Prof. Ashok S. Kolaskar- Profile

Ashok S. Kolaskar has career of over 29 years marked by numerous accomplishments in bioinformatics research, teaching, mentoring and managing large institutions with outstanding success.

Education

  • Bachelor's Degree in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Nagpur University, India, 1969

  • Master of Science in Physics, Nagpur University, India, 1971

  • Ph.D. in Theoretical Studies on the Conformation of Peptides and Polypeptides, Indian Institute of Science,
    Bangalore, India, 1976

Contributions

Improving higher education in India

Implemented numerous far-reaching reforms in the University of Pune in the areas of governance, financial management, and quality management, making it a model for the other universities in the country. Developed the university into a model of internationalization of higher education by increasing the international student enrollment to about 2000 a year from nearly 70 countries and forging collaborations with more than 25 universities/institutes from different countries. Transformed the university into a research cum teaching institution and new centers of excellence in frontier areas such as sensor studies, nano and quantum sciences, biotechnology and bioinformatics, modeling and simulation, international studies, etc have been established. Implemented numerous staff and student welfare measures such as low interest housing loans, health insurance, student aid fund, “earn while you learn” program etc. Provided a social face to higher education by encouraging student and teacher involvement in community work such as rainwater harvesting through continuous contour trenching, tree planting, and spreading awareness of issues such as pollution. And much more.

Measures implemented to transform the university into a new age institution of international stature and repute

In step with the technological advances

  • Digital Library Project: Acknowledging the necessity of state of the art libraries for quality research, University of Pune has joined hands with the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and Carnegie Mellon University, USA, and initiated universal digital library project. Under this project books are digitized and made available on the web.

  • INFONET program: The University of Pune has also made available full text journals, reports, and documents on the web. This is a joint project of University of Pune, INFLIBNET, UGC, Ernet and Ford Foundation.

  • Radio Frequency Identification Technology: The University Library having more than 400,000 books, journals, periodicals, etc. is automated by introducing Radio Frequency Identification Technology. Every book has an intelligent chip, so that the circulation can be completely automated. This project is a joint effort with X-ident GmbH Germany.

  • Digitization of examination records and other documents: The University of Pune has undertaken the major task of digitizing examination results from 1949. The course content, syllabus, examination schedule, seating arrangement, various forms, details of important events etc. are made available on the web.

  • Wireless Connectivity: The University of Pune is the first academic institution in the country that has fiber-optic network on the campus connecting all the departments through intranet and Internet. It is also the first university in the country and one of the very few in the world to have Wi-Fi connectivity throughout the campus.

  • External Students Admissions: First University in the country to adopt the process of online admissions for external students and postgraduate programs on campus.

Professional Experience

  • 4/06 – present Advisor, National Knowledge Commission
  • 2/06 - present Professor, Biotechnology & Bioinformatics
  • 2/01 – 2/06 Vice-Chancellor, University of Pune, Pune, India
  • 8/99 - 2/01 Director, Bioinformatics Program, American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Manassas, VA, USA
  • 5/99 - 8/99 Research Scientist, Bioinformatics Program American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Manassas, VA, USA
  • 8/99 – present Affiliate Professor, School of Computational Sciences, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA. USA
  • 6/86 - 5/99 Director, Bioinformatics Centre, Professor, Department of Biotechnology, University of Pune, Pune, India
  • 4/83 – 5/86 Scientist C, Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
  • 1/78 – 3/83 Lecturer, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India

Biotechnology Development Work

Actively involved in and contributed significantly over the past several years to the growth and evolution of biotechnology research, training, manpower development, and industry in India. Established an independent department of biotechnology at the University of Pune and worked as its first Head of the Department. This department is considered as the best department in the nation for master’s program in biotechnology. As Vice Chancellor of the University of Pune introduced various unique courses for biotechnology manpower development such as MBA Biotechnology, 5/6 year integrated Biotechnology M.Sc/M.Tech .

Awards and Achievements

    • Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University
    • IBM Vice Chancellor of the Year 2004-2005
    • Pune Pride Award, 2004 for Excellence in the World of Academics from the Le Royale Regency Club, Pune
    • Award of Excellence in the field of Education, 2004 from the Top Management Consortium, Pune
    • Governor’s Citation, 2003 from the Governor of the State of Maryland, USA
    • Shikshan – Ratna Puraskar, 2002 by Mumbai Doordarshan
    • Felicitated by International Institute of Information Technology at the hands of Hon’ble President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam for valuable contributions to the discipline of bioinformatics, 2002
    • Fellow, National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad
    • Fellow, Indian National Science Academy
    • Fellow Maharashtra Academy of Sciences
    • Life Member, Maharashtra Association of Cultivation of Sciences
    • PARAM Award for best parallel computing application in bioinformatics
    • Man of Achievement, International Biographical Centre, 5th Edition, 1991-92.
    • Department of Science and Technology SERC Lecturership, 1991-92.
    • Who's Who in the World Tenth Edition, 1991-92 (Macmilon Press).
    • Short Term Department of Biotechnology Research Associateship, 1987-88.
    • Young Associate Member of Indian Academy of Sciences, 1984-1988 and 1990.
    • Prakya Ganpatrao Gold Medal, First in M.A./M.Sc., 1971.
    • The Ramchandra Krishna Chandorkar Memorial Gold Medal, First in M.Sc., 1971.
    • Balwantrao Mahajan Prize, First in M.Sc., 1971.

      • Patents

    • Chimeric T-helper-B-cell peptide – US Patent # US2004076634, also granted Indian, European, Japanese and Australian patents.