Bio
Dr. Pankaj Mehrotra completed his Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Applied Zoology from the University of Delhi, India with a Gold Medal for securing first rank in University at the Annual Examination. He further worked on molecular cloning undergraduate research projects funded by Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India, and the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India. He further pursued a Master of Science in Integrative Genomics from Black Hills State University (South Dakota, USA), funded by the National Science Foundation (Washington D.C., USA) & National Institute of Health (Bethesda, USA). He worked on genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics research projects at the Centre for Conservation of Biological Resources as part of his Master's degree program and also worked as a teaching and research assistant for undergraduate studies. He was also involved in a science education teaching workshop as a teaching assistant organized by the Center for the Advancement of Math & Science Education. His research findings were presented at regional and national conferences and secured the second-best poster prize at the Branch Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Colorado. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Sciences from the Institute of Medical Sciences from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom funded by the European Marie Curie Research Commission working on immunological properties of Candida albicans, Candida aureus, and Candida haemunolii affected by differential expression of signal transduction genes. This early-stage fellowship also involved a visit to collaborative fungal research laboratories in Spain, Germany, and Denmark. His research findings have been presented at various international conferences. At the Centre for Science and Mathematics Education at The University of Southern Mississippi (Mississippi, USA) he was introduced to science education and worked as a Lecturer for undergraduate courses, again funded by the National Science Foundation (Washington D.C., USA). He has published his research findings on Scientific and Science Education research in international journals.
He has also published a textbook on Biology – Fundamentals of Biology with an American Publisher Top Hat, Canada, which has received an ISBN. He is a member of the Alumni of the Marie Curie Research Fellow Association, US Department of State (International Exchange), Centre for Open Science (Virginia, USA), and MERLOT Biology Board Editor(California, USA). He has worked as a Middle Year and Diploma Program Biology Teacher for International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), University of Cambridge (IGCSE program) as a Biology Teacher, Lecturer of Biology at St Theresa International College (Thailand), Biology & Chemistry College Professor for Bard Early College (China) and is currently working as a Biology & Health Science Instructor of University of the People (Pasadena, California, USA), Advanced Placement Biology & Chemistry Teacher for Aquinas International Academia (Garden Grove, California, USA), Science Instructor at Virtual Career Institute International (Florida, USA), and Infectious Disease Professional & Bio Risk Reduction Instructor (California, USA).
Dr Pankaj Mehrotra is also a Member of a working group at:
Biology Board Reviewer for MERLOT, California;
Speaker Selection Board Committee, Society for Advancement of Biology Education Research, California;
Citizen Science Network, North Carolina;
BIOME, QUBES- BIOQUEST consortium funded by National Science Foundation;
STEM Ed Innovators, STEM Equity Leader profile with other leaders;
IELOL Global Leadership 2024 program of Online Learning Consortium;
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology ASBMB Education Associate.
Recently, he completed a STEM Equity Leadership course from STEM Ed Innovators. He has received PD certificates from STEM Ed Innovators (STEM Teacher), HMMI-Biointeractive, AP Teach, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, POGIL, Classcipe, and O2ASK. He is also a member of the Collaborative Undergraduate Research Experiences (CURE) Network - BASIL CURE & MDH CURE, and ASK BIO Faculty workshop on Assessment funded by National Science Foundation (Twitter blbiochem), Washington D.C. Furthermore, he completed the ASK BIO2 Level 2 and ASK BIO Level 3 Faculty workshop and the Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 of BIOLOGY Faculty Certification by National Science Foundation, Washington D.C. Also, he completed the program "STEM Equity Leadership program from STEM Ed Innovators" (New York) and the synchronous course "Introduction to Science Policy & Advocacy'' (US Science Policy & Advocacy), taught by Instructors from the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) (Maryland funded by Genetics Society of America).
Dr. Pankaj Mehrotra has received a certificate of participation in Science is Wonderful! 2023 from the European Commission and participated in a European Commission-funded Science Policy-making workshop on June 20th, 2023. He also received a Peer Review Extraordinary Award in Biology from MERLOT Biology 2023, California, and a Presidential Membership Award from the Genetics Society of America. His biography was recently published in Pennsylvania - thomasjpalumbo.wordpress.com. He has also been involved in presentations like The Accelerating Systemic Change Network (ASCN) Working Group 7 (June 1st and 2nd 2023), an in-person learning space for synchronous and asynchronous learning environments, both for ESL and non-ESL students.
Dr. Pankaj Mehrotra recently has been awarded by the Genetics Society of America from the Presidential Membership Initiative 2023 Presidential Members and he was nominated for New Outstanding Biology Teacher (OBTA) and AP Biology Teacher NABT awards. He has also received a Certificate of Completion for the Science Policy and Advocacy course from the Genetics Society of America.
Dr. Pankaj Mehrotra on July 6-27, 2023 participated in the workshop "Addressing Challenges in Teaching Collaborative" by National Institute on Scientific Teaching.
Dr. Pankaj Mehrotra was selected as an Early Career Mentor by AMLE, Ohio, received a funded membership at the California Association of Science Educators (CASE), and was selected as a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee
Recently, Dr. Pankaj Mehrotra received a membership to the European Mycological Association for his Ph.D. research on Fungal pathogenesis and the publication of the ICARUS AI course on Medical Mycology.
Dr. Pankaj Mehrotra's 2023 & 2024 calendar:
"The National Teacher Trainer Certification virtual summer program" (October 2023)
"Virtual OLC Accelerator conference" "Speed Networking" session (October 4th, 2023 10:45 to 11:15 AM EST)
"Leadership reception Boston" by IDWEEK (Infectious Diseases Society of America) (October 13th, 2023)
"Mentor" by IDWEEK (Infectious Diseases Society of America) (scheduled for August 2024)
Dr. Pankaj Mehrotra recently delivered an oral presentation at "Excellence in Online Teaching Symposium". The topic of the presentation was: "Innovate and create your own Virtual Learning Spaces (VLS) in asynchronous and synchronous learning environments".
Dr. Pankaj Mehrotra recently completed and L-MAP (Leadership in Management and Action Program) funded through the Presidential Membership Initiative Program of the Genetic Society of America.
Dr. Pankaj Mehrotra recently received membership to the National Science Policy Network https://www.scipolnetwork.org/ after completing the US Science Policy and Advocacy course.
Dr. Pankaj Mehrotra has been accepted into the unique and highly prestigious IELOL 2024 US Stateside US Program offered by Online Learning Consortium, Boston.
Dr. Pankaj Mehrotra has recently been the co-author of two publications as part of the Faculty Mentoring Group.
Revealing Hidden Figures in Natural History Collections Working Group 2023 Update! https://qubeshub.org/publications/4589/1
Project Leadership Resources - Bringing Leadership Experiences into the Classroom https://qubeshub.org/publications/4606/1
Dr. Pankaj Mehrotra has recently published his first Biology Podcast under the leadership of Professor Phil Gibson. Podcast: https://qubeshub.org/publications/4631/1.
Dr. Pankaj Mehrotra has recently published his first learning journal assignment available for undergraduates (https://qubeshub.org/publications/4645/1)
Dr. Pankaj Mehrotra has recently published his work on the implementation of DEIJ practices in higher education learning environments. It is part of the collaboration between the Accelerating Systemic Change Network (ASCN) and The Institute for Racially Just, Inclusive, and Open STEM Education (RIOS) (https://qubeshub.org/publications/4679/1)
Dr. Pankaj Mehrotra was recently selected as a reviewer by EURIZON. https://www.eurizon-project.eu/