Reshmi Upreti

Tenure Track Assistant Professor
 Martin Hall 128B
upreti@jsu.edu   

Dr. Reshmi Upreti is an Assistant Professor of Microbiology at Jacksonville State University whose teaching and research span microbiology, microbial evolution, molecular biology, and plant–microbe interactions. Her current research focuses on seed-associated bacterial endophytes, particularly how these microorganisms persist within plants and are transmitted across generations.

Prior to joining JSU, Dr. Upreti conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Washington Bothell, where she studied long-term microbial evolution and syntrophic interactions in experimentally evolved microbial communities. This work expanded her research expertise into microbial physiology, evolutionary biology, comparative genomics, and computational biology. Her earlier research investigated bacterial endophytes of tomato, including plant genotype–microbe interactions, microbial diversity, biological control, and plant health.

At JSU, Dr. Upreti is developing a student-centered research program investigating the localization, persistence, and vertical transmission of seed endophytes using culture-based microbiology, molecular approaches, microscopy, and microbial community analysis. She integrates this research into undergraduate education through Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) and mentors both undergraduate and graduate researchers.

Her overarching goal is to understand how microbial partnerships evolve, persist, and influence their hosts while providing students with meaningful opportunities to participate in authentic scientific discovery.

Reshmi Upreti

Courses Offered

  • BY 283 Health Microbiology
  • BY-324 Introduction to Evolutionary Biology
  • BY-472 Virology
  • BY-5888 Research
  • BY-5990 Master's Thesis

Education

  • 2023- Postdoctoral training, University of Washington, Bothell
  • 2020 — Certificate in Biotechnology Project Management, University of Washington, Seattle
  • 2016 — Ph.D. in Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, India
  • 2007 — M.S. in Microbiology, Mahatma Gandhi University, India
  • 2005- B.S in Zoology and Medical Microbiology, St. Xaviers College, India

Academic & Research Interests

Dr. Upreti’s academic and research interests lie at the intersection of microbiology, microbial evolution, molecular biology, and plant–microbe interactions. Her research focuses on understanding how microorganisms interact, evolve, persist within their hosts, and are transmitted across generations.

Her current research program investigates seed-associated bacterial endophytes, with particular emphasis on their diversity, intracellular localization, persistence during plant development, and vertical transmission from parent plants to progeny. She is interested in understanding how plant genotype and microbial localization influence the establishment and long-term stability of these associations.

Her broader research interests are informed by her postdoctoral work on microbial syntrophy and long-term experimental evolution, as well as her earlier research on plant-associated bacterial endophytes, microbial diversity, and biological control. These experiences connect microbial ecology and evolution with questions about cooperation, persistence, adaptation, and host–microbe relationships.

Dr. Upreti is also strongly interested in research-integrated teaching and student mentorship. She incorporates authentic research into undergraduate education through Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) and mentors undergraduate and graduate students in microbiology and microbial evolution research.

Other Responsibilities

  • Professional Memberships & Affiliations
  • American Society for Microbiology (ASM) — Member
  • Association of Southeastern Biologists (ASB) — Member
  • American Society of Naturalists (ASN) — Member
  • Women in Bio, Seattle Chapter — Member
  • National Academy of Biological Sciences, India — Life Member
  • Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI) — Member
  • Women in STEM, JSU

Publications and Presentations

PUBLICATIONS
  1. Reshmi Upreti and Pious Thomas. Greater cultivable endophytic bacterial diversity and accentuated antagonistic potential against Ralstonia solanacearum by endophytes from pathogen resistant tomato cultivars than susceptible genotypes. Frontiers in Microbiology, (2015).
  2. Pious Thomas and Reshmi Upreti. Isolation and evaluation of bacterial endophytes from tomato towards organic seedling production. Organic Agriculture, (2015).
  3. Thomas, P. and Upreti, R. Influence of seedling age on susceptibility of tomato plants to Ralstonia solanacearum during potray screening and at transplanting. American Journal of Plant Pathology, (2014).
  4. Thomas, P. and Upreti, R. Significant effects due to peptone in the Kelman medium on colony characteristics, formazan pigmentation and virulence of Ralstonia solanacearum. The Open Journal of Microbiology, (2014).
  5. Thomas, P and Upreti, R. Testing of bacterial endophytes from non-host sources as potential antagonistic agents against tomato wilt pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum. Adv Microbiol, (2014).
  6. Pious Thomas, Aparna Chandra Sekhar, Reshmi Upreti, Mohammad M. Mujawar, Sadiq Pasha Shaikh. ‘Single Plate - Serial Dilution Spotting’ (SP-SDS) as a Simple and Efficient Tool for Bacterial CFU Estimation, Single Colony Isolation and Culture Fidelity Testing. Biotechnology Reports, (2015).
  7. Thomas, P., Sadashiva, A.T., Upreti, R., and Mujawar, M.M. Direct delivery of inoculum to shoot tissue interferes with genotypic resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum in tomato seedlings. Journal of Phytopathology (2014a).
  8. Thomas. P., Mujawar, M.M., Sekhar, A.C., and Upreti, R. Physical impaction injury effects on bacterial cells during spread-plating influenced by cell characteristics of the organisms. Journal of Applied Microbiology, (2014b).
  9. Thomas, P., Mujawar, M. M., Upreti, R. and Sekhar, A. C. Improved recovery of Bacillus spores from nonporous surfaces with cotton swabs over foam, nylon, or polyester, and the role of hydrophilicity of cotton in governing the recovery efficiency. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, (2013).



FELLOWSHIPS & AWARDS

  • Best Research Paper Award, 2016.
  • Best Paper Presentation in International Conference, 2013
  • University Rank holder in Bachelor’s and Master’s degree.
  • Won multiple awards in extracurricular activities like dance, essay writing, public speaking and theatre.


PAPERS & LECTURES

  • Best Paper Presentation in International Conference on Health, Environment, and Industrial Biotechnology, 2013.
  • Best Oral Presentation in National Seminar held in Central Food Technological Research Institute, 2007.
  • Presented poster in Moore Simons Conference in 2021
  • Presented Poster and Speaker in ASM Microbe 2022, 2026 in Washington DC
  • Presented in Gordon Research Conference, Microbial population biology 2023
  • Key note speaker in ECO_EVOWIBO 2023
  • Invitation as distinguished speaker at Bacteriology and Applied Microbiology 2019