New faculty join UMMC academic ranks

Published on Monday, August 26, 2024

Medical Center leadership is proud to announce the following additions to its faculty and leadership staff. 

Dr. Shashi Anand

Dr. Shashi Anand, recently a postdoctoral fellow in pathology at the Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama in Mobile, has joined the Medical Center faculty as instructor of cell and molecular biology in the School of Medicine. 

In India, he earned his MSc in animal biotechnology at the National Dairy Research Institute and his PhD in molecular biology/microbiology at the CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology.  

Anand, who received a number of research fellowships and awards, is the co-author of more than 20 scientific publications and a book chapter. He has participated in a number of poster and abstract presentations at scientific conferences and seminars, and has served as a reviewer for more than a dozen scientific journals. 

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Dr. Ajay P. Singh

Dr. Ajay P. Singh, recently professor of pathology and director of research at the Whiddon College of Medicine and program leader of cancer biology at the Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama (USA) in Mobile, has joined the Medical Center faculty as a professor of cell and molecular biology in the School of Medicine. 

He is also associate director of basic and translational research for the UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute. 

 Singh, who earned an MS in biotechnology at Aligarh Muslim University in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India, where he was also a research fellow in the Department of Biochemistry, completed his PhD in life science at Devi Ahilya University in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India, in 2002. He was also a post-doctoral fellow and research associate in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha and later joined the faculty in the same department.  

He held a number of academic and professional appointments at USA in the Mitchell Cancer Institute and the College of Medicine, and at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.  

Among his numerous honors and awards is the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Society of American Asian Scientists in Cancer Research. A variety of institutions and organizations have invited him to serve on advisory committees and in other capacities. 

He has served as a scientist reviewer or review committee member for a variety of institutions, programs and foundations, and as a reviewer of promotion and tenure applications. 

Singh is the principal investigator, co-investigator or collaborator on several federally-funded research projects. He serves in an editorial capacity for a dozen scientific journals and as a reviewer for nearly 100. He has been invited to around 50 scientific seminars including many abroad, and is the coauthor of around 140 research articles, reviews and editorials; 14 book chapters and around 150 abstracts/presentations. 

The cowriter of several invention disclosures, Singh is also the holder of various patents. He co-founded the company startup, Tatva Biosciences, LLC.  

He is a member of a number of professional organizations, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association for Cancer Research, Society of American Asian Scientists in Cancer Research, American Association of Indian Scientists in Cancer Research, American Society for Clinical Oncology and others. 

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Dr. Seema Singh

Dr. Seema Singh, recently a professor of pathology in the College of Medicine and the Mitchell Cancer Institute at the University of South Alabama (USA) in Mobile, has joined the Medical Center faculty as a professor of cell and molecular biology in the School of Medicine. 

She is also associate director of education and training for the UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute. 

Singh earned her MS in botany-pathology and was a botany research fellow at Aligarh Muslin University in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India, before completing her PhD in pathology and microbiology at the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Lucknow, India, in 2001. 

At the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, she was a post-doctoral fellow at the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, a post-doctoral fellow in pathology and microbiology and a research associate in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.  

She received further training in clinical pharmacology and clinical research from the National Institutes of Health Office of Clinical Research. At USA, she also earned an MBA with a health care concentration. 

At USA, Singh also held various other academic and professional appointments – at the Mitchell Cancer Institute and the College of Medicine at USA – and filled an array of leadership, administrative and advisory roles. 

Throughout her career, Singh has earned a number of honors and awards for her work as a researcher and teacher, including the Outstanding Achievement Award, for her contributions to cancer research, from the Society of American Asian Scientists in Cancer Research. She has also served as a special issue editor, editorial board member, associate editor-in-chief and in other capacities for a number of scientific journals, as well as a grants and thesis reviewer for numerous foundations and other institutions. 

Currently, she is the principal investigator or co-investigator on several research projects. She is the coauthor of well over 100 scientific publications and a dozen book chapters, and has participated in more than 100 presentations, including abstracts, at scientific conferences, forums and meetings. 

Singh is the co-holder of several patents and is the coauthor of several invention disclosures. She is the co-founder of Tatva Biosciences, LLC. 

Singh’s record of community outreach and volunteer service is extensive. She is a member of professional organizations such as the American Association for Cancer Research, Society of American Asian Scientists in Cancer Research, American Association of Indian Scientists in Cancer Research, American Society for Clinical Oncology and more.