Bela Peethambaran, PhD
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Bela Peethambaran, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biology
Contact Info:
Office: STC 271
McNeil Science & Technology Center
Voice: 215.596.8923
Fax: 215.596.8710
Email: b.peethambaran@usciences.edu
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Education
- PhD, Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular biology and Biochemistry, Mississippi State University, MS.
- BS in Biochemistry, St. Xavier’s College, Gujarat University, India.
Prior Positions
- Teaching Post Doctoral Fellow, Biology Department, Villanova University, Villanova, PA
- Research Post Doctoral Fellow, Biology Department, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
Research Interests
- My laboratory is using molecular biology, genetic, biomechanical and physiological tools to engineer plants as a resource for antioxidants and bioactive compounds such as phenolics and flavanols.
- Our research focus is also in developing plants that have manipulated signaling pathways that will allow them to tolerate abiotic stress conditions.
Teaching Responsibilities
- Molecular biology
- Genetics
Selected Scholarly Activity
Peethambaran, B., Boak, M., Xiang, W., Boyd, B. M., Layton, B. E., Balsamo, R. A. 2011. Physiological and mechanical role of 14-3-3 lambda in Arabidopsis thaliana during drought stress. Submitted to Physiology Plantarum.
Kelly, R. Y., Harper, J., Bridges, S. M. Warbuton, M. L., Hawkins, L. K., Pechanova, O., Peethambaran, B., Luthe, D. S., Mylroie, J. E., Ankala, A., Ozkan, S., Gresham, C., Henry, W. B., Williams, W. P. 2010. Bioinformatics and Functional Genomic Database for Identifying Candidate Genes for Aspergillus flavus Resistance in Maize. Accepted for publication in BMC Bioinformatics
Peethambaran, B., Hawkins, L., Bridges, S., Windham, G. L., Williams, W. P and Luthe, D. S. 2009. Antifungal Activity of Maize Silk Proteins and Role of Chitinases in Aspergillus flavus resistance. Journal of Toxicology - Toxin reviews. 29: 27-39
Poster presentation on ‘The role of 14-3-3 lambda protein in secondary metabolite biosynthesis and its effect on drought stress resistance’. Annual Plant Biology meeting 2011, Aug 6-10, Minneapolis, MN http://abstracts.aspb.org/pb2011/public/P13/P13027.html
Oral presentation on ‘Intra-species approach to developing a nanomechanical model of drought and desiccation tolerance in plants’. Speaker :Layton, B. E; Boyd, M. B.; Peethambaran, B., Balsamo, R. A., USDA/CSREES-AFMNet Joint Nantoechnology Grantees Meeting. September 27-28, 2009. Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza, Santa Fe, NM
Oral presentation on’ Cellulose Microfibril Arrangement Influences Drought Tolerance in Eragrostis’. Speaker: Balsamo, R. A; Peethambaran, B; Boyd, M. B and Layton, B. E. USDA-AFRI Grant Awardee Meeting Washington DC November 2009.
Poster presentation on ‘The 14-3-3 nu protein regulates the flg22- induced oxidative burst’. 19th International conference on Arabidopsis research. Hyatt Regency Hotel. July 23-27, 2008 Montreal, Canada Oral and poster presentation on ‘A 14-3-3 protein functions in plant defense against pathogens’, Gordon Conference on 14-3-3 proteins, Crowne Plaza. Feb 24-29, 2008 Ventura, CA http://www.grc.org/programs.aspx?year=2008&program=14-3-3