Puneet Dhawan, Ph.D.
Puneet Dhawan
3100 Rachel Ter. Apt. 8, Pine brook, NJ 7058, cell 862-251-3685, dhawanpuneet@yahoo.com
I am a scientist with vast experience of insightful, results oriented research. My expertise areas
include biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, high-throughput sequencing and data
analysis. I am an outstanding project leader with hands on experience at all stages of research
and development efforts. I excel at planning, coordinating, experimentation, troubleshooting,
analysis and interpretation of results for successful completion of projects. My goal is to
achieve suitable research/research management position where I can best use my experience.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE:
Next Generation/High throughput DNA/RNA sequencing and data analysis. Next generation
sequencing across various platforms including SOLiD, MiSEQ and Ion PGM Sequencer. Data
analysis using CLC Genomics, Ingeunity, and Genome Browser. Affymetrix microarray and
analysis using Partek Genomics Suite.
Classical DNA methods including Southern blotting, PCR. Protein: DNA interaction techniques,
Cell/tissue culture and transcription assays, RNA methods: real time PCR, SiRNA applications
northern blotting. Protein methods including purification, interaction, western blotting,
immunology and enzyme activity assays.
Animal methods: Development of Transgenic, KO and double KO mice and genotyping; Cell
culture and transcription assays: Culture, proliferation, growth inhibition and colony survival
assays. Preperation or primary cell lines; Transient and stable transfection of cell lines,
transcription assays, flow cytometry, gene‐specific crosslinking assays etc.
Experience
Faculty
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences University, Newark, NJ
UMDNJ, Newark, NJ (December 2007– Present)
I coordinate the operations of the next generation/high throughput DNA sequencing. That
includes QC of samples, library construction and QC, high throughput DNA sequencing using
SOLiD 5500XL/ Illumina MiSeq/ Ion PGM Sequencers. I also perform initial QC of data, tracking
and storage of data and Data analysis. I also Interact with investigators to advice on the design
and implementation of sequencing experiments.
I supervise a number of ongoing projects under the broad area of “studies related to major
targets of vitamin D and molecular mechanisms involved in the target gene(s) regulation”. I
Provide ideas for strategic development of the approaches to be implemented by the postdocs,
graduate students, medical students and technicians of the group to successfully achieve their
experimental goals. I Establish and troubleshoot various classical and cutting edge biochemical
and biotechnological assays for the following projects. 1. Vitamin D and multiple sclerosis, 2.
Vitamin D in innate immunity.
Research Associate
UMDNJ, Newark, NJ. August 2003– December 2007 (4 years 5 months)
My projects and responsibilities: Regulation of 24(OH)ase transcription by glucocorticoids with
focus on cooperative effects between the glucocorticoid receptor, C/EBP beta and the vitamin
Puneet Dhawan, Ph.D.
D receptor in 24(OH)ase transcription. Growth inhibitory effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on human
breast cancer cells and on mammary tumor growth. Developing my independent research
projects and supervising graduate students, medical students and technicians working in the
group and troubleshooting their projects.
Postdoctoral Fellow
UMDNJ, Newark, NJ. September 2000– August 2003 (3 years)
My projects and responsibilities: Studies related to major targets of vitamin D [1,25(OH)2D3]
and molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of target gene expression. Validation of
data followed by drafting and submitting manuscripts for publication. Troubleshooting and
supervising graduate students, medical students and technicians working in the group.
PUBLICATIONS:
1. Christakos S, Seth T, Hirsch J, Porta A, Moulas A and Dhawan P. Ann. Rev. Nutrition. Vol.
33 , 71-85, 2013.
2. Christakos S, Ajibade DV, Dhawan P, et al. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 38:1-11, 2012.
3. Christakos S, Dhawan P, et al. Vitamin D and Intestinal Calcium Absorption. Mol Cell
Endocrinol. 347:25-9, 2011.
4. Isaura R, Yim S, Dhawan P, Christakos S, Diamond G. Innate Immunity. 18: 250-7, 2012.
5. Dhawan P and Christakos S. J. Cell Biochem. 110:1314-23. 2010.
6. Christakos S, Ajibade DV, Dhawan P, Fechner AJ, Mady LJ. Endocrinol Metab Clin North
Am. 39:243-53, 2010.
7. Ajibade DV, Dhawan P, et al. Endocrinology 151:2974-84, 2010.
8. Christakos S, Dhawan P, et al. J. Steriod biochem. Mol. Biol. 121:183-7, 2010.
9. Dhawan P, Wieder R, Christakos S. J Biol Chem. 284:3086-95, 2009.
10. Benn BS, Ajibade D, Porta A, Dhawan P, et al Endocrinology. 149:3196-205, 2008.
11. Christakos S, Dhawan P, et al. Annals NY Acad. of Sci. 1116: 340–348, 2007.
12. Yim, S, Dhawan P, et al. J. Cyst. Fibros. 6:403-10, 2007.
13. Christakos S Dhawan P, et al. J. Steroid biochem. Mol. Biol. 103:405-10. 2007.
14. Christakos S, Dhawan P et al. Annals NY Academy of Sciences 1068: 195-203. 2006.
15. Liang L, Lu S, Lu Y, Dhawan P and D Kumar. IEEE Int. Conference on Granular Computing,
Atlanta, GA, USA, pp.262-268, 2006.
16. Lee D, Obukhov AG, Shen Q, Liu Y, Dhawan P et al. Cell Calcium 39(6): 475-85, 2006.
17. Porta AR and Dhawan P. Journal of College Science Teaching. 35(6) 14-22, 2006.
18. Dhawan P, et al. Molecular and Cellular Biology. 25 472–487, 2005.
19. Swamy N, Chen TC, Peleg S, Dhawan P et al. Clinical Cancer Res. 10(23), 8018-8027, 2004.
20. Weyts FA, Dhawan P, et al. Biochem. Pharmacol. 67(7) 1327-1336, 2004.
21. Barletta F, Dhawan P and Christakos S. Am. J. Physiol. Endo. Metab. 286: E598-608. 2004.
22. Christakos S, Dhawan P, Liu Y, Peng X and Porta A. J. of Cell. Biochem. 88 695-705. 2003.
23. Christakos S, Barletta F, Huening M, Dhawan P, et al. J. of Cell. Biochem. 88 238-244, 2003.
24. Pathak N, Asif MH, Dhawan P, Srivastava MK, Nath P. Pl. Gr. Reg. 40(1) 11-19. 2003.
25. Raval-Pandya M, Dhawan P, Barletta F and Christakos S. Mol. Endo. 15: 1035-1046. 2001.
26. Asif MH, Dhawan P and Nath P. Pl. Mol. Biol. Rep. 18: 109-115. 2000.
27. Kapoor AK, Gopal R, Lal B, Asthana OP, Agarwal PK, Mukerjee K, Saxena RP, Dhawan P.
Indian J. Pathol. Microbiol. 40(3):303-7. 1997.
Puneet Dhawan, Ph.D.
Chapters Authored in books:
28. Christakos S, Mady L J and Dhawan P. In Vitamin D. Third Edition (D. Feldman, W.J. Pike,
and F.H. Glorieux, eds.) chapter 20 pp 363-379, Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 2011.
29. Dhawan P. Role of vitamin D in the management of ovarian cancer. Current Advances in
Gynecological Oncology, (Chauhan SC, KumarD, Jaggi M and Bell C eds). Research Signpost,
Kerala, India: 163-177, 2011 ISBN: 978-81-308-0442-2
30. Christakos S, Liu Y, Dhawan P and Peng X. Vitamin D, 2nd Edition. (Feldman, Pike and
Glorieux eds) Chapter 42 pp 721-735. Academic Press, San Diago, CA. 2005.
31. Porta A, Dhawan P, Gengaro K, Liu Y, Peng X and Christakos S. Encyclopedia of Hormones
Vol. 3 (H. L. Henry and A. W. Norman eds) pp 629-635 Academic Press San Diago CA. 2003.
At various stages of Preparation: Six Manuscripts are at various stages of completion.
Abstracts/Presentations:
About >50 abstracts presented in various national and international conferences.
AWARDS/HONORS:
 Travel Award at “16th Vitamin D workshop” at San Francisco, CA, June 11-14, 2013.
 Internet Assisted Reviewer for NIH grants.
 Top cited article (2006-2008) in J. of Cystic Fibrosis, Vol. 6 (6) 403-410, 2007.
 Invited Fellow at “2nd Annual Endocrine Fellows Forum”, Honolulu, HI. Sept. 14-15, 2007.
 Young Investigator Award at “28th American Society for Bone and Mineral Research”,
Philadelphia, PA, September 15-19, 2006.
 Young Investigator Award at “Advances in Skeletal Anabolic Agents for the Treatment of
Osteoporosis” at Bethesda, MD. May 24-25, 2004.
 Young Investigator Award at “12th Vitamin D workshop”, The Netherlands July 6-10, 2003.
 UMDNJ Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship 2002-2004.
 Fellowship of Ministry of External Affairs of Israel “MASAV”, Volcani Center, Israel, 1996.
 Senior Research Fellow “Council for Scientific and Industrial Research”, India. 1996-1999.
 Junior Research Fellow “Council of Scientific and Industrial Research”, India. 1994-96.
 Qualified Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineering (GATE), India, 1994.
EDUCATION:
Institution and Location
Kanpur University, Kanpur, UP, India
Lucknow University, Lucknow, UP, India
Lucknow University/NBRI, Lucknow, UP, India
*UMDNJ, Newark, NJ, USA.
Degree (Subjects)
B.S. (Biology, Chemistry)
M.S. (Biochemistry)
Ph.D. (Biochemistry)
Postdoctoral Fellow
(Biochemistry)
*(UMDNJ is now Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences University)
Year
1991
1993
2000
2000–2003