Nitin Baliga
Associate Professor
Institute for Systems Biology

Dr. Baliga is characterizing gene regulatory circuits in organisms that thrive in some of the most extreme environments on earth. His plan is to recombine these naturally evolved biological solutions to solve complex environment and health-related problems. He holds an undergraduate degree in Microbiology from Ruia College, India, and a M.Sc. in Marine Biotechnology from Goa University, India. Dr. Baliga conducted his doctoral studies in Microbiology at University of Massachusetts at Amherst and postdoctoral studies in systems biology with Dr. Leroy Hood. During his predoctoral studies, he won two competitive awards from the government of India: the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Fellowship, and a fellowship from the Department of Biotechnology.

Dr. Baliga has also made significant contributions to improving biology education in high schools throughout the greater Seattle area. His primary goal is to develop research-based curriculum that engages high school students in interdisciplinary science practices and encourages analytical thinking. Teaching materials developed in Dr. Baliga's laboratory are widely used in Seattle and Bellevue and has been certified as exemplary curriculum by the Washington Leadership and Assistance in Science Education Reform (LASER) committee. Research and education efforts in Dr. Baliga's laboratory are supported by grants from National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, NASA, Battelle Corporation and Department of Energy.