EDUCATION

Ph.D. (2002)
School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University,,Hakodate, Japan

M.S.  (1998)
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Faculty of Fisheries, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
B.Sc. (1997)
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Faculty of Fisheries, Mymensingh, Bangladesh


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES

2006 to date

Postdoctoral Research Associate

School of Molecular Biosciences
Washington State University, USA
Host Professor: Dr. Michael K. Skinner, Professor and Director, Center for Reproductive Biology and Center for Integrated Biology 

  • Search for potential candidate genes that are responsible for Sertoli cell differentiation in the embryonic testis following male sex determination.
  • Effects of endocrine disruptors on embryonic development and testis development.
  • Search for biomarkers to detect diseases in humans by screening DNA methylation sites.


2005 to 2006
Postdoctoral Research Associate
 National Institute for Basic Biology (NIBB), Japan
Host Professor: Dr. Yoshitaka Nagahama

  • Generation of transgenic medaka lines carrying fluorescence in the brain and gonads (Arom-GFP): fish models for endocrine disruption research.


2003 to 2005
 Postdoctoral Research Fellow
 National Institute for Basic Biology (NIBB), Japan
Host Professor: Dr. Yoshitaka Nagahama

  • Sexual plasticity of gonadal germ and somatic cells in the adult gonochoristic fish- a possible target for endocrine disruption.


2002 to 2003
Tentative Lecturer/ Research Assistant Professor
University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.　
Host Professor: Dr. Masaru Nakamura

  • Molecular mechanism of female to male sex change in groupers, and the development of reliable technique for the induction of their sex change.

 

AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS RECEIVED

1992 to 1997  Scholarship
 Government of Bangladesh for the Bachelor of Science course

1997 to 1998  Scholarship
Economic Relations Division (ERD), Government of Bangladesh for the Master of Science Course

1998 to 2002 Scholarship
Ministry of Education (Monbusho), Government of Japan for the Doctoral course and research in Hokkaido University, Japan

2002 to 2004 Research grant and Fellowship
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) to work with Dr. Yoshitaka Nagahama in National Institute for Basic Biology, Japan.

Young Researcher Award 2007.
Zoological Society of Japan


RESEARCH GRANTS

3.0 million yen (US $28,500)
Funded by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).


RESEARCH INTERESTS

1)      Molecular mechanism of male sex determination and the influence of environmental stressors in embryonic development and reproduction.

2)      Epigenetic trans-generational effects of endocrine disruptors in mammals

3)      Reproductive aging- the role of estrogen and sex steroids

4)      Sexual plasticity in fish and its consequences in ecosystem.

5)      Development of biomarkers to diagnose toxicity and disease.

 

TECHNICAL SKILLS

1)      Molecular: Molecular cloning, In situ hybridization, PCR, Promoter assay, Microarray, Gelshift assay, Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP), Gene silencing

2)      Lab assays: Enzyme assay, ELISA, Western Blot, Hormone Assays

3)      Cell culture: In vitro tissue culture, Cell transfections (Luciferase/SiRNA), Electroporation.

4)      Microscopy/Tissue preparation: DNA microinjection, Laser-captured microdissection, Cryosectioning, Confocal microscopy, Fluoro-immunocytochemistry, Histochemistry, In vivo imaging of embryos, Tissue transplantation

5)      Miscellaneous: Fish telemetry, Data Logging, Coded-wire tagging, Injections, Biopsy, Zebrafish and Medaka husbandry, Culture of Salmon and tilapia, Mouse/rat/fish dissection (Embryo and adults).

 

AD HOC MANUSCRIPT REVIEW COMMITTEE
General and Comparative Endocrinology
Molecular Reproduction and Development
Journal of Experimental Zoology A
Cell and Tissue Research
Journal of World Aquaculture Society
Aquaculture
Journal of Fish Biology

 
BOOK CHAPTER

1. Skinner, M.K., Nilsson, E.E., and Bhandari, R.K. (2008). Cell-Cell Signaling in the Testis and Ovary. In: Handbook of Cell Signaling (Ralph A Bradshaw and Edward Dennis, eds.) Academic Press/Elsevier Science Publishing. (In Press).


REVIEWS

Nakamura M. Alam, M.A., Kobayashi, Y. and Bhandari, R.K.  (2007). The role of sex hormones in sex change of grouper, Epinephelus merra. Journal of Marine Science and Technology-Taiwan, Special issue 15: 23-27.

Nakamura M., Kobayashi, Y., Miura, S. Alam, M.A., and Bhandari R.K. (2006). Sex change in coral reef fish. Fish Physiology and Biochemistry 31: 117-122.
Bhandari, R.K., Alam, MA., Soyano, K., Nakamura, M. (2007). Female-male sex change in grouper. in preparation.


PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES

Bhandari, R.K., and et. al. (2008). Generation of medaka transgenic lines with GFP fluorescence in the ovarian follicle cells: a tool for studying the development of ovarian follicle cells and female sex differentiation (in preparation).

Bhandari, R.K., and et. al. (2008). Neural and peripheral responses of brain aromatase to environmental stressors in the living medaka. (in preparation).  

 Bhandari, R.K., and et. al.  (2008). Gonochoristic fish maintain their sexual plasticity to adulthood.  *Equal contribution (in preparation)
Bhandari, R.K., and et. al. (2008). Methyl-testosterone treatment suppresses reproductive axis of the pre-pubertal Cichlid fish, Nile tilapia. (in preparation)

Kojima, Y. Bhandari, R.K., Kobayashi, Y. and Nakamura M. (2008). Male-to-female sex reversal of primary male wrasse with estrogen treatment. General and Comparative Endocrinology. 156:628-632.

Westring, C.G., Ando, H., Kitahashi, T.,  Bhandari, R.K., Ueda, H., Urano, A.,  Dores, R.M.,  Sher, A.A. and Danielson, P.B. (2008). Seasonal changes in CRF-I and urotensin I transcript levels in masu salmon: Correlation with cortisol secretion during spawning. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 155: 126-140.

Komatsu, T. Bhandari, R.K., Nakamura, M. (2006). Acceleration of precocious spermatogenesis in under-yearling Golden Rabbitfish (Siganus guttatus, Bloch) by GnRHa treatments. Aquaculture 257: 558-565.

Alam, M.A., Bhandari, R.K. ,Kobayashi, Y., Soyano K., and Nakamura, M., (2006). Induction of sex change within two full moons during breeding season and spawning in grouper. Aquaculture 255: 532-535.

Alam, M.A., Bhandari, R.K., Kobayashi, Y., Soyano, K., and Nakamura, M. (2006). Changes in androgen-producing cell size and circulating 11-ketotestosterone levels during female-to-male sex change in Honeycomb grouper (Epinephelus merra). Molecular Reproduction and Development. 73(2):206-14.

Bhandari, R.K., Alam, M.A.,, Soyano K., and Nakamura, M., (2006). Induction of female-to-male sex change in the honeycomb grouper (Epinephelus merra) by 11-ketotestosterone treatments. Zoological Science 23: 65-69.

Bhandari, R.K., Nakamura, M., Kobayashi, T., and Nagahama, Y. (2006). Suppression of steroidogenic enzyme expression during androgen-induced sex reversal in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). General and Comparative Endocrinology 145: 20-24.

Bhandari, R.K., Alam, M.A., Higa, M. Soyano, K., Nakamura, M. (2005). Evidence that estrogen regulates the sex change of honeycomb grouper (Epinephelus merra), a protogynous hermaphrodite fish. Journal of Experimental Zoology 330A: 497-503.

Jodo, A.., Kitahashi, T., Taniyama, S., Bhandari, R.K., Ueda, H., Urano, A. and Ando, H. (2005). Seasonal variations in expression of five subtypes of gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor genes in the brain of masu salmon from immaturity to spawning. Zoological Science 22: 1331-1338.

Luo, Q., Ban, M., Ando, H., Kitahashi, T., Bhandari, R.K., McCormick, S.D. and Urano, A. (2005). Distinct effects of 4-nonylphenol and estrogen-17beta on expression of estrogen receptor a gene in smolting sockeye salmon. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. 140C:  123-130.

Alam, M.A., Komuro, H., Bhandari, R.K. , Nakamura, S., Soyano, K., and Nakamura, M. (2005). Immunohistochemical evidence identifying the site of androgen production in the ovary of the protogynous grouper Epinephelus merra . Cell and Tissue Research 320: 323-329.

Bhandari, R.K., Komuro, H., Higa, M., and Nakamura, M. (2004). Sex inversion of sexually immature honeycomb grouper (Epinephelus merra) by aromatase inhibitor. Zoological Science 21 (3): 305-310.

Bhandari, R.K., Higa, M., Nakamura, S. and Nakamura, M. (2004). Aromatase inhibitor induces complete sex change in a protogynous honeycomb grouper, Epinephelus merra. Molecular Reproduction and development, 67(3): 303-307.

Miura, S., Komatsu, T., Higa, M., Bhandari, R.K., Nakamura, S. and Nakamura, M. (2003). Gonadal sex differentiation in protandrous anemone fish, Amphiprion clarkii. Fish Physiology and Biochemistry 28: 165-166.

Nakamura, M., Bhandari, R.K. and Higa, M. (2003). The role estrogens play in sex differentiation and sex changes of fish. Fish Physiology and Biochemistry 28: 113-117 (Review).

Bhandari, R.K. Komuro, H., Nakamura, S., Higa, M., and Nakamura (2003). Gonadal restructuring and correlative steroid hormone profiles during natural sex change in protogynous honeycomb grouper, Epinephelus merra. Zoological Science 20: 1399-1404.

Bhandari, R.K., Higa, M., Komuro, H., Nakamura, S. and Nakamura, M. (2003). Treatments with an aromatase inhibitor induces complete sex change in protogynous honeycomb grouper (Epinephelus merra). Fish Physiology and Biochemistry 28: 141-142.

Bhandari, R.K., Taniyama, S., Kitahashi, T., Ando, H., Yamauchi, K., Zohar, Y., Ueda, H., and Urano, A. (2003). Seasonal changes of responses to gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog in expression of growth hormone/prolactin/somatolactin genes in the pituitary of masu salmon. General and Comparative Endocrinology 130: 55-63.

Bhandari, R.K., Ushikoshi, I., Fukuoka, H., Koide, N., Yamauchi, K., and Ueda, H. (2002). Effects of Rhizopus extract administration on somatic growth and sexual maturation in lacustrine sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka. Fisheries Science. 68 (4): 776-782.


 

PUBLISHED ABSTRACTS (CITABLE):

Bhandari, R.K., Nakamura, M., Nagahama, Y. (2006). Estrogen is essential for the maintenance of female sex in fish. Journal of Experimental Zoology 305A: 111-111.

Kitahashi, T., Bhandari, R.K., Taniyama, S, Ando, H., Ueda, H. and Urano, A (2004). Changes in expression of salmon GnRH genes and responsiveness of pituitary hormone genes to GnRH analog during growth and sexual maturation in masu salmon. Trends in Comparative Endocrinology, pp. 92-94. Proceedings of the Fifth Congress of the Asia and Oceania Society for Comparative Endocrinology" Ed. by Oishi T, Tsutsui K, Tanaka S, Kikuyama S, AOSCE.

Bhandari, R.K., Nakamura, M. and Higa, M. (2003). Functional sex reversal after ovarian differentiation in the gonochoristic fish, Nile tilapia: endocrine changes. Zoological Science, 20 (12): 1610-1610.

Bhandari, R.K. Ando, H., Nakamura, M., Urano, A. and Ueda, H. (2002). Effects of GnRHa on expression of genes encoding gonadotropin subunits and growth hormone/prolactin/somatolactin in the pituitary of masu salmon. Zoological Science. 19: 1487-88.

Nakamura, M., Bhandari, R.K. , Higa, M. (2003). Functional sex reversal by the treatment of aromatase inhibitor after ovarian differentiation in tilapia. Zoological Science 20 (12): 1610-1610.

Higa,M., Ohashi, H., Ogasawara, K., Sakaguchi, A., Sakai, F., Bhandari, R.K., Nagahama, Y., and Nakamura, M. (2003). In vitro spermatogenesis in fish ovary. Zoological Science 20 (12): 1610-1610.


 

INVITED SEMINARS

July 05, 2006.
Past, present and future of our research on sexual plasticity in fish. Invited Seminar at Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan. (Host: Prof. Masaru Nakamura, UoR).

March 01, 2006.
Sexual plasticity in fish. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, USA. (Host: Department of Biological Sciences, UI, Moscow ID, USA).

February 27, 2006.
Sexual plasticity in fish. Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA-National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle WA, USA. (Host: Dr. Penny Swanson, NOAA).

January 27, 2006.
Sexual plasticity in fish. Special lecture to graduate students and postdocs at University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan. (Host: Prof. Masaru Nakamura, UoR)

June 21, 2005.
Consequences of estrogen removal in female fish. Invited Seminar at Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan. (Host: Prof. Masaru Nakamura, UoR).

November 8, 2005.
A primary factor regulating female to male sex change in honeycomb grouper (Epinephelus merra). Joint Symposium on fish reproduction and aquaculture. International Coral Reef Research and Monitoring Renter, Ishigaki, Japan. (Host: Prof. Masaru Nakamura, UoR).


 

PRESENTATIONS IN THE SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS
Bhandari, R.K., Sadler-Riggleman, I., Clement, T., Skinner, MK. Tcf21 mediates SRY signals during male sex determination. Gordon Research Conferences on Mammalian Gametogenesis and Embryogenesis, Waterville, NH, USA. August 2-7, 2009.

Bhandari, R.K., Nakamura, M., Kobayashi, T., and Nagahama, Y. Evidence for the existence of Sexually bipotential germ and somatic cells in the adult ovaries of a gonochoristic fish species. Sex Determination and Gametogenesis in Fish: Current Status and Future Challenges- An International Symposium in Honor of Professor Yoshitaka Nagahama. Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. 30 May to June 1, 2008.

Bhandari, R.K., Clement, T., Sadler-Riggleman, I., Skinner, MK. SRY regulation of Tcf21, a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, during male sex determination. 41st Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Reproduction. Kona, Hawaii, USA. 27-30 May, 2008.

Bhandari, R.K., Cui, Jianzhou*, Lau, En-Lieng, Okubo, K. and Nagahama, Y. Generation of aromatase-GFP transgenic medaka (Oryzias latipes) lines with fluorescence in the somatic cells of the ovaries. 8th International Symposium on Reproductive Physiology of Fish. RENNES, France.  June 3-8, 2007. *Presented by.

Bhandari R. K., Nakamura, M. and Nagahama, Y. Evidence for existence of sexual plasticity in the adult gonochoristic fish. 4th International Symposium on Vertebrate Sex Determination and Differentiation. Kona Hawaii, USA. April 9-14, 2006.

Bhandari R.K., En-Lieng, L., Okubo, K., Suzuki, A., and Nagahama, Y. Generation of aromatase-GFP transgenic medaka lines with fluorescence in the somatic cells of the ovaries. 17th Annual meeting of Fisheries Society of Japan. Kochi University, Shikoku, Japan. March 29- April 2, 2006.

Bhandari R.K. Consequences of estrogen removal in female fish. Invited Seminar at Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan. June 21, 2005.

Bhandari, R.K., Nakamura, M. and Nagahama, Y. Estrogen is essential for maintenance of female sex in fish. 15th International Congress of Comparative Endocrinology, Boston, USA, May 23-28, 2005.

Bhandari, R.K., Nakamura, M. and Nagahama, Y. Estrogen is essential for maintenance of female sex in fish. 17th annual meeting of Japanese Society of Fisheries Science, Tokyo, Japan, April 1-4, 2005.

Bhandari, R.K., Nakamura, M. and Nagahama, Y. Estrogen: master of the sexes? A Satellite Symposium on Physiology of Fish. Sesoko Station, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan, November 4-5, 2004.

Bhandari, R.K., Komuro, H., Higa, M., Nagahama, Y., and Nakamura, M. The role of estrogen in protogynous sex change honeycomb grouper (Epinephelus merra). 5th International Symposium on Fish Endocrinology, Institute of Aquaculture Torre de la Sal, Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Castellon, Spain, September 5-9, 2004.

Bhandari, R.K., Higa, M., Nagahama, Y., and Nakamura, M. Sex reversal of adult gonochoristic fish. 5th International Symposium on Fish Endocrinology, Institute of Aquaculture Torre de la Sal, Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Castellon, Spain, September 5-9, 2004.

Bhandari, R.K., Komuro, H. and Higa, M., Nagahama, Y., Nakamura, M. Induction of sex change of female honeycomb grouper, Epinephelus merra, by aromatase inhibitor Fadrozole. Aquaculture 2004. Honolulu Hawaii, March 1-5, 2004.

Bhandari, R.K., Komuro, H., Nakamura, S., Higa, M., and Nakamura, M. Development of an appropriate biotechnological method for the conservation of groupers, an endangered fish species inhabiting coral reefs in the tropics. Joint workshop of Hokkaido-Kyoto-Ryukyus University on conservation of aquatic ecosystem, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan, December 8-9,2003.

Bhandari, R.K., Komuro, H., Nakamura, S., Higa, M., and Nakamura, M. The role of estrogen in protogynous sex change in the honeycomb grouper (Epinephelus merra). Joint symposium on physiology and ecology of aquatic organisms, Ocean Expo Park, Okinawa, Japan,November13-15,2003.

Bhandari, R.K., Komuro, H., Nakamura, S., Higa, M., and Nakamura, M. Evidence that estrogen regulates sex change of a protogynous hermaphrodite fish. The east China sea: 4th international workshop on oceanography and fishery in the east China sea, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan, November 8-9, 2003.

Bhandari, R.K., Komuro, H., Nakamura, S., Higa, M., and Nakamura, M. Estrogen depletion causes sex change of an adult hermaphrodite fish. New Horizons in Molecular Sciences and Systems: An Integrated Approach" Okinawa, Japan, October 16-18, 2003.

Bhandari, R.K., Higa, M. and Nakamura, M. Functional sex reversal after ovarain differentiation in the gonochoristic fish, Nile tilapia: endocrine changes. 74th Annual meeting of Zoological Society of Japan. Hakodate, Japan. September 17-21, 2003.

Bhandari, R.K. Higa, M. Komuro, H. and Nakamura, M. Aromatase inhibitor induces complete sex change in the protogynous honeycomb grouper Epinephelus merra. Seventh International Symposium on Reproductive Biology of Fish. Mie, Japan. May 18-23, 2003.

Bhandari, R.K. , Higa, M., Nakamura, S. and Masaru Nakamura. Endocrine changes during sex change in a protogynous hermaphrodite fish, Epinephelus merra. 15th Annual meeting of Fisheries Society of Japan. Tokyo University of Fisheries, Tokyo, Japan. April 1-5, 2003.

Bhandari, R.K. , Higa, M. Nakamura, S. and Nakamura, M. Aromatase inhibitor induces complete sex change in protogynous fish, Epinephelus merra. Third International Symposium on vertebrate sex determination. Kona, Hawaii, USA. March 24-28, 2003.

Bhandari, R.K. Ando, H., Nakamura, M., Urano, A., Ueda H (2002). Effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog on expression of gonadotropin subunits and growth hormone, prolactin, and somatolactin genes in maturing masu salmon. 73rd meeting of Zoological Society of Japan, Kanazawa, September 23-27, 2002.

Bhandari, R. K. Ushikoshi, I., Fukuoka, H., Koide, N., Yamauchi, K. and Ueda, H. (2001). Effects of Rhizopus extract administration on the body growth and sexual maturation in lacustrine Sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka. The 34th meeting of National Salmon Resources Center, Sapporo, Japan. August 31, 2001.

Bhandari, R. K. Ushikoshi, I., Fukuoka, H., Koide, N., Yamauchi, K. and Ueda, H. (2001). Effects of administration of Rhizopus extract on the growth and steroid hormone profiles of lacustrine Sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka. Annual meeting of Japanese Society of Fisheries Science, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Japan. April 1-5, 2001.