Dr. Omar Akbari

Professor

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Biography

Omar Akbari is a Chancellor's Endowed Professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of California, San Diego. His research focuses on the genetics and physiology of mosquitoes with the goal of developing innovative genetic control technologies to reduce the burden of mosquito-borne diseases affecting humans. Akbari's work centers on the use of genetic engineering and synthetic biology to create mosquitoes that are resistant to various pathogens and to develop methods to introduce these modified mosquitoes into wild populations. He received his B.S. and M.S. in Biotechnology from the University of Nevada, Reno, followed by a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology, where he studied the role of cis-regulatory modules in defining cell identities during embryo development in Drosophila melanogaster. After completing his postdoctoral research at the California Institute of Technology, he joined the University of California, Riverside as an Assistant Professor in Entomology and was later appointed to his current position at UC San Diego.

Research Interests

Experience

Assistant Professor

2017-09-01 — Present

University of California, San Diego • La Jolla, CA

Joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology.

Assistant Professor

2015-06-01 — 2017-08-31

University of California, Riverside • Riverside, CA

Conducted research in the Department of Entomology and Center for Infectious Disease Vector Research.

Postdoctoral Scholar

2009-01-01 — 2015-05-31

California Institute of Technology • Pasadena, CA

Worked in the laboratory of Professor Bruce Hay developing innovative synthetic biology techniques for disease vectors.

Requirements for University of California, San Diego

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:85
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Duolingo
Overall Score
Required:120
Overall
Required:120
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in physical, biological, or earth sciences, mathematics, or engineering. Differential and integral calculus. One year of calculus-based physics with laboratory. One year of chemistry with laboratory.
Application Checklist
  • Statement of Purpose (max 2 pages)
  • Unofficial transcripts
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Application fee ($135 domestic / $155 international)
Specialization Notes

Administered by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Curricular groups include Climate-Ocean-Atmosphere (COAP), Geosciences (GEO), and Ocean Biosciences (OBP).