About Vinai Chittezham Thomas, 2009 Sarachek Award Recipient
Vinai Chittezham Thomas, a doctoral candidate in the Division of Biology under the mentorship of Dr. Lynn Hancock, has been awarded the 2009 Alvin and Rosalee Sarachek Predoctoral Fellowship in Molecular Biology. His research focuses on the modulation of biofilm formation by proteases secreted by the opportunistic bacterial pathogen Enterococcus faecalis. Mr. Thomas’s research has demonstrated that these proteases are critical in regulating the early stages of biofilm development. His research may lead to new treatments for cardiac endocarditis, including novel antimicrobial intervention strategies that exploit strategic weaknesses in the biofilm formation process.
Since joining Dr. Hancock’s laboratory four articles have resulted from Mr. Thomas’s work. He is the first author of papers in Molecular Microbiology and Journal of Bacteriology and a co-author of additional publications in Environmental Microbiology Journal of Bacteriology. He has presented his research at several national and international conferences.
Prior to beginning his doctoral program at Kansas State University, Mr. Thomas earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in Microbiology form the University of Pune in Maharashtra, India and a M.S. degree in Biotechnology from the University of Abertay in Dundee, Scotland. During his doctoral program at Kansas State University, Mr. Thomas has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA and an exceptional record of academic accomplishments. After completing his doctoral degree he plans to pursue a postdoctoral research position and a career as a molecular microbiologist.
Mr. Thomas plans to use the Sarachek Fellowship funds to support travel to interview for postdoctoral research positions, to participate in academic and scientific meetings that will allow him to network with professionals in his discipline, and to participate in professional development workshops sponsored by Cold Spring Harbor and the American Society for Microbiologists.
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