Aparna Sreenivasan

Aparna Sreenivasan is a Professor of Genetics and Molecular Biology and Chair of the Department of Biology and Chemistry at California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB), where she also serves as Special Assistant to the Dean of the College of Science. She holds a BS in Microbiology and Immunology from UCLA, a Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from UC Santa Cruz, and a certificate in Science Communication from UC Santa Cruz. Her research focuses on cell size control in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and comparative genomics in Drosophila melanogaster, with collaborations at UC Santa Cruz and the Joint Genome Institute.

Dr. Sreenivasan is a strong advocate for undergraduate research, mentoring McNair, UROC, and LSAMP Scholars, and leading programs like the NIH-funded IRACDA program and the Genentech-funded GAIN initiative. She teaches Genetics, Advanced Cell Biology, and Biology capstone courses. Her editorial roles include membership on the Journal of Molecular Biology and Biology Education's editorial board. She actively participates in organizations such as TRIBETA (Biological Honor Society) and the CSU Program for Research in Biotechnology (CSUPERB).

Her professional background includes roles as a scientific analyst at Lieff Cabraser law firm, a content editor at McGraw Hill, and a freelance science writer for outlets like Science and Natural History. She emphasizes work-life balance, advocating for students' holistic development alongside academic rigor.