dept. of Genetics and Plant Breeding, UAS, Bangalore, India

 Honors/Awards/Fellowships

·     Ramanujan Fellowship by Dept. of Science and Technology-Science and Engineering Research Board (DST-SERB), Govt. of India (2017)         

·     *Ramalingaswamy Reentry Fellowship by Dept. of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India (2017)       

·     Molecular Genetics Graduate Teaching Award at OSU (USA) (2009-10) for exceptional teaching and for developing novel teaching tools

·     Selected as a Model International Teaching Associate by Spoken English Program OSU (USA).·      

·     *Awarded PACE (Premium for Academic Excellence) fellowship by Iowa state university (USA) for Ph.D admission into Interdepartmental Genetics during 2003·        

·     *Junior Research Fellowship in Plant sciences group in the All India entrance examination conducted by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, during 1998.

·     Merit Scholarship awarded by University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, India, for academic excellence during the entire period of Master’s studies (1997-1999).

·     Merit Scholarship awarded by UAS, Dharwad, India, for academic excellence during the entire period of undergraduate studies (1994-1997).

·     Late Mr. B.M. Vali memorial shield for securing the highest overall GPA in the Agronomy Sciences during undergraduate studies at UAS, Dharwad, India.

*Declined to choose other fellowships

  Awards for/at conferences

· The American Society of Virology Student Travel Grant Award-2009

·  Plant Cellular & Molecular Biology (OSU-USA) Student Travel Grant Award-2009

· Best Oral Presentation award in National conference on integrative Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology (NCIPBB), India-2019

· Best Poster award in National conference on integrative Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology (NCIPBB), India-2019

 Nominations

· Nominated for the 2009 Presidential Fellowship/Mary S. Muellhaupt Presidential Fellowship at OSU (USA).

·  Nominated thrice (2004-05, 2007-08, and 2010-11) for OSU (USA)- Graduate Associate Teaching Award (GATA), the university’s highest recognition of exceptional teaching.