Dr. Theertha Prasad
Dr.Theertha Prasad
Professor
Department of Biotechnology, University of Agricultural Sciences
March 2009 – Present - GKVK, Bangalore
Current research programs involve development of yeast vectors for inducible, heterologous gene expression, probiotics, understanding the mechanism of disease resistance in plants, cloning of novel proteinase inhibitor genes and cell signalling.
Apart from being Post Graduate teacher at UAS, Bangalore for guiding students for PhD and MSc programs, Bangalore University, Bangalore; Gulbarga University,Gulbarga; Kuvempu University, Shimoga; Shivaji University, Kolhapur and Pune University, Pune has recognized me to serve as Major Advisor of PhD programs in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Life Sciences and Applied Botany
Director (Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering)
Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune
Nonprofit; 201-500 employees; Research industry
March 2007 – March 2009 (2 years 1 month) Pune
September 2007 – Feb 2009. Director and Head, Crop Improvement, (Professor on Lein and University Head for Biotechnology, UAS, Bangalore), Division of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Manjari, Pune 412 307, Leading a group off high profile researchers working on sugar cane biotechnology.
Responsible for creating transgenic in sugarcane for the first time, overall development of TC facility in sugarcane. Initiated several research programs leading to proteomics and genomics using sugarcane as model system, Guided four PhD students from this institute, (four more are still pursuing)- crop improvement, salinity and drought resistance were the major areas of research addressed. Identified novel genes associated with abiotic stress, ELISA based detection for SCGS and smut disease, two nvel oraganisms as bioinoculants for stress tolerance and expression of FFT gene for production of fructans
Professor and Head
University of Agricultural Sceinces
August 1982 – March 2007 (24 years 8 months) Bangalore
Started career as Asst.Professor in 1982, 2004 to 2007 served as Professor and Head, Department of Biotechnology.
2001-2005 Visiting Professor, Center for Plant Molecular biology and Biotechnology, Geyangsang National University, Jinju, Korea
AWARDS/ DISTINCTIONS RECEIVED/ CONFERENCES ORGANIZED
2007. ORGANIZING SECRETARY, Regional conference on “Safety Assessment and Regulations of GM Crops with a special focus on Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety” University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore 2007
2006.ORGANIZING SECRETARY, International conference on Biotechnology approaches for alleviating malnutrition and Health at UAS, Bangalore, 9th -11th January 2006
2003, 2005 and 2006, 2007, 2009 -Merit Certificate University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore for research accomplishments
2001 Fellow of Indian Society of Agricultural Biochemists (FISAB), Indian Society of Agricultural Biochemists
2001 Sundaralal Baghai Gold Medal for Research Achievements in the Agriculture, Rotary International, Bangalore, 2001
1998 Biotechnology Overseas Associateship, Department of Biotechnology, GOI to Purdue University, USA.
1994 CONVENOR Training program on “Basic Molecular Biology Techniques”, Department of Biotechnology, UAS, Bangalore from 2nd- 12th April 1994.
1990-1991 Biotechnology National Associateship, Department of Biotechnology, GOI
1988 GURAV AWARD for the best research article published in the Journal, Crop Research (Crop Res, 1, 163 168, 1988)
RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS
Deposited more than 2700 gene sequences to EMBL/NCBI data bank which are related to drought, disease resistance, insect resistance, transcription factors. 30 Research projects from various funding agencies in India and USAID-HED. Guided 10 PhD students, 22 Master’s students. Has expertise in the areas of Plant Biochemistry, Plant molecular biology, yeast genetics. Published ~95 research papers in highly refereed journals and 120 paper presentations in national and International conferences
