Dr. Shyamala K. Venkatesh

Assistant Professor

Dr. Shyamala K. Venkatesh is a geneticist whose research focuses on the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying substance use, psychiatric disorders, and associated health outcomes. Her work bridges pre-clinical, clinical, and large-scale genomic approaches to better understand how biological variation influences vulnerability, sensitivity, and resilience in mental health and addiction.

She has conducted translational studies examining genetic and epigenetic factors that shape individual responses to alcohol and other substances, using innovative paradigms that provide precise measures of consumption and subjective effects. Her research also explores how DNA methylation patterns and epigenetic aging markers are altered in individuals with alcohol use disorder and in response to treatment.

Dr. Shyamala has applied phenome-wide approaches to uncover broad genetic links between substance use, psychiatric traits, environmental exposures, and medical conditions. By integrating diverse datasets and methodologies, her work advances the field of precision medicine, with the ultimate aim of informing personalized diagnostics, preventive strategies, and therapeutic interventions for psychiatric and addiction related disorders.

Qualification – Ph.D

Area of Expertise - Genomics, epigenetics, psychiatry genetics

Research Interests at DSU - Genomics, epigenetics, psychiatry genetics, substance use disorders.

Awards and Recognitions

• Highest score in B.Sc. Zoology, University of Mysore.
• Junior Research Fellow award, by DST India.
• Senior Research Fellow award, by DST India.
• Bench-to-Beside, NIH, project collaborator.
• Postdoc fellow NIAAA, NIH, Bethesda, USA.
• Postdoc fellow University of Pennsylvania, USA.
• Member, American Psychological Association.
• Member, American Society of Human Genetics.

LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shyamala-k-v-phd/

Google Scholar ID: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=yZYNObYAAAAJ&hl=en