Neekesh V Dharia PhD

curriculum vitae

contact information

education and research in progress

University of California - San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, 2003-present.
Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP, MD/PhD Program).

Currently enrolled in clinical training, 2009-present.
PhD in Biology from The Scripps Research Institute, 2005-2009.
Completed preclinical medical training, 2003-2005.

completed education

The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, 2005-2009.
Kellogg School of Science and Technology.

PhD, Doctor of Philosophy in the subject of Biology.
Thesis title: Plasmodium evolution and drug resistance in vitro and in populations using whole genome technologies.
Thesis advisor: Elizabeth Winzeler PhD.

The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 1999-2003.

Biochemistry (BS, Honors), Computer Science (BS), Mathematics (BS), and Asian Studies (BA).
Graduated with Highest Distinction, cumulative 4.00 GPA (Truncated from 4.04 with 223 credit hours).

University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 1998-1999.

Dual-enrolled through Cedar Falls High School in Calculus III, Modern Algebra, and Russian.

The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 1998.

Hughes Life Science Summer Program (HLSSP).

Cedar Falls High School, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 1996-1999.

Cumulative 4.0 GPA, ranked 1st in class of 388.

professional and research experience

The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, 2007-2009.
Graduate student with Elizabeth Winzeler PhD.

Bioinformatics and genomics analysis of malaria parasites.
Use of whole-genome DNA microarrays to find mutations in the malaria parasite genome.
Elucidating mechanisms of antimalarial drug resistance.

University of California - San Diego and The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California.
Research Rotations.

Modeling of g-protein coupled receptors with Ruben Abagyan PhD, TSRI, 2005-2006.
Purification and crystallization trials of potassium channels with Senyon Choe PhD, Salk Institute, 2004.
Protein modeling with Andrew McCammon PhD, UCSD, 2003.

The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 2001-2003.
Independent Study with Adrian Elcock PhD in Biochemistry (Computational Biology).

Molecular dynamics simulation of substrate channeling.
Design and implementation of website interface and C++ programs predicting protein-protein contacts.

Summer Undergraduate MSTP Research (SUMR), The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 2002.
Clinical Shadowing of Pulmonolgist Joseph Zabner MD.
Research with Larry Tobacman MD in Biochemistry (Regulation of Muscle Contraction).

Mathematical modeling of thin filament activition, protein purification.

John Deere Waterloo Works, Waterloo, Iowa, 2001.
Summer Internship - Information Services.

Design and implementation of intranet website for the Manufacturing Services division.

John Deere Product Engineering Center, Waterloo, Iowa, 2000.
Summer Internship - Drivetrain Engineering.

Programming in C of tractor drivetrain software, design and implementation of personnel and product website.

honors and activities

graduate

First Place Poster Prize. 4th Annual Systems to Synthesis Symposium, San Diego Consortium for Systems Biology. 10 April 2009.
Human Anatomy (Thorax and Abdomen/Pelvis Sections), UCSD School of Medicine. Teaching Assistant. Fall 2008.
UCSD Student-Run Free Medical Clinic. Volunteer and Labs Manager. 2003-2007.

undergraduate

Recipient of Honors Program Dean's Scholarship.
President's and Dean's List at The University of Iowa, 1999-2003.
Peer tutor for New Dimensions in Learning in organic chemistry and biology.

website design

Winzeler Lab, The Scripps Research Institute, 2007-2009.
Society of Fellows, The Scripps Research Institute, 2007-2008.
UCSD Medical Scientist Training Program, 2005.
The Elcock Group, The University of Iowa, 2001-2003.
India Student Association at The University of Iowa, 2000-2003.

peer-reviewed publications

Westenberger SJ, McClean CM, Chattopadhyay R, Dharia NV, Carlton JM, Barnwell JW, Collins WE, Hoffman SL, Zhou Y, Vinetz JM, Winzeler EA. (2010) A systems-based analysis of Plasmodium vivax lifecycle transcription from human to mosquito. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 4(4):e653.
[ PubMed | Journal ]
Dharia NV, Chatterjee A, Winzeler EA. (2010) Genomics and systems biology in malaria drug discovery. Current Opinions in Investigational Drugs, 11(2):131-8.
[ PubMed | Journal ]
Westenberger SJ, Cui L, Dharia N, Winzeler E, Cui L. (2009) Genome-wide nucleosome mapping of Plasmodium falciparum reveals histone-rich coding and histone-poor intergenic regions and chromatin remodeling of core and subtelomeric genes. BMC Genomics, 10:610.
[ PubMed | Journal ] <Highly Accessed>
Dharia NV, Sidhu ABS, Cassera MB, Westenberger SJ, Bopp SER, Eastman RT, Plouffe D, Batalov S, Park, DJ, Volkman SK, Wirth DF, Zhou Y, Fidock DA, Winzeler EA. (2009) Use of high-density tiling microarrays to globally identify mutations and elucidate mechanisms of drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum. Genome Biology, 10(2):R21.
[ PubMed | Journal ] <Highly Accessed>

dissertations

Dharia NV. (2009) Plasmodium evolution and drug resistance in vitro and in populations using whole genome technologies. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Thesis in the Subject of Biology. The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California.
[ Abstract ]
Dharia NV. (2003) Molecular dynamics simulation of substrate channeling. Undergraduate Honors Thesis. Department of Biochemistry, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
[ Honors Theses 2003 ]

poster presentations at national and international meetings

Dharia NV, Plouffe D, González-Páez GE, Lucas C, Salas C, Soberon V, Bacon DJ, Winzeler EA. (2009) The power of whole-genome data: From Plasmodium falciparum populations to the discovery of drug resistance to guiding public health policy. Fifth Annual BioMalPar Conference on the Biology and Pathology of the Malaria Parasite, Heidelberg, Germany, 18-20 May 2009.
Dharia NV, Westenberger SJ, Sidhu ABS, Eastman RT, Cassera MB, Plouffe D, Bacon DJ, Espinosa B, Fidock DA, Winzeler EA. (2008) Elucidating mechanisms of drug resistance and determining population genetic structures in Plasmodium falciparum using high-density microarrays. Molecular Epidemiology and Evolutionary Genetics of Infectious Diseases (MEEGID) IX, Irvine, California, 1 November 2008.
[ Abstract ]
Dharia NV, Westenberger SJ, Sidhu ABS, Eastman RT, Cassera MB, Plouffe D, Bacon DJ, Espinosa B, Fidock DA, Winzeler EA. (2008) Elucidating mechanisms of drug resistance and determining population genetic structures in Plasmodium falciparum using high-density microarrays. Web poster. Molecular Parasitology Meeting (MPM) XIX, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, 23 September 2008.
[ Abstract ]
Dharia NV, Westenberger S, Winzeler EA. (2007) Globally identifying mutations in Plasmodium falciparum using high-density tiling microarrays. Molecular Parasitology Meeting (MPM) XVIII, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, 17 September 2007.
[ Abstract | View Poster ]

talks

Plasmodium evolution and drug resistance in vitro and in populations using whole genome technologies. PhD Thesis Defense, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, 30 July 2009.
Whole genome methods to study drug resistance and evolution in Plasmodium falciparum. Université de la Méditerranée Seminar, Institut de médecine tropicale du Service de santé des armées, Marseille, France, 15 May 2009.
Using genomics in malaria: accelerating drug development and understanding population structures. Cell Biology Student and Postdoc Seminar Series, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, 24 April 2009.
Elucidating mechanisms of drug resistance and determining population genetic structures in Plasmodium falciparum using high-density microarrays. Graduate Program Symposium, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, 5 September 2008.
Globally identifying mutations in Plasmodium falciparum using high-density microarrays. Institute of Childhood and Neglected Diseases Seminar Series, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, 14 December 2007.

Neekesh Dharia | Molecular Parasitology Meeting 2007 Poster Presentations Neekesh Dharia | Molecular Parasitology Meeting 2007 Poster Abstract | Globally identifying mutations in Plasmodium falciparum using high-density tiling microarrays. Neekesh Dharia | Winzeler Lab | Globally identifying mutations in Plasmodium falciparum using high-density tiling microarrays.