CURRICULUM VITAE
VENUGOPAL MENDU
Assistant professor
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA.
Education:
Ph.D (2003-2008)
M.S (1998-2000)
B.S (1994 -1998)
Phone: 806 834 6327
E-mail: venugopal.mendu@ttu.edu
venugopalmendu@gmail.com
Plant Physiology/Biochemistry/Molecular Biology Program
Dept. of Plant & Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, USA.
Genetics & Plant Breeding , A.N.G.R. Agricultural University, India.
Major: Agriculture, A.N.G.R. Agricultural University, India.
Professional appointments:
2013 - present
Assistant Professor
Department of Plant & Soil Science
Texas Tech. University, Lubbock, TX, USA.
http://www.pssc.ttu.edu/mendulab/index.html
2012 - 2013
Postdoctoral Fellow
PI: Dr. Lionel Navarro, Gene silencing and plant innate immunity lab.
Institute of Biology, École Normale Supérieure (IBENS), Paris, France.
2010 - 2012
Postdoctoral Fellow
PI: Dr. Seth Debolt, Cellulose biosynthesis and biofuels lab
Department of Horticulture, University of Kentucky, USA.
2008 - 2009
Postdoctoral Fellow
PI: Dr. Peter D. Nagy, Molecular virology lab
Department of Plant Pathology, University of Kentucky, USA.
2003 – 2008
Graduate Research Assistant
Major supervisor: Dr. Guiliang Tang, Gene silencing & natural products lab
Department of Plant & Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, USA.
Publications (17 total) (* Corresponding author)
From TTU
1. Rai, K. M., Balasubramanian, V.K., Welker, C.M. Pang, M., Hii, M.M., and Mendu, V.*
(2015) Comprehensive analysis and web resource devolvement on cell wall degrading
enzymes from phyto-parasitic nematodes. BMC Genomics, 15:187, DOI
10.1186/s12870-015-0576-4.
2. Welker, C.M. Balasubramanian, V.K., Petti, C., Rai, K. M., DeBolt, S. & Mendu, V.*
(2015). Engineering plant biomass lignin content and composition for biofuels and
bioproducts. Energies, 8, 7654-7676; doi:10.3390/en8087654.
Before TTU
1. Mendu, V., Shearin, T., Campbell, E.J., Stork, J., Jae, J., Crocker, M., Huber, G.,
DeBolt, S. (2012) Global bioenergy potential from high-lignin agricultural residue.
PNAS 109 (10): 4014-4019.
2. Lin, J-Y., Mendu, V., Pogany, J., Qin, J., and Nagy, P.D. (2011) The TPR domain in the
host Cyp40-like cyclophilin binds to the viral replication protein and inhibits the
assembly of the tombusviral replicase. PLOS Pathogens-8(2): e1002491.
3. Mendu, V., Harman-Ware, L., Crocker, M., Jae, J., Stork, J., Morton, S., Placido, A.,
Huber, G., DeBolt, S. (2011) Identification and thermochemical analysis of high lignin
feedstocks for biofuel and bio-chemical production. Biotechnologyforbiofuels -4 (1): 43.
4. Mendu, V., Stork, J., Harris, D., and DeBolt, S., (2011) Cellulose synthesis in two
secondary cell wall processes in a single cell type. Plant Signaling & Behavior, 6 (11),
pp. 1638-1643.
5. Mendu, V., Griffiths, J., Persson, S., Stork, J., Downie, B., Voiniciuc, C., Haughn, G. W.,
DeBolt, S. (2011) Subfunctionalization of cellulose synthases in seed coat epidermal cells
mediates secondary radial wall synthesis and mucilage attachment- Plant Physiology Vol. 157, pp. 441-453.
6. Mendu, V., Chiu, M., Barajas, D. Li, Z. & Nagy, P.D. (2010) Cpr1 cyclophilin and Ess1p
parvulin prolyl isomerases interact with the tombusvirus replication protein and inhibit
viral replication in yeast model host. Virology, Vol. 406 pp. 342–351.
7. Stork, J., Harris, D., Griffiths, J., Williams, B., Beisson, F., Li-Beisson, Y., Mendu, V.,
Haughn, G.W., and DeBolt, S. (2010) CELLULOSE SYNTHASE9 serves a nonredundant role in secondary cell wall synthesis in Arabidopsis epidermal testa cells.
Plant Physiology, Vol. 153, p580-589.
8. Jia, X., Mendu, V. and Tang, G., (2010) An array platform for identification of stressresponsive miRNAs in plants. Methods Mol. Biol. 639: 253-69.
9. Jia, X., Wang, W., Ren, L., Chen, Q., Mendu, V., Willcut, B., Dinkins, R., Tang, X., and
Tang, G. (2009) Differential and dynamic regulation of miR398 and its targets in
response to ABA and salt stress in Populus tremula & A. thaliana. Plant Molecular
Biology, 71: 51-59.
10. Tang, G., Tang, X., Mendu, V., Tang, X., Jia, X., Chen, Q., and He, L. (2008) The art of
microRNA: Various strategies leading to gene silencing via an ancient pathway. BBAGene Regulatory Mechanisms, 1779: 655-662.
11. Mendu, V., Ansari, N.A. and Thota. R. (2003) Correlation and path analysis in maize
(Zea mays L.) Crop Research. 25 (3): 525-529.
12. Mendu, V., Ansari N.A. and Kankati., K.G. (2002) Heterosis for yield and its component
characters in maize (Zea mays L.). Research on Crops 3 (1): 72-74.
Book Chapters
1. Lewis, R., Mendu, V., McNear, D., and Tang, G. (2009) Roles of microRNAs in Plant
Abiotic Stress, Molecular Techniques in Crop Improvement. 2nd Edition, edited by S.
Mohan Jain and D.S. Brar. Springer Netherlands.
2. Tang, G., Xiang, Y., Kang, Z., Mendu, V., Tang, X., Jia, X., Chen, Q., and Tang, X.,
(2008) Small RNA technologies: siRNA, miRNA, antagomiR, target mimicry, miRNA
sponge and miRNA profiling. Current Perspectives in MicroRNAs, Springer Netherlands,
pp 17-33.
3. Mendu, V., and Hildebrand, D.F. (2006) Plant Hydroperoxide Lyases and Related
Enzymes. CRC press, Chapter 24, 399-417. IN: Ching Hou & Jei-Fu Shaw, Biocatalysis
and Biotechnology for Functional Foods and Industrial Products.
Abstract/Poster presentations
1. Mendu, V., Shearin, T., Campbell, E.J., Stork, J., Jae, J., Crocker, M., Huber, G.,
DeBolt, S. Global bioenergy potential from high-lignin agricultural residue. “World GIS
day conference” 2011, University of Kentucky.
2. Hendon, B.R., C. Lowery, D.L. Auld, Burrow, M., V. Mendu, Xu, W., and Ray, I.M.
2014. The Mutation Creation Station. ASA International Annual Meetings. Long
Beach, CA. Nov. 3. p. 98.
3. Welker C. M., V. Mendu, and M. Pang, 2015, Functional evolutionary studies of a cotton
fiber initiation transcription factor. 27th Annual Meeting Association for the
Advancement of Industrial Crops (AAIC), Lubbock, Texas, USA.
Teaching (TTU)
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Course
PSS4100
PSS5325
PSS4426
PSS5426
PSS5325
PSS4100
PSS5426
Term
Fall, 2013
Spring, 2014
Fall, 2014
Fall, 2014
Spring, 2015
Fall, 2015
Fall, 2015
Title
Senior Seminar,
Transgenic and Plant Cell Genetics
Introduction to genomics
Functional genomics
Transgenic and Plant Cell Genetics
Senior Seminar,
Functional genomics
Student rating
4.6/5.0
4.8/5.0
5.0/5.0
4.9/5.0
5.0/5.0
Mentoring:
1. Graduate students:
1. Vimal Kumar Balasubramanian, Ph. D. program
2. Theophilus Tengey, Ph. D. program
3. Haydee Echevarria Laza, Ph. D. program
4. Nam Anh Bui Phu, Ph. D. program
5. Cassie Welker, MS program (Graduating, Dec, 2015)
6. Sandi Win Thu, MS program
7. Amrita Dhal, MS program, (Graduated, Aug, 2015)
2. Postdoctoral Fellows:
1. Krishan Mohan Rai (November, 2014-present)
2. Mingxiong (David) Pang (May, 2014- Aug. 2015)
3. Nagaraju Dharavath (November, 2013- August, 2014)
3. Visiting Graduate student:
1. Leonel Maona from Brazil (March, 2014-November 2014)
4. Visiting Borlaug Fellows:
1. Mei Mei Hii from Malaysia (January, 2015- April, 2015)
2. Tesfaye Disassa Bitema from Ethiopia (expected, Feb. 2016-April, 2016)
5. Undergraduate students:
1. Cassie Welker (September 2013-May 2014)
2. Julianna Shuneman (August, 2014- May, 2015)
3. Taylor Person (October, 2014-May, 2015)
4. Toritseju Arenyeka (August, 2015-present)
Ph.D. dissertation committee member:
1. Kishor Gautam, Ph. D. (Graduated 2015),
Major professor: Dr. Michael Ballou, Associate Prof., Dept. of Animal & Food sci., TTU.
2. Deepika Mishra, Ph. D. program,
Major professor: Dr. Dick Auld, Professor, Department of Plant & Soil Science, TTU.
3. Jayan Ukwatta, Ph. D. program,
Major professor: Dr. Huazhong Shi, Associate Prof., Dept. of Chem. & Biochem. TTU.
4. Travis Witt, Ph. D program,
Major professor: Dr. Glen Ritchie, Assistant Prof., Dept. of Plant & Soil Science, TTU.
5. Karl Braur, Ph. D program,
Major professor: Dr. Wen Wei Xu, Dept. of Soil & Crop Sci., Texas A&M University.
6. Poorna Tharaka Wansapura, Ph. D. program,
Major professor: Dr. Noureddine Abidi, Department of Plant & Soil Science, TTU.
7. Sumedha Liyanage, Ph. D. program,
Major professor: Dr. Noureddine Abidi, Department of Plant & Soil Science, TTU.
8. Amal Bouyanfif, Ph. D. program (2015, October-present),
Major professor: Dr. Eric Hequet, Department of Plant & Soil Science, TTU.
ORS Grants/Funding: (My share: $318, 593.5)
1. OIA: Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship
Program, Ethiopia: USDA-Foreign Agricultural Service (2015). $32, 396.
2. OIA: Borlaug higher Education for Agricultural Research and Developmet (BHEARD)Kenya (2015). $63, 210.90
3. Deciphering seed coat cell wall factors underlying peanut resistance to Aspergillus flavus
infection and aflatoxin production. USAID: University Linkage program (2015). $20,000
4. Role of small RNAs in regulating the abiotic stress response and acclimation in cottonUSDA-ARS Ogallala Aquifer Program (2014). $25,391
5. Office of International Affairs (OIA)-Borlaug higher Education for Agricultural Research
and Developmet (BHEARD)- Ghana program: USAID/Michigan State University
(2014). $150,704
6. OIA: Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship
Program Asia & Latin America (Malaysia): USDA-Foreign Agricultural Service (2014).
$27,990
7. Effects of Inoculants Added to Sorghum Ethanol Co-product and Low-quality Roughage
Blend Silages on Silage Fermentation Profile and Losses: DeLaval Manufacturing
(2013). $1,551
NON-ORS: Total funding ($10,779)
1. Robert Wright, Venugopal Mendu and Glen Ritchie: Identification of cotton microRNAs
implicated in water-deficit stress, TAMU genome sequence program (2014): $6,779
2. Peter Keyel, Venugopal Mendu and Brayan Sutton: Texas Tech University
Transdisciplinary Research Academy on bridging the mammalian and plant innate
immune systems to generate a comprehensive understanding of pathogen recognition and
defense response mechanisms (2013). $4,000
3. Institutional support from the PSS department at TTU (2013-2015): $55,160.
International collaborations:
1. Dr. Harikishan Sudini, International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics
(ICRISAT), Hyderabad, India.
a. Understanding the Mechanisms and Cell Wall Factors Underlying Peanut
Resistance to Aspergillus flavus Infection and Aflatoxin Production, USAID.
2. Mei Mei Hii, Sarawak Biodiversity Center, Kuching Malaysia.
a. Identification of cell wall degrading enzymes from rainforest soil bacteria.
Service:
A. University committees and Service (TTU):
 India taskforce committee member: CASNR representative for India taskforce for improving
the international recruitment at TTU
 Faculty search committee member (Plant genomics)
 Cluster hire committee member (3 committees)
1. High Throughput Phenotyping
2. Tackling the Phenome-Genome Challenge
3. Molecular genetics of gene regulation: ‘old school systems biology’
 Dean’s representative for 2 graduate students
 Member of PSS curriculum development committee.
 Member of PSS Website committee.
 Member of PSS lab safety committee.
B. Community:
 Science project judge: The South Plains Regional Science and Engineering Fair, United
Spirit Arena, February 14, 2014.
 Science project judge: The South Plains Regional Science and Engineering Fair, United
Spirit Arena, February 13, 2015.
C. Professional and Honorary Societies:
 Member of Gamma Sigma Delta, the Honor Society of Agriculture (2014-present)
 American Society of Plant Biologist (2014-present)
D. Peer reviewing service (from TTU)
1. BMC plant biology
2. The plant cell
3. BMC genomics
4. Molecular biotechnology
5. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum
6. Plant Molecular Biology
7. Industrial Crops and Products
8. Journal of Experimental Botany
E. Education:
 Guest lecture and lab session for “Research methods in ruminant nutrition”-Summer, 2015
 Guest lecture for visiting Cochran Fellow’s from Pakistan on “Cotton fiber initiation and
development”–Summer, 2015.
 Evaluation of Dr. Robert Wright’s hatch-project “Bacterial Blight Resistance in Cotton”,
Summer-2015.
 Pre-submission review of manuscripts (Dr. Chris Rock), acknowledged in the manuscript.