Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
References
Projects
Websites
Awards
Publications
Training
GRADUATE LEVEL-RELEVANT COURSEWORK
Timeline
Generic

Kuber Shivashakarappa

Nashville,USA

Overview

8
8
years of professional experience
2026
2026
years of post-secondary education

Work history

Graduate Research Assistant

Tennessee State University
Nashville, USA
08.2023 - 09.2025
  • Dissertation: Genomic and Biotechnological Approaches to Enhance Soybean Nodulation, Root Architecture, and Gene Delivery.
  • Conduct genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for soybean nodulation traits using a newly developed YOLO-based high-throughput phenotyping pipeline capable of quantifying 24 nodulation traits.
  • Perform GWAS for root architecture traits to identify genomic regions and candidate genes associated with key root traits.
  • Functionally validate potential candidate genes identified from GWAS through gene knockout or overexpression using Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated hairy root transformation.
  • Develop and evaluate nanoparticles as gene delivery carriers for soybean tissues, with applications in dsRNA and siRNA delivery for gene knockdown studies.
  • Shivani Dharam

Summer Apprenticeship Program

07.2024 - 07.2024
  • Mentored high school students focused on hands-on- learning experience, to foster their interest towards plant biotechnology.

Project Assistant

Jackfruit Stem borer (Batocera rufomaculata L.)
Kolar
01.2018 - 01.2019
  • Management of Jackfruit Stem borer (Batocera rufomaculata L.)” a major pest of jackfruit has regional significance at Jack Garden Kolar which is regarded as Asia’s highest jack germplasm conservation center.

Education

Ph.D - Agricultural sciences concentration Biotechnology

Tennessee State University
Nashville, TN

MS - Agriculture biotechnology

University of Milan
Milan, Lombardia

BS - Horticulture

University of Horticultural Sciences
Bagalkot, Karnataka

Skills

  • WET LAB SKILLS
  • DNA, RNA, AND PLASMID ISOLATION; PCR, RT-qPCR, GEL ELECTROPHORESIS
  • BACTERIAL TRANSFORMATION, PLANT TRANSFORMATION (AGROBACTERIUM-MEDIATED), AND PLANT TISSUE CULTURE
  • GENE DELIVERY USING GENE GUN AND NANOPARTICLE-BASED APPROACHES
  • CONFOCAL AND LIGHT MICROSCOPY FOR GENE EXPRESSION ANALYSIS
  • PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NANOPARTICLES (UV–VIS, DLS, ZETA POTENTIAL)
  • GREENHOUSE EXPERIMENTS AND PHENOTYPING OF ROOT AND NODULATION TRAITS
  • DRY LAB SKILLS
  • NANOPORE SEQUENCING AND DATA ANALYSIS, GWAS, AND CANDIDATE GENE IDENTIFICATION
  • GENOMIC DATA PROCESSING, VARIANT CALLING, AND CANDIDATE GENE ANNOTATION
  • MULTIPLE SEQUENCE ALIGNMENT (NCBI), PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS
  • DATA VISUALIZATION AND STATISTICS USING GRAPHPAD PRISM, R, AND PYTHON

References

  • Ali, Taheri, Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator, ataheri1@tnstate.edu, +1 (615)-963-6056, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, USA, 37209, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
  • Korsi, Dumenyo, Associate Professor & Department Chair, cdumenyo@tnstate.edu, +1 (615)-963-5634, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, USA, 37209, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
  • Matias, Pasquali, Professor, matias.pasquali@unimi.it, +39-02503-16779, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, Milano, Italy, 20133, Department of Food, Environmental, and Nutritional Sciences

Projects

Optimization of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation efficiency in canola using the RUBY visual reporter system, Evaluation of alternative cationic molecules as potential replacements for spermidine in particle bombardment for gene delivery, Effect of Tetraethylenepentamine and Sodium Selenate on Growth Performance and Microbial Contamination Control in Soybean Tissue Culture In Vitro 2020-2021, Thesis: Effect of Okara Extracts on Induced Resistance and Priming in Tomato–Fusarium oxysporum Interaction: Integrative Analysis of Gene Expression and Phenotypic Responses, Investigated the effect of three soybean okara-based treatments Okara Total Extract (OTE), Okara Protein Isolate (OPI), and Okara Protein Isolate Digested (OPID) on Fusarium wilt severity in tomato plants through seed treatment experiments., Evaluated plant growth response and xylem colonization levels following each soybean okara extract treatment., Performed quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) to analyze expression patterns of defense-related PR genes under different treatment conditions., Demonstrated the potential of soybean okara extracts as sustainable biostimulants for reducing disease impact and supporting crop improvement. Molecular identification and characterization of fungal responsible for the variety of post-harvest diseases, Prepared culture media, isolated fungal pathogens, and performed DNA extraction, PCR, and electrophoresis for molecular characterization., Conducted ITS sequencing and analyzed sequence data to accurately identify fungal species. 2017-18, Evaluation native microbial isolates for their ability to promote growth and nutrient uptake in foxtail millet through greenhouse and field trials., Assessed plant growth and yield parameters under different microbial treatments., Identified and characterized promising plant growth-promoting bacterial isolates for potential use in sustainable agriculture.

Websites

Awards

Travel Grant – Oral and Poster Presentation, 10th Anniversary HBCU Climate Change Conference, 2025, Travel Grant – Hands-On Training in High-Throughput Phenotyping Workshop, 2025, Graduate Research Assistantship, Tennessee State University (3 years, 2023–Present), University Excellence Fellowship, University of Milan, Italy (2019–2021), University Fee Waiver Scholarship, University of Milan, Italy (2019–2021)

Publications

  • Shivashakarappa, K., Wang, L., Ghimire, N., Dumenyo, K., Pariyar, S., Busch, W., & Taheri, A. (2025). YOLO-based high-throughput phenotyping pipeline enables the identification of novel genomic regions and candidate genes in soybean. Manuscript currently under internal review by co-authors prior to journal submission.
  • Yadav, S. P. S., Shivashakarappa, K., Wallace, L. T., & Taheri, A. (2025). Unravelling epigenetic frontiers in legumes: Three decades of progress and perspectives through literature and bibliometric analysis. Manuscript currently under review by co-authors.
  • Shivashakarappa, K., Marriboina, S., Yadegarri, Z., Paduri, V. R., Sachan, R., Dumenyo, K., & Taheri, A. (2025). DNA delivery into plant tissues using carbon dots made from citric acid and β-alanine. Frontiers in Chemistry, 13, 1542504. https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2025.1542504
  • Shivashakarappa, K., Marriboina, S., Dumenyo, K., Taheri, A., & Yadegarri, Z. (2025). Nanoparticle-mediated gene delivery techniques in plant systems. Frontiers in Nanotechnology, 7, 1516180. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnano.2025.1516180
  • Rathore, P., Shivashakarappa, K., Ghimire, N., Dumenyo, K., Yadegarri, Z., & Taheri, A. (2024). Genome-wide association study for root system architecture traits in field soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 25075. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-76515-6
  • Shivashakarappa, K., Reddy, V., Tupakula, V. K., Farnian, A., Vuppula, A., & Gunnaiah, R. (2022). Nanotechnology for the detection of plant pathogens. Plant Nano Biology, 2, 100018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plana.2022.100018
  • Shivashakarappa, K., Gunnaiah, R., Ajjappala, B. S., Kadi, A., & Vuppula, A. (2022). Effect of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on the growth and yield of foxtail millet (Setaria italica L. Beauv). International Journal of Plant & Soil Science, 34(22), 1737–1744. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijpss/2022/v34i222477
  • Oral Presentation: Rapidly Synthesized and Cost-Effective Carbon Dots for Gene Delivery into Plant Tissue – 46th Annual University-Wide Research Symposium, Tennessee State University, Nashville, 2024
  • Poster Presentation: Carbon Dot-Mediated Gene Delivery into Soybean Protoplasts – Association for 1890’s Research Directors (ARD) Research Symposium, Tennessee, 2024
  • Oral Presentation: Identification of Novel Genomic Regions and Candidate Genes Associated with Nodulation Traits – 10th Anniversary HBCU Climate Change Conference, New Orleans, 2025
  • Poster Presentation: Identification of Novel Genomic Regions and Candidate Genes Associated with Nodulation Traits – 10th Anniversary HBCU Climate Change Conference, New Orleans, 2025
  • Poster Presentation: YOLO-Based High-Throughput Phenotyping Pipeline for Soybean Nodulation Traits in Genomic Research – 19th Biennial Cellular & Molecular Biology of the Soybean Conference (Soy2025)
  • 3-Minute Talk: Carbon Dot-Mediated Gene Delivery into Plant Tissues – College of Agriculture, Tennessee State University

Training

  • Protoplasts: From Regeneration to High-Throughput Screening Workshop — Plant GENE; featuring presentations by Brad Nelms and Bas Bargmann; May 17, 2025.
  • QPCR Workshop and Data Analysis Insights to Achieve Excellent Results — GeneScript, Department of Chemistry, Tennessee State University; February 13, 2025.
  • Modern Methodologies in Statistical Data Analysis for Effective Agricultural Research — College of Agriculture, UAS Raichur (ICAR-NAHEP IG); July 13–17, 2020.
  • Fourth MANRRS Professional Development Workshop — AITC, Tennessee State University; featuring Dr. Mary Williams; February 12, 2025.
  • Guide to Agrobacterium Basics — Plant GENE; led by Joyce Van Eck (Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY); August 6, 2024.

GRADUATE LEVEL-RELEVANT COURSEWORK

  • AGSC 6010 – Gene Structure and Function – Dr. Ali Taheri, Tennessee State University
  • AGSC 5060 – Statistics in Research – Dr. Bharath Pokharel, Tennessee State University
  • AGSC 5630 – Gene Editing: CRISPR-Cas9 – Dr. Sonali Roy, Tennessee State University
  • AGR/07, AGR/12 – Methods in Biotechnology – Dr. Pasquali Matias, University of Milan, Italy
  • BIO/10 – Protein Engineering and Proteomics – Dr. Alessio Scarafoni, University of Milan, Italy
  • AGR/07 – Plant as Biofactories – Dr. Carlo Massimo Pozzi, University of Milan, Italy
  • CHIM/10 – Structure and Function of Biomolecules – Dr. Andrea Pinto, University of Milan, Italy
  • AGR/13 – Environmental Plant Biotechnology – Dr. Fabio Francesco Nocito, University of Milan, Italy

Timeline

Summer Apprenticeship Program

07.2024 - 07.2024

Graduate Research Assistant

Tennessee State University
08.2023 - 09.2025

Project Assistant

Jackfruit Stem borer (Batocera rufomaculata L.)
01.2018 - 01.2019

MS - Agriculture biotechnology

University of Milan

BS - Horticulture

University of Horticultural Sciences

Ph.D - Agricultural sciences concentration Biotechnology

Tennessee State University

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Kuber Shivashakarappa