Karthik Gangavarapu, Ph.D.
Doctoral Thesis: The Application of Genomic Epidemiology, and the Development of Bioinformatics Tools to Support Viral Outbreak Investigation
Undergraduate Institution: Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
Noteworthy Publications: Emergence and rapid transmission of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 in the United States, Cell (2021); Travel Surveillance and Genomics Uncover a Hidden Zika Outbreak during the Waning Epidemic, Cell (2019); An amplicon-based sequencing framework for accurately measuring intrahost virus diversity using PrimalSeq and iVar, Genome Biology (2019); Multiple introductions of Zika virus into the United States revealed through genomic epidemiology, Nature (2017);
Honors & Awards: Frank J. Dixon Graduate Fellowship (2019-20)
Favorite Aspects of Graduate Studies: "My professors, Dr. Andersen and Dr. Su, and the graduate program always encouraged me to think independently and gave me the opportunity to experiment with ideas which contributed significantly towards improving my skill set."
Next Steps: "I will be starting a postdoctoral position studying phylogenetics at UCLA working with Professor Marc Suchard."
Be sure to join us at 10 a.m. PDT on Friday, May 21 for our Virtual Commencement Ceremony! Gangavarapu's advisor and mentor, Prof. Kristian Andersen, will deliver a few words about his graduate experience (as will Gangavarapu), and viewers can learn about our 41 other 2021 graduates, who are now setting out to build careers that will impact the future of biomedical research.
