Sheila Prabhakar Abraham

Bio

Dr. Abraham’s doctoral research focused on the physiological and molecular processes in the digestive tract of beetles that feed on stored food products. Her research involved characterizing the cDNAs encoding proteases in the midguts of Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworms).

Dr. Abraham has been teaching at SEU since 2006 and considers it a privilege to journey alongside faculty and students in their pursuit of excellence. From leading students on field visits and supervising field research at Lakeland’s conservation lands to creating a healthy atmosphere of debate and discussion in the classroom, Dr. Abraham loves being around students. At Southeastern, Dr. Abraham currently teaches the following classes: Animal Physiology and Molecular Biology, Botany, Biology I & II, Invertebrate and Vertebrate Diversity, Ecology (their respective labs), General Entomology and Bioethics.

She has refereed publications in journals including Encyclopedia of Signaling Molecules, Cell Biology International, Florida Field Naturalist, Insect Molecular Biology, Physiological Entomology, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Bioinoculants for Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry and Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society. Dr. Abraham has presented her research at several professional conferences including the national ESA annual and regional ESA conferences. Her research interests include insect molecular biology and physiology, medical entomology, bioethics and the role of dual specificity phosphatases (DUSPs) in cancer.

Dr. Abraham considers it an absolute joy to explore God's magnificent beauty and creativity in and through the study of biology both in and out of the classroom.

Brief Highlights:
• Received the Outstanding Faculty of the Year Award, 2022
• Received the Outstanding Faculty of the Year Award, 2015
• Received the Faculty Award for Excellence in Scholarship, 2014