Dr. Shalini Tiwari has joined the University of the Ozarks faculty as an assistant professor of biology, beginning in the Fall 2025 Semester.
Tiwari has most recently served as a post-doctoral research associate with South Dakota State University and Oklahoma State University. She also served a post-doctoral fellowship at the School of Life Science at Jawaharlal Nehru University in India.
“I’m excited to begin my journey as assistant professor at University of the Ozarks and am looking forward to inspiring curiosity, building connections, and growing alongside my students,” Tiwari said.
She was born and raised in Uttar Pradesh, India, a state renowned for its rich cultural heritage and as a hub of research institutions, according to Tiwari.
“My entire educational journey, from schooling to my Ph.D., was rooted in this vibrant state, where I developed my passion for biology and research,” she said.
As a teaching assistant, she has taught plant stress physiology, genetic engineering, plant-microbe interactions and molecular biology. Some of her research has focused on molecular adaptation mechanisms in plants under salt stress, “a crucial area in the context of climate change-induced environmental challenges.”
She earned her Ph.D. in 2019 from the CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute at the University of Lucknow in India. During her Ph.D., she contributed to projects aimed at understanding the functional role of rhizobacteria in salt stress tolerance in rice.
Tiwari said her teaching style “centers around creating an engaging, interactive and inclusive learning environment.”
“I emphasize practical, hands-on learning to help students connect theoretical concepts with real-world applications, such as analyzing environmental samples in metagenomics courses.”
She is a member of the American Society of Plant Biologists and the American Society for Microbiology.
Outside of academia, she enjoys exploring nature through trekking and travel, reading nonfiction, and staying connected with music.
“Gardening is also grounding passion that keeps me in tune with the natural world,” she said. “I find joy in painting and drawing, creative outlets that offer a peaceful and fulfilling balance to my work. I also practice yoga regularly to support mindfulness and overall well-being.”
Topics: Biology