CV

Prabin Dhangada Majhi, Ph.D.

Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
University of Massachusetts Amherst
661 N Pleasant St, Integrated Science Building, Room 465A
Amherst, MA 01003 USA
📞 413-548-0077  |  ✉️ pdhangadamaj@umass.edu

EDUCATION

• Ph.D., School of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India, 2010
  Thesis: Microbial Degradation of Aromatic Compounds: Purification & Characterization of Gentisate 1,2-Dioxygenase and 1-Naphthol 2-Hydroxylase
  Mentor: Prashant Phale, Ph.D.

• M.Sc., Department of Botany, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, India, 2002

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

• Research Assistant Professor (2020 – present)
  Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA

• Post-doctoral Research Associate (2017 – 2020)
  Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA

• Raman Post-doctoral Scientist (2016 – 2017)
  Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA

• Assistant Professor (Teaching) (2014 – 2016)
  School of Life Sciences, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, India

• Assistant Professor (Teaching) (2012 – 2014)
  Delhi University, New Delhi, India

• Post-doctoral Research Associate (2010 – 2012)
  Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA

GRANTS, HONORS, AND AWARDS

• Research Support Grant, $1,000, 2024
• FRG/Healy Award, $20,000, 2023
• Columbia SHARP Program Fellow (Careers through Mentoring in Omics and Data for Early-Stage Investigators Program), 2022
• Research Support Grant, $1,000, 2021
• Flex Grant for Teaching, $500, 2021
• IALS-Manning Innovation Award, $100,000, 2021
• NIEHS Extramural Paper of the Month (March 2020), 2020
• Rays of Hope Center for Breast Cancer Grant, $50,000 (UM Ref. no. 586), 2019
• Travel Grant, Gordon Research Conference, $1,500, 2019
• Travel Grant, BCERP 13th Annual Meeting, $1,500, 2018
• Travel Grant, Epigenetics Bootcamp (Columbia University), $1,500, 2017
• Travel Grant, BCERP Annual Meeting and EHS FEST, $1,500, 2016
• Raman Post-doctoral Fellowship Award, $37,200, 2016
• Asia Pacific Center for Technology Transfer – ESCAP Project (UN), $1,500, 2016
• Junior Research Fellowship Award (pre-doctoral research award), 2002
• Short-listed for Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Fellowship, 2002

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

University of Massachusetts Amherst

• Instructor, Genetics and the Environment (FFYS191ANML8-01), Fall 2025
• Invited Lecture, Cancer Biology (ANIMLSCI 581H:640), Spring 2024 & Spring 2020
• Invited Lecture, Human Genome Analysis (BIOLOGY 478), Fall 2022

Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, Odisha, India

3-Year Undergraduate Honours Program in Botany (Electives)

• Co-Instructor, SE 1.1.1 Diversity of Plant Kingdom, Fall 2015
• Co-Instructor, SE 1.2.2 Diversity of Plant Kingdom Lab, Spring 2014
• Instructor, SH 1.2.4 Plant Breeding & Evolution, Spring 2014 & Spring 2015
• Co-Instructor, SE 2.4.7 Plant Physiology, Metabolism, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology, Spring 2014 & Spring 2015
• Instructor, SE 2.4.8 Plant Physiology, Metabolism, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology Lab, Spring 2015

3-Year Undergraduate Honours Program in Botany (Honours)

• Co-Instructor, SH 2.3.7 Plant Anatomy, Fall 2015
• Co-Instructor, SH 2.4.11 Plant Physiology, Spring 2014
• Co-Instructor, SH 3.5.17 Ecology & Biostatistics Lab, Fall 2015
• Instructor, SH 3.6.24 Genetic Engineering Lab, Spring 2014 & Spring 2015
• Co-Instructor, SH 3.6.20 Cell Biology Lab, Spring 2015

Post-graduate Program in Botany

• Co-Instructor, 1.1.4 Biochemistry, Fall 2014
• Co-Instructor, 1.2.1 Plant Diversity, Spring 2014
• Instructor, 1.2.2 Cell Biology, Fall 2014 & Fall 2015
• Guest Instructor, 2.3.2 Conservation Biology, Fall 2014–2015
• Co-Instructor, 2.4.2 Plant Biotechnology Specialization, Fall 2014 & Fall 2015
• Co-Instructor, 2.4.3 Industrial Microbiology Specialization, Spring 2015 & Spring 2016
• Co-Instructor, 2.4.4 Plant Biochemistry Specialization, Fall 2015 & Fall 2016
• Co-Instructor, 2.4.5 Plant Biochemistry Specialization Lab, Fall 2014 & Fall 2015

Delhi University, New Delhi, India

4-Year Undergraduate Honours Program in Microbiology, Swami Shraddhanand College

• Co-Instructor, Introduction to Microbiology, Spring 2012
• Co-Instructor, Microbiology Lab, Spring 2012
• Co-Instructor, Cell Biology II, Fall 2012
• Co-Instructor, Cell Biology Lab, Fall 2012
• Instructor, Biochemistry, Fall 2012
• Instructor, Biochemistry Lab, Fall 2012

4-Year Undergraduate Honours Program in Botany, Shivaji College

• Co-Instructor, Introduction to Bioinformatics, Fall 2012
• Co-Instructor, Introduction of Genetics, Fall 2012
• Co-Instructor, Genetics Lab, Fall 2012

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (Teaching Assistant)

• Microbiology Lab I & II, Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering (Masters Program), 2002–2006

PUBLICATIONS

Peer-Reviewed Articles

1. Majhi, P.D., Black, A.L., Sharma, A., Phadkar, J., Roberts, A.L., Singh, P., Kane, J.J., O’Dare, K., van Eijk, P., Reed, S.H., Schneider, S.S., Jerry, D.J. (2025). Inducible estrogen receptor alpha in normal breast epithelial cells demonstrate estrogen receptor-dependent DNA damage. bioRxiv, 2025.03.13.643100. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.03.13.643100

2. He, X.D., Phillips, S., Hioki, K., Majhi, P.D., Babbitt, C., Tremblay, K.D., Pobezinsky, L.A., Mager, J. (2024). TATA-binding associated factors have distinct roles during early mammalian development. Developmental Biology, 551, 53–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.04.002

3. Majhi, P.D., Sharma, A., Jerry, D.J. (2023). Genetic modifiers of p53: opportunities for breast cancer therapies. Oncogene, 14, 236–241. https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28387

4. Zhang, X., Liu, Y., Doungchawee, J., Castellanos-García, L.J., Sikora, K.N., Jeon, T., Goswami, R., Fedeli, S., Gupta, A., Huang, R., Hirschbiegel, C.M., Cao-Milán, R., Majhi, P.K.D., Cicek, Y.A., Liu, L., Jerry, D.J., Vachet, R.W., Rotello, V.M. (2023). Bioorthogonal nanozymes for breast cancer imaging and therapy. Journal of Controlled Release, 357, 31–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel

5. Miller, J.L., Bartlett, A.P., Harman, R.M., Majhi, P.D., Jerry, D.J., Van de Walle, G.R. (2022). Induced mammary cancer in rat models: pathogenesis, genetics, and relevance to female breast cancer. Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia, 27(2), 185–210. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10911-022-09522-w

6. Morin, S.M., Majhi, P.D., Crisi, G.M., Gregory, K.J., Franca, R., Schalet, B., Mason, H., Casaubon, J.T., Cao, Q.J., Haddad, S., Makari-Judson, G., Jerry, D.J., Schneider, S.S. (2022). Interindividual variation contributes to differential PCB 126-induced gene expression in primary breast epithelial cells and tissues. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 241, 113722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113722

7. Majhi, P.D., Griner, N.B., Mayfield, J.A., Shannon, C., Kane, J.J., Baptiste, T.A., Dunphy, K.A., Roberts, A.L., Schneider, S.S., Savage, E.M., Patel, D., Blackburn, A.C., Joana, K.M., Wiesmüller, L., Jerry, D.J. (2021). Genetic modifiers regulating DNA replication and double-strand break repair are associated with differences in mammary tumors in mouse models of Li-Fraumeni syndrome. Oncogene, 40, 5026–5037. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-021-01892-5

8. Majhi, P.D.*, Sharma, A.*, Roberts, A.L., Daniele, E., Majewski, A.R., Chuong, L.M., Black, A.L., Vandenberg, L.N., Schneider, S.S., Dunphy, K.A., Jerry, D.J. (2020). Effects of benzophenone-3 and propylparaben on estrogen receptor-dependent R-loops and DNA damage in breast epithelial cells and mice. Environmental Health Perspectives, 128, 017002. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP5221

9. Jerry, D.J., Shull, J.D., Hadsell, D.L., Rijnkels, M., Dunphy, K.A., Schneider, S.S., Vandenberg, L.N., Majhi, P.D., Byrne, C., Trentham-Dietz, A. (2018). Genetic variation in sensitivity to estrogens and breast cancer risk. Mammalian Genome, 29, 24–37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00335-018-9741-z

10. Lakshmanan, I., Salfity, S., Seshacharyulu, P., Rachagani, S., Thomas, A., Das, S., Majhi, P.D., Nimmakayala, R.K., Vengoji, R., Lele, S.M., Ponnusamy, M.P., Batra, S.K., Ganti, A.K. (2017). MUC16 regulates TSPYL5 for lung cancer cell growth and chemoresistance by suppressing p53. Clinical Cancer Research, 23, 3906–3917. https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-16-2530

11. Dhangadamajhi, G., Kar, A., Rout, R., Dhangada Majhi, P. (2017). A meta-analysis of TLR4 and TLR9 SNPs implicated in severe malaria. Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical, 50, 153–160. https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0475-2016

12. Das, S., Rachagani, S., Torres-Gonzalez, M.P., Lakshmanan, I., Majhi, P.D., Smith, L.M., Wagner, K., Batra, S.K. (2015). Carboxyl-terminal domain of MUC16 imparts tumorigenic and metastatic functions through nuclear translocation of JAK2 to pancreatic cancer cells. Oncotarget, 6, 5772–5787. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep09759

13. Das, S., Majhi, P.D., Rachagani, S., Torres-Gonzalez, M.P., Al-Mugotir, M.H., Lakshmanan, I., Smith, L.M., Wagner, K., Sorgen, P., Batra, S.K. (2015). Membrane proximal ectodomain cleavage of MUC16 occurs in the acidifying Golgi/post-Golgi compartments. Scientific Reports, 5, 9759. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep09759

14. Lakshmanan, I., Ponnusamy, M.P., Macha, M.A., Haridas, D., Majhi, P.D., Kaur, S., Jain, M., Batra, S.K., Ganti, A.K. (2015). Mucins in lung cancer: diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications. Journal of Thoracic Oncology, 10, 19–27. https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0000000000000404

15. Trivedi, V.D., Majhi, P., Phale, P.S. (2014). Kinetic and spectroscopic characterization of 1-naphthol 2-hydroxylase from Pseudomonas sp. strain C5. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 172, 3964–3977. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-014-0815-4

16. Majhi, P.D.*, Lakshmanan, I.*, Ponnusamy, M.P., Jain, M., Das, S., Kaur, S., West, W.W., Johansson, S., Smith, L.M., Yu, F., Rolle, C., Sharma, P., Carey, G., Batra, S.K., Ganti, A.K. (2013). Pathobiological implications of MUC4 in non–small-cell lung cancer. Journal of Thoracic Oncology, 8, 398–407. https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0b013e3182829e06

17. Phale, P.S., Basu, A., Majhi, P.D., Deveryshetty, J., Vamsee-Krishna, C., Shrivastava, R. (2007). Metabolic diversity in bacterial degradation of aromatic compounds. OMICS: A Journal of Integrative Biology, 11, 252–279. https://doi.org/10.1089/omi.2007.0004

Upcoming Publication

• Sharma, A., Majhi, P.D.*, Roberts, A.L., Mary, M.J., Phadkar, J.R., Dunphy, K.A., Shull, J.D., Crisi, G.M., Makari-Judson, G., Schneider, S.S., Jerry, D.J.*. Estrogen mediated DNA damage in the mammary epithelium differs among strains of rodents and among women. (To be communicated in December 2025; *Co-corresponding authors.)

PATENT

• Methods for Predicting ER-Mediated DNA Damage. Serial No.: 62/914,110; Filing Date: October 11, 2019. Inventors: Prabin Kumar Dhangada Majhi, Aman Sharma, D. Joseph Jerry. UMA 20-019; TH 921301-8030; Full patent filed on October 11, 2020.

CONFERENCE AND WORKSHOP PARTICIPATION

Invited Talks

• RNA-seq Using Unity: Workshop, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2022
• Estrogen, R-loops, DNA damage and breast cancer, Center of Neuroendocrine Studies, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2019
• Xenoestrogens cause estrogen receptor-dependent R-loop formation and DNA damage, BCERP 13th Annual Meeting, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 2018
• Genetic modifier of DNA repair in Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, Chemical Biology Interface Program Chalk Talk, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2017
• DNA double-strand breaks in breast cancer, Veterinary and Animal Sciences Seminar Series, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2017

Poster Presentations

• “Variation in barriers to immortalization in normal breast epithelial cells and establishment of a panel of cell lines from 16 donors differing in breast cancer risk.” Cancer Prevention Research Conference, 2024.
• “Benzophenone-3 and propylparaben induce estrogen receptor-dependent R-loop and DNA damage in breast epithelial cells.” Mammary Gland Biology, Gordon Research Conference, 2019.
• “Variable penetrance of mammary tumors in mouse models of Li-Fraumeni syndrome is linked to replication-associated repair.” AACR Annual Meeting, 2018.
• “Xenoestrogens cause estrogen receptor-dependent R-loop formation and DNA damage.” AACR Annual Meeting, 2018.
• “MUC16 upregulates TSPYL5 gene and mediates lung cancer cell proliferation by suppressing p53 activity.” AACR 104th Annual Meeting, 2013.
• “Carboxyl terminal region of MUC16 is critical for MUC16 mediated tumorigenesis.” AACR 104th Annual Meeting, 2013.
• “Role of MUC4 in lung cancer.” Annual Meeting of CSCR and MWAFMR, 2012 (Oral presentation).
• “MUC4 expression in non-small cell lung cancer.” Annual Meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology, 2012.

Workshops and Specialized Training

• Multi-omics Bootcamp, Columbia University, 2022
• Quantitative Genomics Bootcamp, Columbia University, 2022
• Analysis of Single-cell RNA-seq Data, University of Cambridge, UK, 2022
• AtKisson Training Group Grant Writing Workshop, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2022
• Demystifying Biomedical Big Data, Georgetown University, 2018
• Research Mentor Training (National Research Mentoring Network), University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2018
• Sequence Analysis Bootcamp, UMass Medical School Bioinformatics Core, 2017
• Genome Engineering 5.0, Broad Institute, 2017
• Epigenetics Bootcamp, Columbia University, 2017
• Metastasis and the Tumor Microenvironment (Short course in Cancer Biology), Eppley Institute, 2010

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

• Professional Memberships: American Association of Cancer Research (AACR); Society of Biological Chemists, India (SBC)
• Reviewer: Oncogene; Cell Death and Disease; Journal of Thoracic Oncology; The FASEB Journal; Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia; PLOS One; Cancers; International Journal of Molecular Sciences; Journal of Ovarian Research
• Consultant: APCTT-ESCAP Project (United Nations): Promotion of regional network among R&D institutions in the Asia-Pacific to strengthen their R&D management capacity in emerging technologies
• Thesis Committees: Member for 4 students