Ramji K. Bhandari

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Washington State University . School of Biological Sciences . Pullman, WA 99164-4236

Phone: 509-335-2086 . Fax 509-335-2176 .

E-mail: ramji at WSU.EDU

 

 

EDUCATION

 

Hokkaido University, Hakodate, Japan, 2002

Ph.D. in Salmon Migration & Physiology, with Dr. Hiroshi Ueda

 

Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh , 1998

M.S.  in Fish Biology with Dr. Md. Arshad Hossain.


Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh, 1997

B.S. with honors in Fisheries.

 

 

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

 

2006 to -        Postdoctoral Research Associate, Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, USA, with Dr. Michael K. Skinner

2005 – 2006  Postdoctoral Research Associate, National Institute for Basic Biology (NIBB), Japan, with Dr. Yoshitaka Nagahama

 

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

 

2002 to 2003 Lecturer, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan & Research Assistant Professor with Dr. Masaru Nakamura

 

AWARDS AND HONORS

 

2011                 Outstanding Postdoctoral Presentation | CRB | Washington State University

2011                 Lalor Foundation Merit Award  | Society for Study of Reproduction

2008                 Lalor Foundation Merit Award  | Society for Study of Reproduction

2007                Young Researcher Award  | Zoological Society of Japan

2002 - 2004     Research grant and Fellowship | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

1998 - 2002     Ph.D. Scholarship | Ministry of Education (Monbusho), Government of Japan

1997 - 1998     M.S. Scholarship | Government of Bangladesh

1992 - 1997     B.S. Scholarship  | Ministry of Education, Government of Nepal


FUNDING

3.0 million Yen (US $36,800)  | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science | Postdoctoral

 

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

In preparation/submitted:

 

[06]  Transgenerational effects of Vinclozolin exposures on DNA methylation in pubertal rat Sertoli cells. (in preparation)

[05] Global DNA methylation in primordial germ cells induced by fungicide Vinclozolin: transgenerational effects of exposures. (in preparation)

[04] Bhandari, R.K., Schinke, E.N., and Skinner, M.K. Genome-wide analysis of DNA binding and transcriptional regulation by bHLH transcription factor TCF21 in the fetal testis during male sex determination. (in preparation)

[03] Bhandari, R.K., Haque, M.M., and Skinner, M.K. (2011). Genome-wide analysis of downstream targets of male sex determining factors, SRY and SOX9. (in preparation).

[02] Bhandari, R.K.*, Nakamura, M*., Paul-Prasanth, B., Kobayashi, Y., Kobayashi, T., Horiguchi, R., Shibata, Y., Sakai, F. Nakamoto, M., and Nagahama, Y. (2011). Estrogen depletion causes female-to-male sex reversal of adult gonochoristic fish (*Equally contributing first authors, submitted).   

[01] Miura, S., Bhandari, R.K., Kobayashi, Y. and Nakamura, M. (2011). Estrogen favors differentiation of ovary in the ambisexual gonads of Anemone fish. (Accepted, Development, Growth, and Differentiation).

 

Primary Research Articles:

 [21] Bhandari, R.K., Clement, T., Sadler-Riggleman, I., and Skinner, M.K. (2011). Basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Tcf21 is a downstream target of male sex determining gene Sry. PLoS One,6(5): e19935. pp1-11.

[20] Clement, T*., Bhandari, R.K*., Riggleman, I., and Skinner, M.K. (2011). Sry directly regulates Neurotrophin-3 promoter during male sex determination and testis development (*Equally contributing first authors). Biol Reprod. 2011 Apr 20. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 21508350.

[19] 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.

[18] 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.

[17] Komatsu, T. Bhandari, R.K., Nakamura, M. (2006). Acceleration of precocious spermatogenesis in under-yearling Golden Rabbitfish (Siganus guttatus, Bloch) by GnRHa treatments. Aquaculture257: 558-565.

[16] 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. Aquaculture255: 532-535.

[15] 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.

[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.

[13] 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.

[12] 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.

[11] 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.

[10] 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.

[09] 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.

[08] 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.

[07] 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.

[06] 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.

[05] 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).

[04] 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.

[03] 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.

[02] 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.

[01] 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.

 

BOOK CHAPTER

[01] Skinner, M.K., Nilsson, E.E., and Bhandari, R.K. (2010). Cell-Cell Signaling in the Testis and Ovary. In: Handbook of Cell Signaling Third Edition (Ralph A Bradshaw and Edward Dennis, Eds.) Academic Press/Elsevier Science Publishing. pp. 2663-2678.

 

REVIEWS

[02] 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.

[01] 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.

 

INVITED LECTURE/ SYMPOSIUM

2010  Molecular mechanisms of gonadal sex determination in vertebrates. Department of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA.

2009 Molecular events in male sex determination. Northwest Reproductive Sciences Symposium, Primate Research Institute, Oregon.

2009  An approach to genome-wide screening of downstream targets of male sex determining gene Dmy in Medaka.  National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan.

2006  Past, present and future of our research on sexual plasticity in fish. Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.

2006  Sexual plasticity in fish. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, USA.

2006   Sexual plasticity in fish. Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA-National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle WA, USA.

2006   Sexual plasticity in fish. University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.

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

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.

 

PRESENTATION IN SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS

[30] Bhandari, R.K., Schinke, E., Clement, T., Sadler-Riggleman, I., and Skinner, M.K. Basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Tcf21 is the downstream target of SRY. 44th Annual Meeting, Society for Study of Reproduction, Portland, Oregon, July 31 - August 4, 2011. (Scheduled)

[29] Bhandari, R.K. and Skinner, M.K. Genomewide approach to identify cascades of events in Sertoli cell differentiation during male sex determination. 2011 Center for Reproductive Biology Retreat, Washington State University, Pullman, WA. May 13-14, 2011.

[28] Bhandari, R.K., Clement, T., Sadler-Riggleman, I., and Skinner, M.K. SRY interacts with Tcf21 promoter during male sex determination. XXIth Testis Workshop, Montreal, Canada. March 29-April 02, 2011.

[27] Bhandari, R.K., Clement, T., Sadler-Riggleman, I., and Skinner, M.K. Neurotropin-3, a downstream candidate gene for Sry action. 5th International Symposium on Vertebrate Sex Determination. Hawaii, USA. April 20-24, 2009.

[26] Bhandari, R.K., Sadler-Riggleman, I., Clement, T., and Skinner, M.K.  Molecular mechanism of gonadal sex determination in mammals. Northwest Reproductive Sciences Symposium, Primate Research Institute, Oregon. April 17-18, 2009.

[25] 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.

[24] 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.

[23] 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.

[22] 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.

[21] 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.

[20] 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.

[19] 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.

[18] 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.

[17] 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.

[16] 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.

[15] 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.

[14] 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.

[13] 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.

[12] 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.

[11] 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.

[10] 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.

[09] 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.

[08] 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.

[07] 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.

[06] 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.

[05] 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.

[04] 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.

[03] 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.

[02] 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.

[01] 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.

 

SPECIAL COURSE/ INVITATION:

2009             Winter course on evolution of complex physiological systems. Host: Nobel Laureate Dr. Sydney Brenner and Dr. Noriyuki Satoh. Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Japan.

2010               NSF and NIH Grant writing. Washington State University.

BIOL576        Epigenetics and systems biology. Washington State University.

MBIOS 528   Molecular and cellular reproduction. Washington State University.

MBIOS 561   Biochemical signaling in plants, animals and microorganisms. Washington State University

 

PEER REVIEW AD HOC MANUSCRIPT REVIEW COMMITTEE


PLoS One | Biology of Reproduction | Sexual Development | American Journal of Physiology- Endocrinology and Metabolism | General and Comparative Endocrinology | Molecular Reproduction and Development | Cell and Tissue Research | Journal of Experimental Zoology A | Journal of Fish Biology | Journal of World Aquaculture Society | Aquaculture

 

AFFILIATION

Trainee member, Society for Study of Reproduction | Zoological Society of Japan | Society for Developmental Biology

 

ACADEMIC MENTORING

Graduate students:

University of the Ryukyus, Japan: Md. Ashraful Alam, Ph.D. | Takeshi Komatsu, Ph.D. | Saori Miura, Ph.D.

Washington State University: Tracy Clement, Ph.D.

 

Undergraduate students:

Washington State University: Ellyn Schinke, B.S. | Alison Durand | Tiffany Hylkema