Vinayak Mathur is a postdoctoral researcher at Georgetown University who received his Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Pennsylvania in 2015. His research focuses on cell wall integrity and oxidative stress in Candida glabrata as well as the role of diet on gut microbiomes. He has over 10 publications and presentations on topics related to stress response and adaptation in Drosophila melanogaster. In addition to his research, he has extensive teaching experience at the university level and provides bioinformatics workshops nationwide as part of the Genome Solver Project.

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Vinayak Mathur
Postdoctoral Researcher
Georgetown University 301 Regents, 37th
and O street NW, Washington, DC 20007
Phone: (732) 421-4925 Email: vm449@georgetown.edu
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Education
Ph.D. Evolutionary Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 2009- 2015
B.E. Biotechnology, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal, India, 2005- 2009
Research Experience
Georgetown University
Postdoctoral Researcher in the Rosenwald Lab, Department of Biology 2015 - present
Advisor: Prof. Anne Rosenwald
- Examining cell wall integrity and oxidative stress in Candida glabrata
- Investigating the role of diet on the gut microbiome of silver-spotted skipper caterpillars
- Teaching bioinformatics modules to faculty and students across the country as part of
the NSF funded Genome Solver Project (genomesolver.org)
University of Pennsylvania 2009 – 2015
Doctoral Candidate, Department of Biology
Advisor: Prof. Paul Schmidt
Short term adult plasticity in Drosophila melanogaster and its role in
climatic adaptation
University of Chicago 2009
Research Scholar, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department
Advisor: Prof. Trevor Price
Studied the phylogeography and phylogenetics of Himalayan passerine
bird species based on mitochondrial DNA sequencing
Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India 2008
Summer Research Fellow
Advisor: Prof. Rakesh Aggarwal
- Worked on a molecular taxonomy project that involved ascertaining the species status of a
venomous snake identified in the Thar Desert region of Rajasthan, India.
- Developed a SSR-enriched genomic library for use in development of novel
microsatellite markers in a crocodile species (Gharial).
Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun 2007
Research Intern in the Wildlife Forensic Laboratory
Advisor: Dr. Sudhanshu Mishra
Received foundational training in molecular genetics laboratory techniques

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Publications
Vinayak Mathur and Paul S Schmidt. (2016) Adaptive patterns of phenotypic plasticity
in laboratory and field environments in Drosophila melanogaster. Evolution.
doi:10.1111/evo.13144
Daniel K. Fabian, Justin B. Lack, Vinayak Mathur, Christian Schlötterer, Paul S. Schmidt,
John E. Pool, Thomas Flatt. (2015) Spatially varying selection shapes life history clines
among populations of Drosophila melanogaster from sub-Saharan Africa.
Journal of Evolutionary Biology 28(4):826-40
Teaching Experience
Instructor for BIOL 388 Microbial Genomics* Fall 2016
Co-Instructor: Prof. Anne Rosenwald
*Co-developed the curriculum and designed the course to follow the
CURE model (Course Based Undergraduate Research)
Teaching Instructor for BIOL 151 Biological Chemistry Spring 2016
Lead Instructors: Profs. Anne Rosenwald and Erica Gerace
Teaching Instructor for BIOL 379 Fall 2015
Lead Instructor: Prof. Anne Rosenwald
Teaching Assistant for BIO 230 Evolutionary Biology Spring 2014, 2015
Instructor: Prof. Paul Schmidt (2 semesters)
Teaching Assistant for BIO 231 Animal Behavior Fall 2014
Instructors: Profs. Robert Seyfarth and Dorothy Cheney
Teaching Assistant for BIO 124: Introduction to Organismal Biology lab Spring 2012 - Fall 2013
Instructor: Dr. Linda Robinson (4 semesters)
Teaching Assistant for BIO 101: Introduction to Biology Fall 2010, 2011
Instructors: Profs. Brenda Casper and Fevzi Daldal (2 semesters)
Journal Club leader for Penn Summer Biomedical Research Academy Summer 2011, 2012
Course Director: Dr. Linda Robinson
Teaching Assistant for BIO 465: Ecological Techniques in Conservation Spring 2011
Instructor: Prof. William McShea,
(in collaboration with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA)

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Conference Papers and Presentation
Young Investigators Meeting, Chicago, IL 2016
Poster presentation on “Analyzing student learning using bioinformatics
course modules as a platform for student engagement in research”
ASM Conference for Undergraduate Educators, MD 2016
Microbrew Chalk talk: “Genome Solver: Creating a Community
Science Project in Bioinformatics”
SABER National Meeting, Minneapolis, MN 2016
Poster presentation on “Analyzing student learning using bioinformatics
course modules as a platform for student engagement in research”
Ecological Genomics Symposium, Manhattan, KS 2015
Poster Abstract Invited Presentation on the “Short term adult plasticity
in Drosophila melanogaster and its role in climatic adaptation”
Invited Speaker, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, India 2015
Oral presentation on the “Population specific stress response in
Drosophila melanogaster in a lab versus field setting”
Evolution Conference, (Raleigh, North Carolina) 2014
Oral presentation on “Stress response and climatic adaptation in
Drosophila melanogaster”
Evolution Conference, Raleigh, North Carolina 2014
Poster presentation on “Population specific differential thermal stress
response in Drosophila melanogaster in a lab versus field setting”
Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution Conference, San Juan, PR 2014
Poster presentation on “Stress response and climatic adaptation in
Drosophila melanogaster”
Penn Princeton Rutgers Columbia Conference, Rutgers University, NJ 2014
Oral presentation on “Population specific differential thermal stress
response in Drosophila melanogaster”
Evolution Conference, Snowbird, Utah 2013
Oral presentation on "Population specific stress tolerance
response in Drosophila melanogaster"
Evolution Conference, Ottawa, Canada 2012
Poster presentation on “Comparing the population specific
stress response in Drosophila melanogaster in a field versus lab setting”
Evolution Conference (Norman, Oklahoma) 2011
Oral presentation on “The impact of altitudinal variation in African
populations of Drosophila melanogaster”

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Bioinformatics workshops
Co-taught the Genome Solver workshops to faculty and students on bioinformatics
tools and introduced the Community Science Project, which investigates horizontal
gene transfer between bacteriophages and their host bacteria, at the following
institutions:
Harford Community College, Bel Air, MD January 2016
University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL March 2016
Simmons College, Boston, MA March 2016
North Carolina A&T University, Greensboro, NC June 2016
James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA July 2016
ASM Conference on Undergraduate Education, North Bethesda, MD July 2016
Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, KS January 2017
Fellowships, Awards and Certifications
American Society of Microbiology Teaching Fellow 2017
Center for Teaching and Learning Certificate 2015
Andy Binns Impact Award for Outstanding Service to the Graduate 2015
and Professional Student Community at the University of Pennsylvania
Biology Department Telfer Award for Research Travel ($500) 2014
GAPSA Travel Award ($500) 2014
GAPSA Travel Award ($500) 2013
University of Pennsylvania Teaching Fellowship 2010 - 2015
University of Pennsylvania Educational Fellowship 2009
Outreach
Volunteer for Carnegie Institute Community Science Day 2016
Carnegie Institute of Science, Washington DC
Conducted titration experiments to teach children about the acidic or
basic properties of common household items

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Presenter for the Early Access to Graduate Research Program (EAGR) 2016
Franklin Institute, Philadelphia PA
Gave two lectures and conducted interactive exercises on phylogenetics
with Philadelphia public high students
Speaker at the Community Soil Day 2016
Crandall Garden Farme, Ramsey, MN
Talked to a public audience about the role of soil microbes in
maintaining soil quality
Volunteer for Science Education Academy Community Science Carnival 2014
White Rock Baptist Church, Philadelphia
Involved with setup of activities to promote enthusiasm of science among
middle-school students from Philadelphia city area schools
Activity leader at the Philadelphia Water Community Outreach Program 2013
A month of free Saturday science education programing every year
Volunteer for Biology Department High School Science Day 2012, 2015
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Introduced students from low-income schools to a professional lab setting and
conducted scientific activities in small groups
Volunteer for Philadelphia Science Festival 2011
The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia
Conducted a series of activities explaining genome science to the public,
primarily children visiting the Science Festival
University Service
Vice President of Social Activities for School of Arts and Sciences 2014- 2015
Student Government
Managed a $25,000 budget and organized social events for over 2,000
graduate students from the School of Arts and Sciences
Graduate Student Government Representative 2013- 2015
Reviewed travel grants from students for conference travel and served
as a member of the International Affairs Council, advancing the agenda of
international students on campus
Biology Department Representative to School of Arts and Sciences 2011-12
Student Government
Represented the interests of the Biology Department in the School of Arts
and Sciences Student Government and as member of the Policy Committee,
worked to provide reduced gym membership fee for graduate students