Rupinder Kaur

Rupinder Kaur is an Assistant Research Professor in the Bordenstein Lab within the Department of Biology at Pennsylvania State University. Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of Wolbachia endosymbionts in insects, particularly their impact on reproduction, symbiosis, and host biology. She investigates interactions between Wolbachia, host organisms like Drosophila melanogaster and Aedes aegypti, and environmental factors such as temperature and gut microbiome dynamics.

Her work spans topics including cytoplasmic incompatibility, symbiont-mediated phenotypes, and genomic adaptations in invasive species. Recent studies highlight Wolbachia’s role in modifying sperm development, gut-germline axis interactions, and thermal preferences of hosts. These findings contribute to strategies for controlling insect pests and understanding symbiotic relationships.

No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned in the provided texts. She advises no listed students but collaborates in lab environments like the Bordenstein Lab, contributing to genomic and molecular analyses of symbiotic systems.