Ashok K. Chopra, PhD, CScProfessor
Department of Microbiology & Immunology
Ashok K. Chopra, PhD, CSc is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology (M&I) and is a collaborating faculty in the Institute for Human Infections & Immunity, Center for Biodefense & Emerging Infectious Diseases, Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, Center for Tropical Diseases, Institute for Translational Sciences, UTMB, and the Shriners Burns Institute. He is the holder of Robert E. Shope MD and John S. Dunn Distinguished Chair in Global Health.
Dr. Chopra obtained his PhD degree in Microbiology from the Kurukshetra University, India, and CSc degree in the field of Molecular & Cellular Biology from the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague. He became full Professor in 2000 and is an internationally renowned scientist with expertise in the areas of molecular basis of bacterial pathogenesis and vaccinology. Dr. Chopra has close to 200 peer-reviewed publications, reviews, and book chapters and was honored by the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) in 2013 with the "Distinguished Faculty Research Award."
Dr. Chopra is actively involved in Graduate and Medical School Education and has trained 17 graduate students, numerous undergraduate students, ~20 postdoctoral fellows, and has mentored junior faculty at UTMB and outside the campus. He also serves as a member of the Academy of Research Mentors. Dr. Chopra chairs the M&I Graduate School Admissions Committee, represents the M&I Graduate Program to GSBS, UTMB, and is an Assistant Director of the M&I Graduate Program. He is also an active member of the Cell Biology Graduate Program. In 2011, Dr. Chopra was honored with "Dr. Leon Bromberg Professorship for Excellence in Teaching."
Dr. Chopra has served on the School of Medicine Admissions Committee, Presidential Scholars Committee, chaired the James W. McLaughlin Endowment Fund Committee, and also currently chairs the UTMB Appointments, Promotions, and Tenure (APT) Committee. Dr. Chopra is a collaborating faculty on all of the NIH-funded T32- and T35- training grants on infectious diseases. He has obtained funding from NIH, NSF, Private Companies and Foundations, and DoD, has served on several national and international study sections, and he is on the editorial boards of several scientific journals. Together, these honors reflect his passion and devotion for teaching, mentoring, and research.