Sonia Arora
Biography
Dr. Arora is an Assistant Teaching Professor for the undergraduate biotechnology program in the Department of Plant Biology. I have over fifteen years of teaching experience in various fields of life sciences both at undergraduate and graduate level. I currently teach Nucleotide Sequence Analysis, Tools for Bioinformatic Analysis and Seminar in Biotechnology. In past I have taught Molecular Cell Biology, Pharmacology, Immunology, Cancer Biology, Molecular & Cellular Techniques, Scientific Writing & Communication and General Biology.
On research front, the primary focus of my research efforts at Rutgers is to unravel mechanism of action of botanical therapeutics using structural bioinformatics. We are currently working on a medicinal plant called Azadirachta indica, commonly known as Neem. We are using various bioinformatics based approaches, in my laboratory to decipher its pharmacological mode of action against HIV. I also have interest in investigating mode of action of several other medicinal plants, particularly those from Indian Subcontinent including but not limited to Commiphora wightii, Ocimum tenuiflorum and Gymnema sylvestre. In addition, I am also interested in developing an outreach program to educate masses about prevention and treatment strategies against cancer using various natural products.
Title and Address
Assistant Teaching Professor
Department of Plant Biology
School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey