Sathees Chandra
Dean, College of Health Sciences PhDPrograms and Courses Taught
Applications of Biotechnology
Bioinformatics
Genomics & Bioinformatics
Molecular Genetics
Graduate Research
About Me
With a steadfast commitment to academic excellence, my leadership as Dean at Samuel Merritt University (SMU) reflects a journey of over two decades in higher education and health sciences. My expertise in academic leadership, administration, and program development has been shaped by transformative roles, including serving as Associate Dean in the College of Health & Wellness and Director for Biomedical Sciences at Barry University, where I fostered a culture of innovation and quality.
As Dean of Samuel Merritt University's College of Health Sciences, I am dedicated to empowering faculty, staff, and students, advocating for evidence-based practices, and leading pioneering health education initiatives. Collaborating with diverse teams, I strive to advance the frontiers of health sciences, ensuring that our academic programs remain at the forefront of the field.
I am a dynamic academic leader known for my hard work, creative vision, honesty, and ability to inspire a wide array of people. My research interests lie in genetics, bioinformatics, and medical science (anesthesiology). I have published over 55 articles in various biomedical peer-reviewed journals and have presented my research at national and international conferences across the United States and around the world.
Throughout my career, I have been honored with numerous recognitions. From 2015 through 2024, I received the "Outstanding Scholarship" certificate of professional development at Barry University. I was also awarded the "David W. Fulker Award" for the best paper published in the Journal of Behavior Genetics and the "W. Fred Hink Research Award" from The Ohio State University. Additionally, I was honored with an "Honorary Bronze Award" for my outstanding co-curricular contributions to the student community at Roosevelt University and the "Best Service Award" for my exceptional assistance to the Biology Department at The Ohio State University.
Education
PhD, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
MS, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
BS, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India
Teaching Interests
I have taught classes in Genetics, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, and Medical Informatics. While teaching the basic principles of these fields, I believe that it is important to help students develop an understanding of the scientific method and different approaches to science (theory, comparative analyses and manipulative experiments). This knowledge serves as a base for critical thinking. By the end of a course, the student should have a general sense of the field, what important contributions the fields has made to science and how progress in that field is made. In giving lectures, my belief is that organization and enthusiasm are keys to successful teaching. Dynamic lecturing not only captures the attention, but hopefully the imagination, of the students.
Scholarly Interests
1. Bioinformatics (and Genetics) with microbial and insect genomes: I have been involved with bioinformatics analyses of candidate genes that affect variety of behavioral traits in honeybees and other organisms. I have also been interested in functional analyses of insect mitochondrial genomes using ERGO bioinformatics suite. In addition, I have been successful in identifying an open-reading frame encoding an NAD-dependent DNA ligase in the draft genome of salt-loving euryarchaeon, Haloferax volcanii using a variety of bioinformatics tools.
2. Honeybee Genetics: I use genetic approaches to reveal underlying mechanisms of learning behavior in honeybees. My research has focused on applying QTL (quantitative trait loci) mapping to isolate molecular markers that are linked to the genes, which affect phenotypic expression of learning and pollen foraging in bees. I made a successful research finding on an important learning paradigm in honeybees called “Latent Inhibition”. Latent Inhibition is one of the learning mechanisms in which animals learn not to pay attention to stimuli, which are meaningless in nature. Previous research has linked latent inhibition with psychopathological conditions such as acute schizophrenia, Alzheimer, dyslexia, and Parkinson’s disease.
3. Anesthesia and related medical research: My collaboration with medical schools has helped me to get involved with a variety of medical research, specifically in the field of drug management & anesthesiology. At present, I am looking at the attenuation of hemodynamic responses to laryngoscope and endotracheal intubation using a number of new and old generations of drugs such as fentanyl, diltiazem lignocaine and combination of these drugs. I am also involved in the study and management of secondary peritonitis (inflammation response of peritoneum in abdominal cavity).
Publications
SELECTED PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS:
1. 2023 Ahmad M & Chandra S. The Microbial Community of Persistent Endodontic Infection and the use of Root Canal Disinfectants against E. faecalis: In vitro and In vivo Review. Medicine Science: 12 (2)-606-612.
2. 2022 Melara A & Chandra S. Bell’s Palsy’s viral pathogenicity and the use of botulinum toxin type A as treatment. Journal of Contemporary Medicine: 12(4):579-583.
3. 2022 Chandra A & Chandra S. A Bioinformatic Analysis of Spike Glycoprotein & Evolution of Covid-19. Medicine Science: 11(1): 171-175.
4. 2021 Rajkumar S & Chandra S. Recent Advances in Treatment of Cerebral Ischemic Stroke. Medicine Science: 10(1):241-245.
5. 2021 Bojkovic M & Chandra S. The effect of Telomere Lengthening on Genetic Diseases. Journal of Contemporary Medicine: 11(2):254-261.
6. 2020 Chandra A & Chandra S. A comparative analysis on SARS, MERS & Covid-19. Journal of Contemporary Medicine: 10 (3):464-470.
7. 2019 Hough A & Chandra S. Normal Placental Development and the Triad of Placental Dysfunction: The Maternal and Fetal Complications. Journal of Contemporary Medicine: 9 (2):183-190.
8. 2019 Amin B & Chandra S. Recognizing trismus symptoms, prevention, and treatment. Medicine Science : 8 (3):766-769.
9. 2017 Schustrin CV and Chandra S. Differential Diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease and Atypical Parkinsonian Syndromes. Archives Medical Review Journal:26(4):494-508.
10. 2017 Marsh A and Chandra S. Risk Factors contributing to Methylation Shifts in BRCA1 and associated genes in African Americans with Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Medicine Science:6(4):787-792.
11. 2016 Alhajj M and Chandra S. Pemphigus Vulgaris: A Comprehensive Presentation of the Desmosomal Adhesion Disrupting and Oral Blister Causing Multifactorial Autoimmune Disease. Journal of Experimental and Integrative Medicine, 4:151-157.
Professional Affiliations & Memberships
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
National Association of Advisors for Health Professions (NAAHP)
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
American Dental Education Association (ADEA)
Genetics Society of America (GSA)
Entomological Society of America (ESA)
North American Bear Center (NABC)
American Association of University Professor (AAUP)
Community Service
Hollywood Chamber of Commerce (local community)
Indian Association of South Florida
Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
Pancreatic Cancer Run, Miami, FL
Ronald McDonald house Charity work, FL
Feeding South Florida Charity, FL
Hollywood 20th Anniversary Expo Alfresco
ZERO cancer run/walk, Hollywood, Fl
Honors & Awards
2023 Certificate of Professional Development: Miami, FL
Outstanding Scholarship, Barry University
2022 Sr. Jeanne O’Laughlin, OP, Scholar’s Award Miami, FL
This award is presented annually in recognition of exceptional scholarly performance at Barry University
2021 Certificate of Professional Development: Miami, FL
Outstanding Scholarship, Barry University
2020 Certificate of Professional Development: Miami, FL
Outstanding Scholarship, Barry University
2019 Distinguished Faculty Award Miami, FL
Barry University Faculty Communique Committee
2018 Certificate of Professional Development: Miami, FL
Outstanding Scholarship, Barry University
2014 Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
Leadership Hollywood Award Hollywood, FL
2013 Roosevelt University
Summer Research Fellowship Chicago, IL
2004 Roosevelt University Chicago, IL
Honorary bronze award for outstanding
Co-curricular contributions to Roosevelt Community
2002 David W.Fulker Award for the best genetics paper Boulder, CO
Published in the Journal of behavioral genetics.
2000 Ohio State University Columbus, OH
W. Fred Hink Research Award for the best
Graduate paper published.
1999 Ohio State University Columbus, OH
Best Service Award for outstanding
Contributions to the Biology department community