1990-1995:Ph.D. (Molecular Biology) National Institute of Immunology, India [Identification and characterization of a novel transcription factor activating the baculovirus polyhedrin promoter]
1988-1990:M.Sc. (Zoology; specialization in Molecular Genetics and Cytogenetics) Banaras Hindu University, India
1985-1988:B.Sc. Honors (Botany, Zoology, Chemistry) Banaras Hindu University, India
Professional Experience:
2005-date:Assistant Professor Dept. of Radiation Oncology, UT Southwestern Medical Center [Investigating signal transduction pathways triggered by DNA double-strand breaks in mammalian cells]
1999-2005:Biologist Scientist (Career Scientist) Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory [Investigated the detection, signaling, and repair of DNA damage in mammalian cells]
1998-1999:Postdoctoral Associate Life Sciences Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory [Established that the phosphorylation and activation of p53 in response to DNA damage is independent of DNA-PK and dependent on ATM]
1996-1998:Postdoctoral Associate Dept. of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University [Discovered a novel mechanism of RNA Polymerase II transcriptional regulation involving the dissociation of TBP and TFIID dimers by Sp1 and TFIIA]
1995-1996:Postdoctoral Associate Dept. of Mol. Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University [Observed that the interferon-inducible protein p202 inhibits transcription factors MyoD and myogenin during skeletal muscle differentiation]
Research Grants:
1] Molecular and cellular effects of heavy ion fragmentation due to shielding (PI) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); 2005-2009 $1,224,428 in direct costs
2] Interaction of Brca1 with the DNA-Dependent Protein Kinase (PI) Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program (DOD BCRP); 2003-2004 $130,000 in direct costs
3] Roles of DNA-PK in DNA double-strand break repair (co-PI) National Institutes of Health (NIH) Career Award; 2003-2012 $2,242,215 in direct costs
4] DNA damage responses induced by HZE particles in human cells (co-PI) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); 2004-2008 $1,404,798 in direct costs
Memberships in Professional Societies:
Radiation Research Society (RRS) Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology (FASEB)
Ad-Hoc Reviewer:
EMBO Reports / EMBO Journal Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences Molecular and Cellular Biology Cancer Research Radiation Research Radiation and Environmental Biophysics International Journal of Radiation Biology International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics
