1997-2001: B.S. in Agriculture, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, India.
2002-2004: M.S. in Entomology, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, India.
2004-2009: Ph. D. in Entomology, University of Kentucky, USA. (S.R.Palli lab) 2009- present: Post-doc, University of Georgia.

Dissertation title: Functional characterization of Nuclear receptors and basic Helix-Loop-Helix (bHLH) transcription factors.

For my Ph.D. dissertation I worked with a model insect, red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, in which RNA interference (RNAi) works very effectively. Using this system, I tried to understand the function of bHLH super family transcription factors to determine their role during the insect growth, development and reproduction. I also tried to understand the molecular mechanism of action of two important hormones ecdysteroids and juvenile hormone (JH) through nuclear hormone receptors ecdysone receptor (EcR), ultraspiracle (USP) and hormone receptor 38 (HR38).

In Mike Strand's lab, I am interested in understanding the function of various viral genes present in the Bracovirus genome using RNAi technique in Soy bean looper, Pseudoplusia includes. In addition to this I am also working on the Rel/ NF- kB transcription factors which are important regulators of the insect innate immunity. My primary focus is to characterize the function of two IkB- like gene family members H4 and N5 present in the Bracovirus genome.

Bitra K and Palli SR (2009). Interaction of proteins involved in ecdysteroids and juvenile hormone signal transduction. Arch Insect Biochem Physiol 70, 90-105.

Bitra K, Tan A, Dowling A and Palli SR (2009). Functional characterization of PAS and HES family bHLH transcription factors during the metamorphosis of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Gene 448, 74-87.

Bitra K and Palli SR. The members of bHLH superfamily transcription factors are required for female reproduction in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. submitted.

Bitra K, Parthasarathy R and Palli SR. The members of bHLH superfamily transcription factors are required for male reproduction in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Manuscript in preparation.