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Curriculum Vitae Dr. Tara Devi S. Ashok

Senior Lecturer II, University Of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125

Name Dr. Tara Devi S Ashok

e-mail ID tara.ashok@umb.edu

Education

B.Sc (with Honors) Anthropology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India. 1973

M.Sc in Anthropology with Specialization in Physical Anthropology 1975 University of Delhi, Delhi, India. PhD in Anthropology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India. 1981 “Biochemical Genetics of Mental Retardation: A study of Hemoglobin, Australia Antigen and the enzymes Pseudocholinesterase and Glucose -6-phosphate dehydrogenase.”

Teaching and Research Experience Teaching Experience Oct 83 - to date Subjects taught; Biological Anthropology, Human Genetics, Population genetics, Anatomy and Physiology, General Genetics, Principles of Genetics, Biochemistry, Developmental Biology, Human origins, Developmental models in Human evolution and General Biology and Anthropology of Health and Illness

Teaching career in the US. Presently, a hybrid faculty (Senior Lecture II) in the Department of Biology and Anthropology at the University of Massachusetts Boston, MA. I am teaching courses in Anthropology, Biology & Biochemistry from Jan 2003 to date. The content for all the courses listed below have been developed by me. University of Massachusetts Boston, MA (All courses have been designed by me) Biology Department:

1. BIO – 101- Basis of Life (for non-bio students) Fall 2008,09,13-15 Sp 2010-15;

2. BIO - 314- Developmental Biology Spring (2003-2013) 3. BIO- 313- Developmental Biology with Lab. Spring 2012, 2013

(Created a new Lab course For Dev biology.

4. BIO - 111- General Biology Fall (2004). 250 students 5. BIOCHM – 383,385,384- Biochemistry1 & 2 Lecture( Summer, spring & fall 2004-2007) 6. Biochem. lab.1 (2004-2015) 7. Freshmen Biology ( Bio 187 and 188) Fall 2013 –till date

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Anthropology Department

1. ANTH-105- Introduction to Biological Anthropology Spring & Fall course (2004-2015) 2. ANTH-105- Introduction to Biological Anthropology Transition program-Spring 2006.

Spring and Fall 2007; University College) / CAPS

3. ANTH–211- Human Origins Fall,(2007)spring,( (2004)Fall 2010) 4. ANTH–313 -Developmental models in Human evolution spring course. (2005), Fall 2007 5. ANTH 211 – Human origin - Online summer course 2011, 12 -15, Fall 2013 -15) (13 weeks course)

6. ANTH 105 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology Summer (July 18–August 25) 2011- 14

From spring 2010, teaching courses using Blackboard. All courses are web enhanced. I have conducted for the first time in UMASS Boston, proctored exams for 150 Bio 101 students using the computer labs in Healey library.

Bay State College, Boston, MA Sept 1997 – May 2006 1. Principles of Genetics Jan 1998 - Jan 2002, 2004, 2006

(Designed this course in Spring of 1998) 2. Anthropology of Health and Illness Jan 2006 – May 2006 3. Anatomy and Physiology 1 and II Sept 1997 – May 1998

Pellissippi State Community College, Knoxville, TN Jan 1994 - May 1997. 1. Genetics (for Honors Biology)-Lecture Aug 1996 - Dec 1996 2. Anatomy and Physiology I and II (Lab.) Aug 1994 -May 1997

Roane State Community College, Oak Ridge,TN Aug 1995 -July 1997 1. Anatomy and Physiology I and II (lecture and Lab.) Also taught by interactive method

as part of distance learning by Satellite Communication.

Teaching Career in India: Jan 85 – Oct 93.

Taught Genetics at The Department of Genetics, Delhi University South Campus, Delhi University, Delhi, India. (All the Teaching was at Masters and PhD level). Biological Anthropology – (Human Variation) at the Department of Anthropology, Delhi University – Sept. 1983-1984.

Research Experience and Positions held: Research Associate July 2001- June 30, 03 Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115. Department of Cancer Cell Biology. Worked with Prof. Dr. Karl T. Kelsey Research Fellow Oct 1997–June 2001 Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115. Department of Cancer Cell Biology. Worked with Prof. Dr. Karl T. Kelsey

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Work carried out at Professor Karl T. Kelsey’s laboratory. I joined Prof. Karl Kelsey’s group at Harvard School of Public Health in Oct 97. The first study was on XRCC1 in Lung cancer patients, followed by the study of Microsatellite instability in the lung cancer patients. Further, carried out work on O6 Alkyl guanine DNA Methyltransferase (AGT) in Brain tumor patients. The next venture was on the ABI 377 standardization of protocol for sequencing and carried out the SSCP for p53 (exon 5- 9) in Bladder cancer patients. Carried out work on chromosomal Instability (CIN) in Head and Neck cancers. I was involved in a project for development of a novel technique for Haplotyping. Worked on Pseudogenes and SNP’s (a set of 25) in the lung cancer and control subjects. Audited an Introductory SAS course in fall, 2000 at HSPH. Attended the AACR, 2000 at San Francisco.

Research Fellow at the Department of Jan 1994 -Aug 1997. Developmental Genetics, UT Medical Center, Knoxville, Tennessee. (Carried out research on Mitochondrial Genome).

Work carried out in Tennessee Medical Center: Carried out work on mitochondrial DNA and used it for tracing the origins of a tribe from India, who are the cave dwellers- the Cholanaickens.

Head of the Department of Genetics. University of Delhi South Campus, Delhi. India. Nov 1992 – Nov 1993

Associate Professor (Reader), Department of Genetics, Sept 1989 - May 1994 University of Delhi South Campus, Delhi. India.

Assistant Professor (Lecturer), Department of Genetics, Jan 1985 - Aug 1989 University of Delhi South Campus, Delhi. India.

Research Fellowships

Was on a Dutch Fellowship. Awarded by Prof. L.F. Bernini Nov 1991 - July 1992. Sylvius laboratory, Leiden State University, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Was awarded the Biotechnology Overseas Associateship from May 1990 - Oct 1991, by the Ministry of Biotechnology, Govt. of India to carryout Research work at the Sylvius laboratory, Leiden State University, Leiden, The Netherlands. (This fellowship was utilized to carryout research work on Hemoglobinopathies and study of a conserved region upstream of alpha globin under the guidance of Prof.L.F.Bernini, and study of the repair mechanisms, under the guidance of Prof.A.T.Natarajan, Sylvius laboratory, Leiden State University, Leiden, The Netherlands.)

Fellowships were granted for Doctoral and postdoctoral studies from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India. Jan 1976 - Oct 1983

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Memberships:

Advisory Board member - Center for the Improvement of Teaching at University Of Massachusetts Boston (2010-2015 -spring).

A Member of the New York Academy of Sciences (10/01/2010 - 09/30/2011) Awards

2011 – Was awarded the “Teaching with Technology Award -- Innovation & Creativity”. UMASS Boston. http://umbedtech.wordpress.com/

1983 - The Indian Science Congress awarded ISCA Young Scientist Award for the year 1975 - Awarded a prize for securing the first position in Miranda House (College) in M.Sc 1973 - Awarded the All India Postgraduate fellowship for the M.Sc degree program

The latest updates: Attended a Summer Institute, "The Power of the Mindsets," This Learning & the Brain Institute, Boston, MA, USA, 20.5 credit hours. (July 28, 2015 - July 31, 2015) at Park Plaza Hotel. Boston, MA. The Institute was led by Dr. Robert Brooks, where concepts of student engagement, motivation and resilience were examined through the lens of “mindsets.” An understanding of the relationship among these concepts led participants to design and implement strategies that helped to create a positive school climate. The mindsets of effective learners and effective educators were identified.

Have been a reviewer for open source journals articles. I am on the Editorial Board for the Anthropology Open Journal. http://openventio.org/AnthropologyOpenJournal/TaraDeviSAshok.html

I was elected as the Facilitator for the CIT spring seminar for 2015 for the Non-Tenure Track Faculty. Presentation of a Panel

Ashok, T. (Panelist), Hess, J. (Panelist), Kingsley, V. (Panelist), Urbanek, V. M. (Panelist), Griffin, J. (Panelist), Quinlan, J. (Panelist), Sharicz, C. (Panelist), Vaughan, M. (Panelist) Panel, CIT Spring Seminar for Non Tenure Track Faculty: an in-depth look into teachers as co- Learner. 2015 9th Annual University Conference on Teaching, Learning, and Technology (UCTLT), UMASS Boston, Boston, (May 18, 2015).

The panel enumerated the special experience of attending the CIT Spring NTT Seminar where participants shared and incorporated teaching methods and practices. It was for the first time that a tradition was started for running such a semester long seminar for the Non Tenure Track (NTT) Faculty members at UMB. Tara Ashok, NTT seminar facilitator highlighted the planning process and implementation of the experience for the 2014 and 2015 NTT seminars. The other panel members shared their experience as co- learners.

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The students of Biology Freshmen community presented a poster on the activities they did in fall of 2014 and spring 2015 in the Integrated Science complex on May, 5 2015. It was well received presentation.

Gave lectures on Bioarcheology in Dr. Jerry Howard's class on March 26th 2015 and in Dr. Nedra Lee’s class on November 7th 2014. UMASS Boston.

Gave a Keynote/Plenary Address, in a conference on “Understanding the Mechanism and Challenges of Complex Diseases (UMCCD-2014).” The title of the talk was “Global Approaches for Complex Diseases with an Adaptive Local Strategy.” In the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Shaheed Rajguru College of Applied Sciences for Women, University of Delhi, Vasundhara Enclave, Delhi-96, Delhi, India, (December 29, 2014 - December 30, 2014).

Abstract: Today, we have gone global in all aspects of life, yet have to deal with local problems in an innate manner. The time has arrived to stand back and conceptualize medicine in a theoretical integrated manner looking at biological, cultural and evolutionary developmental mechanisms of diseases. Complex diseases will need a synthesis of both global and local strategies in order to keep citizens of the world healthy. During this presentation, a holistic approach for understanding and management of complex diseases will be enumerated, including ethnic based approaches with an emphasis on epigenetics and personalized approaches for therapy. Questions on development of strategies for low cost testing and therapy will be addressed. Mind body and integrative medicine will be highlighted. The complex diseases of today and the ones to come in future will need a deeper look at the very core of biology, traditions, environment and evolution. The question addressed here will be, will we be able to write a prescription for our self-healing? Conducted an International Institute on Global Learning and Communications in Shaheed Rajguru College of Applied Sciences for Women from Dec, 28 2013 – Jan, 2 2014 and a mini interactive workshop entitled “Development of a New Mindset to Adapt to Emerging Technologies” was conducted on Jan, 2 2014 for 709 students of Shaheed Rajguru College of Applied Sciences for Women as part of their Silver Jubilee Celebrations. I taught in summer 2015 a Biology course for non- majors, International students of NAVITAS in summer 2015. This was a unique experience where I learnt the biological terms used in different languages. Published a paper, entitled, “Development of a new mindset for eLearning Pedagogy: for the Teacher and the Learner” in Current Issues in Emerging eLearning (CIEE), this is an open access, peer-reviewed, online journal of applied research and critical thought on eLearning practice and emerging pedagogical methods. The journal is published by the Center for Innovation and Excellence in eLearning, and sponsored by the College of Advancing and Professional Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The paper was published in the first issue.

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I have been associated with Professor Andrew Grosovsky, Dean, Science and Mathematics at UMASS Boston (from February, 2008 to 2011) carrying out research on genomic instability and cDNA arrays to study cancer biology and trying to develop technology to collect, preserve and analysis human and mouse samples. We were trying to develop various technologies to better the sample collection, preservation methods and extraction of all the macromolecules especially DNA and RNA. We were instrumental in bringing the Pressure Biosciences, Inc to VDC at UMASS Boston. On the teaching front, I am associated with Dr. Andrew Grosovsky as I teach freshmen biology students belonging to the freshmen success community since 2013 till date.

Research Support in India and the US.

2010- Attended the Behavioral Epigenetics conference, Organized by the New York Academy of Sciences, Brown University and University of Massachusetts Boston. Oct 28-30.

1987-Project Granted by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Delhi, India. to carry out research on the Biochemical Genetics of Hemoglobinopathies at family and population level.

1988 - Project granted by University Grants Commission to carry out research on anemic patients of Delhi, for the detection of hemoglobinopathies.

Publications

Polymorphisms in the DNA repair genes XRCC1 and ERCC2 and biomarkers of DNA damage in human blood mononuclear cells Carcinogenesis (2000) 21(5): 965-971 doi:10.1093/carcin/21.5.965 Most-Cited Articles as of January 1, 2012 Rankings based on citations to online articles from HighWire-hosted articles. Manoj Gaur, Mayurika Goel, L. Sridhar, Tara Devi S. Ashok, S. Prabhakar, P. Dureja, P. Raghunathan and S. V. Eswaran. Synthesis, characterization, and antifungal activity of biaryl-based bis(1,2,3- triazoles) using click chemistry. Monatshefte für Chemie / Chemical Monthly DOI: 10.1007/s00706- 011-0652-xOnline First™ Monatsh Chem (2012) 143:283–288.

Manvi Jain, Maneesh Sharma, Manoj Gaur, Tara Devi S. Ashok, P. Dureja and S. V. Eswaran. 1-(4-Nitrophenyl)-4-phenyl-1H-1, 2, 3-triazole vs 5(6)-nitrobenzofuroxan formation and their antifungal activity. J. Indian Chem. Soc., Vol. 88, April 2011, pp. 543-546.

Ashok, T. Why Is It Important to Teach about Race, Caste and Gender? An Anthropologist’s Viewpoint. HUMAN ARCHITECTURE: Journal of the Sociology of Self-Knowledge. 2011. IX (3), 71-80. http://www.okcir.com/index.html

Tara Devi S. Ashok. Teach others to learn while you are learning to teach: A personal journey in teaching, linking Pedagogy and Technology. This was presented at the CIT conference on Teaching for Transformation, January 2008.UMASS Boston, MA. It has been published in Human Architecture, 2008. Vol VI, Issue 1, 61-67.

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Karl T. Kelsey, Tomoko Hirao, Shuya Hirao, Devi-Ashok, Tara, Heather H. Nelson, Angeline Andrew, Joanne Colt, Dalsu Baris, J. Steven Morris, Alan Schned, and Margaret Karagas. Tp53 alterations and patterns of carcinogen exposure in a US population-based study of bladder cancer. Int J Cancer, 117 (3): 370-75, 2005

Shuya Hirao, Tomoko Hirao, Carmen J. Marsit, , Yoko Hirao, , Alan Schned, , Tara Devi-Ashok, , Heather H. Nelson,, Angeline Andrew, Margaret R. Karagas, Karl T. Kelsey, Loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 9q and p53 alterations in human bladder cancer. Cancer, 2005, Volume 104, Issue 9, 1918 - 1923

Hernandez-Diaz, Sonia; Wu, Xiao F.; Hayes, Catherine; Werler, Martha M.; Ashok, Tara Devi S.; Badovinac, Rachel; Kelsey, Karl T.; Mitchell, Allen A. Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T Polymorphism and the Risk of Gestational Hypertension. Epidemilogy. 16(5): 628-634, September 2005.

K.T.Kelsey, T. Hiro, A. Schned, T. Devi-Ashok, H.H. Nelson, A. Andrew and M.R. Karagas. A population – based study of immunohistochemical detection of p53 alteration in bladder cancer. British.J. Cancer. 2004. 90, 1572-1576.

Hadi Danaee, Heather Nelson, Margaret R. Karagas, Alan R. Schned, Tara Devi S. Ashok, Tomoko Hirao, Ann E. Perry and Karl T. Kelsey. Microsatellite Instability at Tetranucleotide repeats in skin cancer and bladder cancer. Oncogene. 2002 .21,4894-4899.

Tomoko Hirao, Heather H.Nelson, Tara Devi S. Ashok, John C. Wain, Eugene W. Mark, David C.Christiani, John K. Wiencke, and Karl T. Kelsey. Tobacco Smoke-Induced DNA damage and early age of smoking initiation Induced chromosome loss at 3p21 in Lung cancer. Cancer Res. 2001 Jan 15; 61 (2): 612 -5.

Eric J. Duell, John K. Wienke, Tsun - Jen Cheng, Andrea Varkony, Zheng Fa Zuo, Tara Devi S. Ashok, Eugene J. Mark, John C. Wain, David C. Christiani and Karl T. Kelsey. Polymorphism in the DNA repair genes XRCC1 and ERCC2 and biomarkers of DNA damage in human blood mononuclear cells. Carcinogenesis.2000 May; 21(5): 965-71.

Tara Devi S., Goyal, R., Harms, Margret and Walter, H. Genetic serum protein markers in four tribal populations from Kerala, India. J. Hum.Ecol, 5(2): 117-121, 1994.

Keilman, M.F., Smits, R., Tara Devi, S., Fodde, R and Bernini, L.F. Homology of a 130 Kb region enclosing the alpha globin gene cluster, the alpha locus controlling region, and two non globin genes in human and mouse. Mammalian Genome.4:314 - 323,1993.

Devi, S., Saran, S.K and Nair, G. Study of Glucose -6 -phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) in the Kissan tribals of Orissa and Kannikar tribals of Kerala, India. Anthrop.Anz. 2: 179 - 181, 1993.

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Tara Devi, S. and Goyal, R. Albumin variants in the Kannikar Tribals of Nedumangard Taluk, Trivandrum District, Kerala (India). Anthrop. Anz. 49 (3): 187 - 193, 1991. Tara Devi, S. Recent developments in molecular biology of the Homo sapiens: The approach and relevance in the Indian context. In Changing perspectives of Anthropology in India. pp 159 -174. Ed S.C.Tiwari. Today and Tomorrow’s Publishers, New Delhi-110005, 1989.

Seth, P.K., Tara Devi, S., and Seth, S., Glucose -6-Phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and mental retardation. J.Inherited.met.disorder. 43: 93-94, 1981.

Tara Devi, S., Seth, S., and Seth, P.K., Biochemical Genetics and Mental Retardation. A study of hemoglobins, austarlia antigen and enzymes pseudocholinesterase and G6PD.Acta. Anthropogenetica. 4 (182): 61, 1980.

Tara Devi, S., Seth, S., and Seth, P.K. Serum pseudocholinesterase activity in the mentally retarded children. Indian J. Phy.Anthrop. and Hum.Genet. 6 (2): 109-117, 1980.

Tara Devi S. Ashok, Hurst, B.S.L and Matteson, K.J. Mitochondrial DNA haplotypes in the subpopulations of India. (Paper in preparation)

Tara Devi S. Ashok, A critical appraisal of the strategy for pre and postnatal diagnosis at both clinical and population level in India. (In preparation)

Posters Presented

Tara Devi S., Hurst, B.S.L and Matteson, K.J. Mitochondrial DNA haplotypes in the subpopulations of India Presented in the American association of Physical Anthropologists. April 1996

Matteson, K.J., B.S.L. Hurst and Tara Devi, S. Mitochondrial DNA haplotypes in the subpopulations of India.Presented in the American Society of Human Genetics. June 1995.

Tara Devi, S., Losekoot, M., Jerth, R., Nair., G., Fodde, R., and Bernini, L.F. Hemoglobinopathies and Thalassemia - A critical appraisal of the strategy for pre and postnatal diagnosis at both clinical and population level in India. Presented at the Miami 1994 Bio/Technology winter symposium, Advances in gene technology: Molecular Biology and Human disease. Feb 1994.

Fodde, R., Losekoot, M., Wijen, J, Th., Vander, R., Tops. Luijit, c., Vanden Brock, M., Tara Devi, S., Giordano, P.C.Bernini, L.F., and Merra Khan, P. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). A general tool for rapid and sensitive detection of base changes in PCR-amplified genomic DNA. Presented at the IInd European HUGO conference Porlo Conte, Italy, Human Genome diversity, April 1992.

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Tara Devi, S., Losekoot, M., Nair, G., Fodde, R., and Bernini, L.F. DNA polymorphism of the human beta globin gene in the tribals populations of north and South Kerala, India.Presented at the 4th international conference on thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies. At Nice, France, Nov 1991.

Giordano, P.C., Gioco, P, Lo., Streng, H., Amos, R., Tara Devi, S., Losekoot, M., Maggio, A., and Bernini, L.F. Sickle cell anemia induced by compound heterozygosity HbS / Hb D Punjab in South Italian family. Presented at the 4th international conference on thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies. At Nice, France, Nov 1991.

Tara Devi, S., Losekoot, M., Jerth, R., Streng, H., Fodde, R., and Bernini, L.F. Molecular diagnosis of beta thalasemia in nineteen north Indian families: A strategy for the pre- and postnatal diagnosis using PCR and DGGE analysis. Biotech 92, Held at Dusseldorf, Germany.Nov, 1991.

Workshops attended

Biological anthropology the state of Science, Summer Institute, June 6 - 11, 1994. International Institute for Human Evolutionary research, The George Washington University.

Development and Handling of Molecular probes in diagnosis of tropical diseases. 6-18 March 1989. At A.C. College, Department of Biotechnology. Madras. India.

Screening of genetic abnormalities, 19 –24, Jan 1987. Held at the Institute of Science Bangalore, India

Enzyme engineering workshop organized by the Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, Delhi, India.

Lectures Delivered

Lecture Series: Osher Life Long Learning Institute at UMASS Boston on "Human Genetics and Epigenetics" (Fall 2013) 1. September 26 lecture: http://vpc.umb.edu/OLLIHumanGeneticsAndEpigenetics_092613/

2. October 3 Lecture : http://vpc.umb.edu/OLLI_HumanGenetics_100313/ 3. October 10 Lecture: http://vpc.umb.edu/OLLI_HumanGenetics_101013/ 4. October 17 Lecture: http://vpc.umb.edu/OLLI_HumanGenetics_101713/ 5. October 24 Lecture: http://vpc.umb.edu/OLLI_GeneticsEpigenetics_102413/ 6. October 31 Lecture: http://vpc.umb.edu/OLLI_HumanGenetics_103113/

Was a speaker at the 2011 Nobel-Pauling Bio Christmas Dim Sum Symposium. Boston, Dec 26, 2011. “How Linus Pauling is important for my course lectures in Anthropology, Biology and Biochemistry”.

Educational Technology Conference 2010. Transforming Teaching and Learning with Technology. UMASS Boston (May 13, 2010). Engaging Students in Large Classes: Multiple Strategies. http://www.umb.edu/events/edtech_conference/presenters.html; http://umbmedia.wordpress.com/2010-edtech-conference-transforming-teaching-and- learning-with-technology/

Dr Ashok, Tara Devi, ' Human genome variation and environmental interactions: an epigenetic view', ATREE, Bangalore, 23 June 2009.

http://www.atree.org/newsletters/atree_branches/abv6_2_web.html

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Dr. Denise Patmon invited me to be a panelist at the CIT Faculty Development Thematic Seminar entitled, "Engaging Students in a Changing University." February 2nd 2009. UMASS Boston.

Delivered a keynote address: Plenary Lecture 9. “A holistic Approach to Teaching Human

Genomics”. International Symposium on ‘Ethics, Culture and Population Genomics’ & 34th

Annual Conference of the Indian society of Human Genetics.

March 17-20th, 2009. New Delhi. India.

Speaker at the panel discussion on Ethics, Culture and Population Genomics’ “A biocultural approach to population genomics: the molecular way.” International Symposium on ‘Ethics, Culture and Population Genomics’ & 34th Annual Conference of the Indian society of Human Genetics. March 17-20th, 2009. New Delhi. India.

Delivered a keynote address at the inauguration of the symposium on “Population health and Genetic Diversity: Perspectives and Issues.” Department of Anthropology, Sri Ventakestwara University, Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh. March 25-26, 2009. (Complete paper is printed in the beginning of the abstract book)

Delivered a talk entitled: “A Holistic Approach to Research and Teaching: The Multidisciplinary Way.” Hidden Treasure: Celebrating the Achievements of Non-Tenure Track Faculty”. UMASS Boston. April 22. 2009.

‘Human Genome Variation and Environmental Interactions: An epigenetic view.’ Lecture delivered at the Ashoka Trust for Ecological and Environmental research (ATREE) at Bangalore, Karnataka, India. June 23rd, 2009.

Lecture delivered on ‘Human Genome Variation and Environmental Interactions: An epigenetic view.’ And a documentary film on “A genetic trip to the cave dwellers” was

presented at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Biotechnology, Trivandrum, Kerala, India. July 8th, 2009.

Clinical, population and evolutionary studies of the globin gene cluster. Delivered at Human genetics Department. Leiden State University, Leiden, The Netherlands. 1992.

Molecular characterization of thalassemia mutations: A strategy for clinical and population studies in India. Red cell club meeting, London. 1992.

Presented video film on A Journey to the cave men - a genetic trip, at the Department of Human biology and anthropology at Bremen University, 1990. In the annual meeting of European society of human genetics. Belgium 1991.and Sylvius laboratory at Leiden state University, 1991.

Poster presented in Media Expo, UMASS, Boston, MA on April 21, 2004. “Come along with me to unravel the fascinating knowledge embedded in the field of Biological Anthropology, Human Genetics and Developmental Biology with the help of multi-media”.

I gave a talk on “My research in Anthropology” to the anthropology club members, Department of Anthropology, UMASS Boston. 2006. I cherish their "Certificate of Appreciation” given to me.

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Lecture delivered in Center for innovative teaching (CIT) conference on Teaching for Transformation, UMASS Boston, MA 1. Macromedia Software Tools and the Promotion of Student Learning in Biology and

Anthropology. 2005 2. “Visiting cave dwellers with a video camera: using fieldwork and video to prepare teaching

materials for a course on scientific methodology in biological anthropology tools of today”. January 20, 2006

3. A personal journey of teaching, linking Pedagogy and Technology, with special emphasis on the use of films in the Classroom. 2008

4. Attended and participated in the CIT Faculty Seminar meeting in the fall semester, 2007 (for Tenure Track Faculty).

5. Why is it important to teach about Race, Class, Caste and Gender? An Anthropologist’s view point. 2011.

6. CIT -Panel discussion Hot Links: Getting students to sustain reading, writing, and research skills in a "digital world." I was one of the Panelists. December 1, 2010.

7. CIT -Panel discussion on Face-to-Face vs Online teaching. I was one of the Panelists. March 22, 2012. UMASS Boston.

8. Presented a talk entitled “Digitization of an Oral Tradition: A new pedagogy for helping students to retain concepts in biology”. The Use of Camtasia and eBook was demonstrated. Tara Devi S. Ashok, Marisha F. Marks *and Irene Yukhananov * Department of Anthropology and Biology, * Educational Technology, UMASS Boston and two students narrated their experience -Chau Nguyen and Omar Laroussi. UMASS Boston CIT and Ed Tech

Conference: Transforming Teaching and Learning. May 10th, 2012, UMASS Boston.

Thesis Advisor in the US

In 2006 – Alexander J, Tranchtenberg completed a project under my supervision for his undergraduate course on Developmental biology, entitled, “The growth of an allometric species: The Cockatiel. Department of Biology, UMASS Boston.

In 2008 – was a member of the committee for Alexander J, Tranchtenberg’s master’s thesis entitled, “Exporation of multiplexed, single-dye quantitative qPCR analysis of human Y-chromosome DNA.” Department of Biology, UMASS Boston.

Thesis Advisor in India

M.Sc (post graduate level) 22 students – (1986 – 1993) The work involves a fieldwork in the area of clinical and population genetics. The data is analyzed and put in the form of a dissertation. The training for such a fieldwork takes six months and the actual fieldwork is for 10 - 15 days in a remote tribal area, blood and demographic data are collected, and samples analyzed in the laboratory. Ph.D. One student completed a Ph.D. under my supervision in 1995 Title of the Thesis: Hemoglobinopathies and Thalassemia: A study of the beta globin gene in the anemic children of Delhi (North India)

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Populations screened by me for the study of genetic polymorphisms in India are:

Place Name of the Tribe State Year of study

Kuchinda Town Kissan Tribals Orissa 1986 Nedumangad Taluk Kannikar Tribals Kerala 1988 Eranda Taluk Cholanickens* Kerala 1989

Kattunayakana Kerala 1989 Mudumans Kerala 1989 Paniyans Kerala 1989

Cholanickens are cave dwellers discovered in 1973. They are in gathering stage of technology. A video film has been made on them titled: A Journey to the cave men - a genetic trip. These above mentioned population studies as part of the curriculum for teaching population genetics to the Masters students at Department of Genetics, University of Delhi. Students have got small publications from such field studies.

Computer Knowledge: Took the following Computer courses at Harvard University, (Division of Continuing Education, Extension School).

i. Understanding and developing multimedia Jan 98 - May 98. (Presented the CD for the final Exam Titled “ The story of DNA for the DNA age”)

ii. Advanced Multimedia Development Sept 98 - Jan 99. (Presented the advanced Story of the DNA) Presently completing the CD on the story of DNA.

iii. Java programming Sept 2000-Jan 02. iv. Genomics and Computational Biology. Sept 02 –Dec 02.

Courses taken at XINTRA Institute of Technology

i. Certification course in Bioinformatics July 02- Feb 03. ii. Web Developers course Aug 02 – Dec 02.

Have good knowledge of Data Bases and SQL commands. Made a documentary: “A Conversation with Dr. John B. Little” October 2010. Professor Emeritus, Harvard School of Public Health. Boston, MA. Made a documentary: on the Journey to the Cave dwellers of South India – A genetic study.

In addition, I travelled to India from June 8th till July 20th, 2009 to explore the possibilities for collaborative studies on effects of natural background radiation on human health. For this visited the Regional cancer center, Trivandrum, Kerala, India and other related organizations. Visited Karunagappally where there is high background radiation.