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Shiladitya DasSarma, PhD

Academic Title:

Professor

Primary Appointment:

Microbiology and Immunology

Location:

Columbus Center, 5047

Phone (Primary):

410-234-8847

Phone (Secondary):

410-234-8861

Fax:

410-234-8896

Education and Training

Indiana University, Chemistry, B.S. (Honors)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Biochemistry, Ph.D.

Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Postdoctoral Fellow

Biosketch

Dr. DasSarma is a pioneering microbiologist well-known for his contributions to the genomics, molecular biology, and biotechnology of Archaea. Prior to joining the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, he was a Professor in the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute. He has published over 160 scientific papers during his career and mentored many students. He founded the UMB GPILS genomics track and is the UMB institutional representative for the system-wide MEES graduate program. He serves as director of Climate Change, Health, and Society, an interprofessional collaborative course (CIPP 650).

Please visit the DasSarma Laboratory to learn more.

Research/Clinical Keywords

extremophiles, haloarchaea, microbial genomics, purple membrane, gas vesicle nanoparticles, vaccines and therapeutics, climate change

Highlighted Publications

DasSarma, S. 2007. Extreme Microbes: The Salty Side of Life. American Scientist 95:224-231.

DasSarma, S., Coker, J. A. and DasSarma, P.  2009. Archaea (overview). The Desk Encyclopedia of Microbiology, pp. 118-139, Oxford: Elsevier.

DasSarma, S. and DasSarma, P. 2015. Halophiles and their enzymes: negativity put to good use. Current Opinion in Microbiology 25:120–126. DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2015.05.009

DasSarma, S. and DasSarma, P. 2017. Halophiles. Encyclopedia of Life Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. DOI: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0000394.pub4

DasSarma, P. and DasSarma, S. 2018. Survival of microbes in Earth's stratosphere. Current Opinion in Microbiology 43:24-30. DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2017.11.002.

DasSarma, P. and DasSarma, S. 2021. Gas Vesicle Nanoparticles. In: Encyclopedia of Life Sciences, Vol 2: 1–14, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. DOI: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0029044

DasSarma, S. et al. 2021. A Roadmap for Responding to Climate Change. MACA website. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.13730366

Awards and Affiliations

MacVicar Award for Leadership in Climate Action, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Professor, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University System of Maryland

Institutional Representative, Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Science Graduate Program

In the News

DasSarma Lab

The DasSarma laboratory was established soon after the discovery of the Archaea. Since then, we have been studying life in extreme environments and their mechanisms of adaptation to stressors. We use a combination of genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, transcriptomics, and other approaches to address problems of fundamental importance. We led the sequencing project on the first Haloarchaeon, Halobacterium sp. NRC-1, and studied many of the ca. 2,500 genes in the genome and pursued translational research through genetic engineering and biotechnology. For example, the gas vesicle gene cluster of Halobacterium, which has been of long term interest, is bioengineerable, and is being used for therapeutic and antigenic protein delivery and vaccine development. Recently, we have sequenced over a dozen new Haloarchaeal genes from around the world, including Permian salt deposits.

Visit the DasSarma Laboratory

Climate Change Course

Dr. DasSarma serves as the course director for CIPP650, “Climate Change, Health, and Society”, an interprofessional course. The course examines the causes and impacts of climate change, emphasizing human health and society in Maryland, including the scientific basis for climate change, health equity, and governmental policies. Case studies are highlighted, and students work in teams to develop innovative solutions to climate change-driven environmental challenges. The course addresses issues such as extreme heat, infectious disease, air pollution, salt water inundation, and environmental justice.

Visit the Climate Course website