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Kartik Sunagar

Kartik_black_v2.jpeg

Indian Institute of Science

Bangalore, India

Aug 2017 - Present

Associate Professor and Group Leader

Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance Fellow

Evolutionary Venomics Lab

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Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology

Bangalore, India

Jan 2022 - Present

Adjunct Faculty

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Venom Research and Innovation Centre

Bangalore, India

July 2022 - Present

Head and Co-Chair

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 C. V. ​

Previous positions

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Guest Scientist

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The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Postdoctoral Fellow

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CIIMAR

Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research

Postdoctoral Fellow

Previous positions

Indian Institute of Science

Assistant Professor

​Bangalore, India

August 2017 - August 2023

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The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Israel

Guest Scientist and Marie Curie Fellow

May 2015 - August 2017

 

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Israel

Postdoctoral Fellow

May 2014 - May 2015

Advisor: Yehu Moran

 

CIIMAR. Oporto, Portugal

Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research

Postdoctoral Fellow

December 2013 - May 2014

 

The University of Porto. Oporto, Portugal

Graduate student

January 2010 - December 2013

Advisor: Agostinho Antunes

Awards, Fellowships, and recognition

  • Professor Har Swarup Memorial Award, Indian National Science Academy, January 2023.

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  • Wellcome Trust DBT India Alliance Intermediate Fellowship. September 2020 to August 2025.

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  • Indian National Science Academy (INSA) medal for Young Scientists.  October 2020.

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  • Merck Young Scientist Award, 2021.

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  • ​Ramanujan Fellowship, Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB). April 2018.
     

  • Snakebite Envenoming Roster of Experts and Technical Advisory Group.  February 2021.

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  • PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.  Deputy Editor. January 2021.

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  • Gyandeep Award for excellence in scientific research on snakes by the Organisation for Wildlife Studies (OWLS) and the Department of Forest for the Maharashtra State, 2018.

 

  • DST INSPIRE Faculty Award 2017.

 

  • Young investigators registration reimbursement award from the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution. 2016.

 

  • MDPI Toxins Travel Award. 2016.

 

  • Marie Curie Individual Fellowship. 2015-2017. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. €182,509.

 

  • Discovery Early Career Researcher Award. 2015-2018. Australian Research Council. The University of Queensland, Australia. Declined to take up the Marie Curie Fellowship. $373,000.

 

  • The PBC Fellowship. Program for Outstanding Post-Doctoral Researchers from India, 2014-2017. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, jointly funded with the Planning and Budgeting Committee (PBC) of the Council for Higher Education in Israel. Discontinued after May 2015 to take up the Marie Curie Fellowship.

 

  • The Lady Davis postdoctoral research fellowship. 2014-2015. Declined to take up the PBC fellowship.

 

  • BIOL external Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) travel grant. Feb 6, 2014. To visit the Venom Evolution lab at the University of Queensland, Australia.

 

  • Postdoctoral research fellowship. The Alexander Silberman Institute for Life Sciences. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Israel. May 1, 2014 - October 1, 2014.

 

  • Research fellowship. “Biological warfare: unravelling the genomics of natural venoms and the mechanisms. Not taken.

 

  • Research fellowship. “The modulation of retinoid and thyroid signalling pathways by endocrine-disrupting chemicals: invertebrate insights”. PTDC/MAR/115199/2009. Funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the Program COMPETE (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-015451).

 

  • F. C. T Individual doctoral research grant (PhD Fellowship). January 2010 - December 2013. The University of Porto, Portugal.

 

  • Junior Research Fellowship. The National Center for Biological Sciences (a part of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research), Bangalore. India.

 

  • Scholarship. Dr D. C Pavate scholarship 2006 – 2008

 

Recognition

  • George Clinical, Key Opinion Leader on snakebite and antivenom.

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  • Advisory Committee to revamp Haffkine Institute, Department of Atomic Energy and Government of Maharashtra.

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  • Sectoral Expert Committee on “Biomanufacturing of Precision Biotherapeutics: Monoclonal Antibodies”. Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Government of India.

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  • Special Technical Advisory Committee on “Aquaculture & Marine Biotechnology and Livestock and Animal Biotechnology”. Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Government of India.

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  • Expert Advisory Committee, National Action Plan for prevention and control of snakebite envenoming (NAP-SE). The Division of Zoonotic Diseases Programme, National Centre for Disease Control, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

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  • World Health Organization’s (WHO) Snakebite Envenoming Roster of Experts and Technical Advisory Group.

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  • Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)’s National Task Force for research on Snakebite in India.

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  • Expert Advisory Committee, ICMR Centre for Advance Research of Excellence on Snakebite (I-CARE). Indian Council of Medical Research.

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  • PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Deputy Editor (January 2021 to Present).

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  • Frontiers in ecology and evolution, Chemical Ecology section. Guest editor. “Diversity and Evolution of Animal Venoms: Neglected Targets, Ecological Interactions, Future Perspectives”.

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  • Toxins, editorial board member, 2015 – 2020.

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  • Executive board member, Indian Society for Toxinology and Snakebite Mitigation, 2019 – Present.​

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  • Advisory board: ToxiVen Biotech Pvt. Ltd.

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  • Advisory board: Snakebite Healing and Education society, 2018 – Present

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Professional Activities

  • Review research grants for the Wellcome Trust (UK), National Science Foundation (USA), European Research Commission (ERC, UK), The Natural Environment Research Council (UK), Australian Research Council (Discovery Projects), Wellcome Trust DBT India Alliance (UK-India), Rufford Small Grants Foundation.

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  • Review grant proposals for national funding agencies: Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), and Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).

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  • Review articles for scientific journals: Nature communications, PNAS, Molecular Biology and Evolution, Proceedings of Royal Society B, GigaScience, Genome Biology and Evolution, Frontiers in Immunology, PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Scientific Reports, BMC Evolutionary Biology, BMC Genomics, BMC Zoology, G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics, Current Medicinal Chemistry, Journal of Proteomics, Toxins, Toxicon, FEBS Letters, Wellcome Open Research, Biochemie, Molecules, Theoretical Ecology, Journal of Molecular Evolution, PLoS One, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C, MDPI Insects, Current Science, Herpetological Journal, etc.

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  • Deputy Editor. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 01.01.2021 - 30.07.2022.

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  • Guest editor Frontiers in ecology and evolution, Chemical Ecology section. Special issue “Diversity and Evolution of Animal Venoms: Neglected Targets, Ecological Interactions, Future Perspectives”.

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  • Editorial Board Member Toxins, 2015 to 2020.

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 Publications: 81 

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 Citations: 4479                              h-index: 33                                 i10-index: 52 

Complete list

here

Conferences and Workshops

  • Conducted 2nd DST-SERB School on Chemical Ecology, July 8 to 22, 2018. Workshop Coordinator. Indian Institute of Science. Bangalore.

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  • Conducted a workshop on the scientific training on snake rescue and snakebite management for the Karnataka Forest Department. Bhadra Tiger Sanctuary, Karnataka. December 18th, 2017.

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  • Conducted a one-day workshop on snake identification, rescue and bite management for the Karnataka Forest Department at the Rajiv Gandhi National Park, Nagarhole. December 18, 2017.

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  • Oral Presentation. Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution conference 2016. Toxin Evolution session. Gold Coast, Queensland. Australia.

 

  • Invited oral presentation at the 14th Congress of Federation of Asian and Oceanian Biochemists and Molecular Biologists (FAOBMB) entitled “Current Excitements in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology for Agriculture and Medicine”. November 27-30, 2015. Hyderabad, India.

 

  • Oral presentation at the 18th World Congress of the International Society on Toxinology. September 25-30, 2015. The University of Oxford. Oxford, UK.

 

  • Invitation to participate in the “Integrating Organismal and Applied Perspectives on Animal Venom Diversity.” September 21-24, 2014. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center. Durham, North Carolina. USA.

 

  • Course on Molecular Evolution, Phylogenetics, Phylogenomics and Adaptation. 2011. Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe. Valencia, Spain.

 

  • 5th SERC. School in Herpetology (Sponsored by D.S.T, Government of India). 24th February – 10th March, 2012. North Orissa University. Orissa, India.

 

  • UGC-SAP (DRS) Sponsored National Seminar on Current Trend of wildlife research in India with special reference to herpetology, North Orissa University. Orissa, India. 2012

 

  • The São Paulo School of Advanced Sciences (SPSAS): International course on evolution. 2012. Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Invited talks

  • ​Invited talk (Keynote). Gordon Research Conference on Venom Evolution, Function and Biomedical Applications. USA, August, 2024.

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  • ​Invited talk (Keynote). 22nd World Congress of the International Toxinology Society. Singapore, May 20-25, 2024.

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  • ​Invited talk. Snakebite Life Support Workshop, a DHR-ICMR funded workshop on clinical training. Jubilee Mission Medical College. Thrissur, Kerala, India, May 17-19, 2024.

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  • ​Invited talk. IISER Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, May 6, 2024.

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  • ​Invited talk. Sri Siddhartha Medical College, Tumkur. Singapore, March 23, 2024.

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  • ​Invited talk. Sixth Bangalore School on Population Genetics and Evolution, February 15, 2024.

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  • ​Invited talk. European Venom Network, February 14, 2024.

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  • ​Invited talk. Snakesymp 2024. Guwahati, Assam, February 09, 2024.

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  • ​Invited talk (Keynote). 15th Annual Meeting of Proteomics Society, India (PSI)” and the International Conference on “Integrated Proteomics: Applications in Food, Nutrition and Health”. New Delhi, India, November 20-22, 2023.

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  • ​Invited talk. Institute for Systems Biology and Medicine, Moscow, Russia, November 17, 2023.

  • Symposium Chair. International Society for Chemical Ecology, July, 2023.

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  • Invited talk. Savitribai Phule Pune University, Institute of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology.March 01, 2023.

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  • Invited talk. Geetham University, Karnataka, February 28, 2023.

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  • Invited talk. Government Dungar College. Rajasthan, India, February 16, 2023.

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  • Invited talk. National level CME on ‘toxicology and pharmacology of snake venom’. Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research. Kolar, India, October 27, 2022.

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  • Invited talk. 21st World Congress of the International Society on Toxinology (IST). Abu Dhabi, UAE, October 16 to 21, 2022.

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  • Invited talk (Keynote). Gordon Research Conference on Venom Evolution, Function and Biomedical Applications. USA, August 2022.

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  • Invited talk. Annual Snakebite Conference of the Indian Society for Toxinology and Snakebite Mitigation (ISTSM). Department of Emergency Medicine and Public Health. AIMS, Kochi. India, May 26 to 28, 2022.

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  • Invited talk. National CME on Snake Envenomation. Department of Medicine, KIMS Bhubaneswar. India, March 05, 2022.

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  • Invited talk. The Central University of Punjab. India, December 2021.

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  • Invited talk. Molecular phylogenetic workshop, CES, India, December 2021.

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  • Invited talk. International Society for Toxinology Asia-Pacific Conference, Cairns, Australia, November 2021.

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  • Invited talk and session chair. International Society for Toxinology (IST) Asia-Pacific Conference Webinar Series, 2021.

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  • Invited talk. National Symposium on “Recent Trends in Biology”. Savitribai Phule Pune University, March 13 – 14, 2021.

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  • Invited talk. Annual Snakebite Conference. Department of Emergency Medicine and Public Health. AIMS, Kochi. India, 2020.

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  • Invited talk. Gordon Research Conference on Venom Evolution, Function and Biomedical Applications. Postponed due to COVID, August 9 - 14, 2020.

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  • Invited talk. Nextgen Genomics, Biology, Bioinformatics and Technologies (NGBT) Conference. Kolkata. Postponed due to COVID, 30 September 2020.

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  • Invited talk (Keynote). Two-day national symposium on ‘Challenges in snakebite management. University of Mysore, Mysore, Karnataka.

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  • Invited talk. Advanced Molecular Phylogenetics Workshop. Centre for Ecological Sciences. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, October 4, 2019.

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  • Invited talk. 3rd DST-SERB School on Chemical Ecology. National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore 560012. “Development of next-generation snakebite therapy”., 31-07-2019.

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  • Invited talk. 3rd DST-SERB School on Chemical Ecology. National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore 560012. “Deadly innovations: Venoms, Poisons, and delivery systems”, 22-07-2019.

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  • Invited talk. “A Contribution to the Origin and Early Evolution of Snakes”. The Linnean Society of London, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BF, United Kingdom, 24th June 2019.

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  • Invited talk. Department of Biotechnology, Government of India - sponsored brainstorming meeting on “Strategies for Treatment Modalities for Snake Bite with special focus on Recombinant Antibodies'' at the Centre for Innovation in Infectious Disease Research, Education and Training (CIIDRET), December 14, 2018.

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  • Invited talk. Nextgen Genomics, Biology, Bioinformatics and Technologies (NGBT) Conference, Jaipur, 30 September 2018.

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  • Invited talk. Inauguration of the biochemical society. Mysore University, 17 September 2018

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  • Invited talk. Advanced Molecular Phylogenetics Workshop. Centre for Ecological Sciences. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, August 2018.

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  • Invited talk. 2nd DST-SERB School on Chemical Ecology. Centre for Ecological Sciences. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, 08th July 2018 to 22nd July 2018

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  • Invited talk (Plenary). Maharashtra State Sarp Mitra Sammelan & Sarp Vignyan Parishad. Mahad, Maharashtra, 27th January 2018.

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  • Invited talk. The Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali, 8th May 2017

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  • Invited talk. The Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER), Trivandrum, 2nd May 2017

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  • Invited talk. A short course in Herpetology. Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. India, November 1-6, 2016.

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  • Invited talk. Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution Conference 2016. Toxin Evolution session. Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

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  • Invited talk. The Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, 21 November 2016.

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  • Invited talk. The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, 18 November 2016.

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  • Invited talk. Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES), Hyderabad, 17th November 2016.

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  • Invited talk. The Indian Institute of Science (IISC), Bangalore, 10 November 2016.

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  • Invited talk. National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, 7 November 2016.

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  • Invited talk. The 14th Congress of Federation of Asian and Oceanian Biochemists and Molecular Biologists (FAOBMB)(http://faobmb.net) entitled “Current Excitements in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology for Agriculture and Medicine”.. Hyderabad, India, November 27-30, 2015.

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  • Invited talk. Oxford-style debate at the Sheldonian Theatre during the 18th World Congress of the International Society on Toxinology. The University of Oxford, September 25-30, 2015.

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  • Invited talk. National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, 3 December 2015

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  • The Indian Institute of Science (IISC), Bangalore. Centre for Ecological Studies, 2 December 2015.

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  • Oral presentation at the 18th World Congress of the International Society on Toxinology. The University of Oxford. Oxford, UK, September 25-30, 2015.

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  • The Postdoctoral and International Students Mini-Symposium. Faculty of Science. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, May 2015.

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  • Evolutionary developmental research conference. The University of Haifa, Israel, 2014.

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  • Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, February 2014.

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  • Invitation to participate in the meeting of toxinologists. “Integrating Organismal and Applied Perspectives on Animal Venom Diversity.” National Evolutionary Synthesis Centre. Durham, North Carolina. USA, September 21-24, 2014.

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