Dr. Pavan Kumar Agrawal
Associate Professor
Dr. Pavan Kumar Agrawal is Associate professor in the Department of Anatomy
Department of Anatomy
CURRENT ACADEMIC ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES
Position: Associate Professor, Centre for Molecular Neurosciences, Department of Anatomy, KMC, Manipal
Teaching Responsibilities
MSc (by Research) in Neuroscience
· MCN04: Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience
· MCN505: Brain Development and Disease Models
· MCN506: Disorders of the Brain
· MCN508: Neuroscience in-vitro studies
· MCN509: Neuroscience in-vivo studies
· MCN511: Bioinformatics & Biostatistics for Neuroscience
Research Thesis Supervision: Guiding MSc and PhD students on projects in neuroscience, behavior, and neurodegeneration across model systems.
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
| Degree | Specialisation | Institute | Year of passing |
|---|---|---|---|
| PhD | Developmental Biology | CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, India | 2012 |
| MSc | Biochemistry | The M S University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat | 2005 |
Experience
| Institution / Organisation | Designation | Role | Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMC, Manipal | Associate Professor (Research) Centre for Molecular Neurosciences | Associate Professor (Research) Centre for Molecular Neurosciences | October 2024 – Present |
| KMC, Manipal | Assistant Professor & DBT-India Ramalingaswami Fellow Centre for Molecular Neurosciences | Assistant Professor & DBT-India Ramalingaswami Fellow Centre for Molecular Neurosciences | October 2019 – September 2024 |
| HHMI Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, USA | Research Scientist | Research Scientist Dr. Ulrike Heberlein Lab | December 2018 – September 2019 |
| HHMI Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, USA | Postdoctoral Fellow | Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Ulrike Heberlein & Dr. Loren Looger Lab | September 2012 – December 2018 |
- Principal investigator: Dr. Pavan Kumar Agrawal
- DBT, Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship, ‘Identification of epigenetic, transcriptional and behavioral mechanisms engaged by schizophrenia and related neuropsychiatric disorders using Drosophila as a model.’
- DBT India Research Grant, ‘Transcriptional and behavioral mechanisms underlying social isolation stress in Drosophila.’
3. ANRF/SERB Core Research Grant, ‘Developmental and transgenerational effects of nicotine exposure in Drosophila at molecular, cellular and behavioral levels.’
AREAS OF INTEREST, EXPERTISE AND RESEARCH
Area of Interest
• Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience • Brain Development and Disease Models • Disorders of the Brain • Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
Area of Expertise
• Neuroepigenetics and gene–environment interactions • Stress, sleep, and social behavior • Neurodegeneration and disease modeling • High-throughput behavioral assays and computational analysis
Area of Research
Investigating how genetic and environmental factors interact to shape brain function, behavior, and neurodegeneration. Using Drosophila as a primary model, with extensions to mammalian systems and clinical data, the lab studies stress responses, social behavior, sleep, and disease mechanisms through multi-omics, circuit-level manipulations, and computational modeling.
Professional Affiliations & Contributions
· Member, Indian Academy of Neurosciences (IAN)
· Member, Genetics Society of America (GSA), USA
· Ad-hoc reviewer for international journals in neuroscience, genetics, and molecular biology