Biology Division, LCC

Kabi R. Neupane, Ph.D.

Instructor, Biology and Biotechnology, LCC, Hawaii

EDUCATION

Ph.D. (Botanical Sciences, Plant Molecular Physiology). University of Hawaii , Honolulu , USA . Department of Plant Molecular Physiology (1997).  Dissertation title: Genetic engineering of papaya (Carica papaya L.) for modified ethylene biosynthesis.  

MBA. University of Hawaii , Honolulu , USA . MBA, College of Business Administration . University of Hawaii , Honolulu (2001). 

M. Sc. (Plant Breeding and Genetics).  University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore , INDIA (1986).  Thesis title: Genetic Architecture of seed yield and its components in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp).  

B.Sc. (Agriculture).  University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore , INDIA (1984).

I.Sc. (Biology). Mahendra Morang Multiple Central Campus, Biratnagar, NEPAL. (1979).

High School, Janata Madhyamic Vidhyalaya, Biratnagar, NEPAL (1976).

EMPLOYMENT

August 2002 - Present. Instructor.  Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.  Teach college-level courses in biological sciences and prepare, develop and/ or adapt courses to enhance learning experience in biology.

1999-2002.  Assistant Researcher. Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, University of Hawaii . Molecular biologist in papaya, pineapple, protea and other tropical crop biotechnology projects.  Major focus on design and construction of transformation vectors, and developing efficient tissue culture systems for various tropical crops and ornamentals.

 1996-1999. Junior Researcher. Department of Plant Molecular Physiology, University of Hawaii . Conduct biotechnological research on coffee, tea, cacao and papaya in support of several laboratory projects.  Research activities include cloning genes involved in caffeine biosynthesis in coffee, tea and cacao and in fruit ripening in coffee and papaya, isolation of genes, construction of plant transformation vectors, transformation, tissue culture and regeneration etc.  

1992-1996.  Research Associate.  Department of Plant Molecular Physiology, University of Hawaii . Research activities involve: (1) Cloning and characterization of an ACC synthase cDNA from papaya and production of transgenic plants for longer shelf-life using antisense ACC synthase cDNA constructs, (2) Cloning and characterization of ACC synthase and ACC oxidase cDNAs from coffee and genetic engineering of coffees for uniform ripening (for mechanical harvesting) and (3) Cloning of methyl transferase gene from coffee and production of naturally decaffeinated coffee beans using biotechnology.

1988-1991. Lecturer. Department of Agronomy and Soil Science. Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, Tribhuvan University , Nepal .  Teaching undergraduate courses in plant breeding and genetics. Research projects included collection buckwheat, Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L) and other grain legume germplasm, field selections and variety improvement programs.  Involved extensive travel in the Far Western region of Nepal .

1987-1998. Agricultural Specialist. Agricultural Projects Services Center , Kathmandu , Nepal .  As an agronomist in a team of specialists, I surveyed hill and mountain crops in Nepal and prepared reports for the European Economic Community .

PUBLICATIONS

Neupane, K. R., Mukatira, U. T., Kato, C., Stiles, J. I. (1998). Cloning and characterization of fruit expressed ACC synthase and ACC oxidase from papaya (Carica papaya L.). Acta Horticulturae. 461: 329-337.

Moisyadi, S.; Neupane, K. R., Stiles, J. I. (1998). Cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding xanthosine N7 methyltransferase from coffee (Coffea arabica). Acta Horticulturae. 461: 367-377

Neupane, K. R. and Stiles, J. I. (1996). Isolation of ACC Synthase Gene from Papaya and Study of Its Expression During Fruit Ripening. Pacific Science 50: 245.

Dahal D., Neupane, K.R., Baral, D. R. and Sharma, K. P. (1991) Occurrence and spread of virus and virus-like diseases of cowpeas and soybean in Nepal. J. Inst. Agric. Anim. Sci. 12: 47-61

Neupane, K. R. and Pant J. (1988) Performance of vegetable cowpeas in Rampur , Chitwan. J. Inst. Agric. Anim. Sci. 9: 127-128.

PATENTS

U.S. Patent 5,767.376.  Nucleic acids encoding a papaya ACC synthase gene. Inventors: John I. Stiles and Kabi R. Neupane

US patent 5,874,269.  Purified Proteins, Recombinant DNA sequences and Processes for Controlling the Ripening of Coffee Plants. Inventors: John I. Stiles, Kabi R. Neupane and Istefo Moisyadi.

US patent 6,075,184.  Purified Proteins, Recombinant DNA sequences and Processes for Producing Caffeine Free Beverages. Inventors: John I. Stiles, Istefo Moisyadi and Kabi R. Neupane.

AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS

1995 Best Research Presentation by a PMP student. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) Student Symposium, University of Hawaii .

1995 Michael Weekely Award for the best research presentation in the Annual Tester Symposium, University of Hawaii .

1991-96   East-West Center Fellowship to pursue Ph.D. in the University of Hawaii .

1987  State Government of Karnataka Cash Award.

1986  University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) Gold Medal for First Rank in M. SC. (Agriculture). GPA 4.0/4.0.

1984   UAS Gold Medal for Second Rank in B.Sc. (Agriculture). GPA 3.97/4.0.

1984   UAS Employees Association Gold Medal.

1980-84      Colombo Plan Scholarship to study B. SC. (Agriculture) in India .

ORGANIZATIONS

Member, Beta Gama Sigma, University of Hawaii Manoa Chapter

Member, University of Hawaii Professional Assembly

Member, American Society of Plant Physiologists

Member, American Phytopathology Society

LANGUAGES: English, Nepali, Hindi and Kannada.

nd mail, questions or comments about this web site to kabi@hawaii.edu.
Copyright © 2003 Kabi R. Neupane

Last modified: December 13, 2006

About PowerPoint Presentation: Many PowerPoint files have been adapted from media supplement of the Textbook Publisher, Benjamin Cummings (Pearson Education, Inc.). I strongly recommend students to visit the Publisher’s website at www.essentialbiology.com (Bio 101) or www.campbellbiology.com (Bio 171) and benefit form their online resources.