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About Me
I am a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Oklahoma (OU). At OU, I am part of Dr. Cecil M. Lewis, Jr.'s research group in the Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research (LMAMR). We are located in the Stephenson Research and Technology Center in Norman, Oklahoma. My research interests include: 1) studying the evolution of human pathogens using ancient DNA, with a particular focus on tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy, 2) studying the presence of TB and leprosy in nonhuman hosts and the potential for zoonotic transmission to humans, and 3) studying the evolution of the human gut and oral microbiomes in the context of ancient as well as modern populations. |
Research Interests
Pathogen Evolution; Zoonotic Diseases; Ancient DNA; Human Microbiome; Tuberculosis; Leprosy; Bioinformatics
Pathogen Evolution; Zoonotic Diseases; Ancient DNA; Human Microbiome; Tuberculosis; Leprosy; Bioinformatics
Background
I was born and brought up in Pune, India. I completed my high school education (grades 1-10) from Abhinava Vidyalaya English Medium School and grades 11-12 from Fergusson College. I have a Bachelor's degree in Microbiology, with a minor in Industrial Microbiology, from Abasaheb Garware College, India, and a Master's degree in Virology from the National Institute of Virology, India. Both institutes fall under the aegis of the University of Pune, India.
In June 2017, I completed my Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology from Arizona State University (ASU). I was co-advised in my doctoral research by Dr. Anne C. Stone, Regents' Professor, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, and Dr. Michael S. Rosenberg, former Associate Professor, School of Life Sciences (currently at Virginia Commonwealth University).
I was born and brought up in Pune, India. I completed my high school education (grades 1-10) from Abhinava Vidyalaya English Medium School and grades 11-12 from Fergusson College. I have a Bachelor's degree in Microbiology, with a minor in Industrial Microbiology, from Abasaheb Garware College, India, and a Master's degree in Virology from the National Institute of Virology, India. Both institutes fall under the aegis of the University of Pune, India.
In June 2017, I completed my Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology from Arizona State University (ASU). I was co-advised in my doctoral research by Dr. Anne C. Stone, Regents' Professor, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, and Dr. Michael S. Rosenberg, former Associate Professor, School of Life Sciences (currently at Virginia Commonwealth University).
When I am not doing science, I love travelling, reading, and geeking out over sci-fi TV shows.
