The Science Gurus Mentorship Program is designed to help High School/Undergraduate students navigate their current research plans and future career goals in the field of Science. To this end, the program attempts to pair each interested high school student/undergraduate with a Mentor. Mentors are selected from a cross-section of scientists and educators who dedicate their time and resources to improve the performance and potential of their student mentees. The goal of our mentoring program is to provide guidelines and resources for outstanding young scientists for developing high quality research career. The list of available mentors is given below.

• Pradeep Fernandes
  

  Pradeep Fernandes is currently President and co-founder of Cellworks Group, Inc. Prior to starting a company in the life sciences area, he had started and worked in several companies in the chip design and chip design software area. Pradeep has a BSEE and MSEE. Having focused primarily on his entrepreneurship activities so far, he is now spending some of his time giving back to the community.

• Jagath Reddy Junutula
  

  Jagath Reddy Junutula holds a Ph.D in Biochemistry and has 20 yrs experience in life science research. He is currently senior scientist at Genentech Research and Development. Jagath gained knowledge and experience in moving antibody-based therapeutic molecules from discovery phase to IND. He has authored 50 peer-reviewed publications/patents and has presented his work at numerous international conferences. Jagath has been working with EPPIC, a 10-year old non-profit organization that fosters entrepreneurial mentoring and promotes partnering among life science professionals. He served as President of EPPIC during 2010-2011 and has been a board member since 2010.

• Viswanatham Katta
  

  Viswanatham Katta holds Ph. D. in Analytical Chemistry with over 25 yrs of experience in life science research. He is currently senior scientist at Genentech Pharma Technology Development. He has served on the executive committee of EPPIC (2004-09), a non-profit organization that fosters entrepreneurial mentoring and promotes partnering among life science professionals.

• Hardayal Prashad
  

  Hardayal Prashad, has over 32 years’ experience in Research and Development, including 23 years at Genentech Inc. He holds Bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from the University of North Dakota, Certificate in Project Management from UC Berkeley Extension and is a Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) and a member of the American Chemical Society.

• Arjun Reddy
  

  Arjun Reddy is an Operational Excellence specialist and worked at Genentech for over eight years. He currently works at Net Apps as senior manager of process innovation. Arjun is involved with other non-profit organizations including ALS, IRDF, Vibha, Sankara Eye Foundation. He holds a Master’s degree in Communication and a Bachelor’s in Commerce.

• Suryanarayana Sankuratri
  

  Suryanarayana Sankuratri holds Ph.D. in Biochemistry over 25 yrs experience in the life science research in particular with virology and infectious diseases. He is currently a Director at Roche pharmaceuticals. Surya involved with many non-profit activities related professional career development of life science scientists through IISc-AANA and other NGOs in India helping the local communities to understand preventive approaches to overcome infectious diseases and improvement for better human health.

• Sreedhara Alavattam
  

  Sreedhara Alavattam holds a Ph.D, and is a scientist with around 12 years of experience working in and leading projects at Genentech, Johnson and Johnson, and Battelle. He has expertise in biologics (peptides, proteins & monoclonal antibodies, and nucleic acids) and small molecule formulation development, protein stabilization technologies, drug delivery, drug product manufacturing, intellectual property strategy & development, and technology transfer. In the past few years he has been a team leader for multi-disciplinary (scientists & engineers) and multi-functional (technical and product development teams) groups in research, industrial and contract research labs. He is also interested in various volunteering opportunities, including literacy projects in India and the USA and am an avid photographer.

• Nirmala Bandrapalli
  

  Nirmala Bandrapalli holds a Masters degree in Biochemistry from University of San Francisco. Nirmala is an Entrepreneur and founder of Global Fusion Consulting, a recruiting company as well as co-founder of Fusion Beatz Company serving the fitness needs of people in USA to address better human health. Nirmala has been actively supporting the local community by working with Burlingame Community for Eductation (BCE), a non-profit organization that raises funds to support schools in Burlingame school district. Nirmala served BCE as Auction Communication Manger for two years. For over three years Nirmala supported the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) as Membership chair at Lincoln Elementary School. Nirmala is currently serving on Lincoln School Site Council. Nirmala is actively involved in Project Management Institute (PMI) local chapter (PMISFBAC) doing the business development as well as teaching PMP exam prep classes.

• Sarita Devi Dogra
  

  Sarita Devi Dogra holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work. For nine years Sarita supported the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at the local public middle and elementary schools, serving as President for four years. For the past three years Sarita has served as the class representative at a local private high school through the Mother’s Auxiliary.

• Rao M. Goriparthi
  

  Rao M. Goriparthi holds an MS in Physics from Bhopal University and an MPH from Columbia University. Rao has been an active member of the Health Physics Society and served as a Board Member for several years. Rao has been working with “Hrudaya, Cure a Little Heart” foundation, a non-profit organization to help needy children that require health care in India since 2004.

• Sridhar Kandimalla
  

  Sridhar Kandimalla holds a Bachelor degree in Electronics & Communication Engineering. Sridhar currently works as an web architect in Java/J2EE related technologies.

• Vinay Parachuri
  

  Vinay Parachuri is a Computer Systems Validation specialist and has been with Genentech for over five years. Vinay is also involved with other non-profit organizations including India Literacy Project, Sankara Eye Foundation and The Indus Entrepreneurs.

• Darshana R. Patel
  

  Darshana R. Patel, Ph.D. in Biochemistry, has been involved in community service since her youth and has held leadership positions in student-based governing councils up through her post-doctoral years. Currently, Darshana is serving as president of the Rancho Peñasquitos Town Council in San Diego, CA. In this position she works as a liaison between community residents and city officials by applying her organizational, interpersonal, and analytical skills to support community projects and facilitate problem solving.

• Monica Reddy
  

  Monica Reddy holds a MBA.Monica was a member of the Indian Business & Professional Women (IBPW), a non-profit support network for business and professional women that promotes education, leadership and self-development through seminars and workshops.

• Vidya Jonnalagadda
  

  Vidya Jonnalagadda holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from University of Pennsylvania. She currently teaches various topics in Biology to UG and graduate students in Secunderabad, India. As a volunteer Leader, she has created and implemented programs for teaching science through experiments to middle school students and basic Telugu literacy to primary school children in Government schools in the Hyderabad area. Vidya is serving as a president of Science Gurus-India organization to support Science Gurus activities in India.