Arun K Dhar

Arun K Dhar is a Professor and Director of the Aquaculture Pathology Laboratory at the University of Arizona’s School of Animal & Comparative Biomedical Sciences. He holds a PhD in Mycology & Plant Pathology from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute and has conducted postdoctoral research at Tufts University and Agriculture Canada. His work focuses on discovering pathogens and developing diagnostic tools, vaccines, and therapies for crustaceans and fish. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and holds eight US patents.

Dr. Dhar has served as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Invertebrate Pathology and an Editorial Board member for Reviews in Fisheries Sciences & Aquaculture. He teaches in the AQUAVET summer program at Cornell University and has mentored numerous graduate students and postdocs. His lab is a World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) Reference Laboratory for Crustacean Diseases and an USDA-approved, ISO-accredited diagnostic facility.

His research spans viral and bacterial shrimp pathogens, microsporidiosis (e.g., Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei), and novel diagnostic methods like CRISPR-based assays and laser microdissection. Recent work includes studies on white feces syndrome, AHPND tolerance in shrimp, and genomic characterization of emerging pathogens. He has received Fulbright Specialist awards and teaching accolades, reflecting his global impact in aquaculture science.