Gaurav Arora

Gaurav Arora is an Associate Professor of Biology at Gallaudet University, within the School of Science, Technology, Accessibility, Mathematics, and Public Health. He holds a Ph.D. in Biology from the Georgia Institute of Technology and conducted post-doctoral research at Georgetown University. His research focuses on evolutionary genomics, bioinformatics education, and microbial ecology. He actively contributes to initiatives like the Genome Solver project, which enhances undergraduate bioinformatics training and student engagement in genomics research.

Dr. Arora teaches courses such as AHC-622 Accessible Data Visualization, BIO-242 Evolution, and ITS-110 Programming Fundamentals, emphasizing inclusive pedagogy for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. His work bridges computational biology and education equity, with a focus on accessible STEM pathways for underrepresented groups. He has advised numerous undergraduate students and is committed to fostering collaborative learning environments.

• Education: B.Sc. Chemistry (Hons., University of Mumbai, 1999), M.Sc. Biochemistry (University of Mumbai, 2001), M.S. Biology (Georgia State, 2006), Ph.D. Biology (Georgia Tech, 2011)
• Research Interests: Microbial genomics, evolutionary biology, bioinformatics education, and environmental microbiology
• Grants: NSF-funded initiatives on STEM accessibility and NIH grants for biomedical informatics
• Service: Committee roles in Gallaudet’s Tenure and Promotion Committee, Faculty of Color Coalition, and leadership in national ASM-CUE conferences

His recent work includes analyzing microbial diversity in the Anacostia River and investigating horizontal gene transfer in bacteria, both leveraging bioinformatics tools. He advocates for inclusive science education through projects like the Genomics Education Partnership and promotes interdisciplinary approaches to address environmental and public health challenges.