Shivakumara 'Swamy' Siddaramappa, a doctoral candidate in biomedical and veterinary sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine, has been selected as Virginia Tech’s 2006 Graduate Man of the Year.

Siddaramappa was selected for the award because of his exceptional performance in the areas of research, teaching, and service, and for his contributions to citizen scholarship.

Before beginning his studies at Virginia Tech, Siddaramappa earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Agricultural Sciences in Bangalore, India, and a master’s degree from the University of London, UK.

His research interests include the genome and plasmid biology of pathogenic bacteria, and the monitoring and surveillance of bacteria causing diseases in animals and humans. Siddaramappa's research has been published in professional journals and he has also presented at several conferences.

Siddaramappa is active in the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) and in various professional organizations, including the American Society for Microbiology and the Karnataka State Chapter of the Indian Veterinary Council. As vice-president of the GSA, Siddaramappa planned and implemented new procedures to streamline the management of various programs, and was actively engaged in a number of innovative projects. He also served as Graduate Ambassador and speaker at many departmental orientation programs.

Upon graduation, Siddaramappa plans to pursue a career in academia and travel the world.

In October 2004, the Graduate Student Assembly approved a proposal to establish a university-level award that recognized one male and one female “Graduate Student of the Year.” The award is based on involvement in professional organizations and campus activities, contributions to knowledge throughout the graduate community, and a commitment to diversity. This marks the first year the award has been presented

The Graduate School at Virginia Tech promotes graduate education as a critical component in the transmission of new knowledge, research, ideas, and scholarship. It is responsible for the development, administration, and evaluation of graduate education throughout the university, providing support to faculty, staff, and more than 6,000 graduate students. The Graduate School is committed to building a diverse graduate community and vibrant intellectual environment to help prepare graduates to lead. Virginia Tech, the most comprehensive university in Virginia, is dedicated to quality, innovation, and results to the commonwealth, the nation, and the world.

Contact:

Share this story