Devare, Medha Hemant

Bioinformatics and Life Sciences Librarian

Medha Devare was a Research Associate before working at Mann, coordinating and conducting research to evaluate the comparative effects of transgenic crops and insecticide on soil microbial populations. At Mann, in addition to providing reference and consultation support, Medha teaches bioinformatics and library research workshops, co-teaches Tropical Cropping Systems (CSS 4140), provides bioinformatics tutorials for other courses, and coordinates VIVO, a web portal that provides a unified view of Cornell research and scholarship across departments, colleges, and other research and academic units. She remains involved with research on transgenic crops and the use of biotechnology in agriculture, with several reports and publications out and in review on these topics. She is also the lead author in the World Bank's International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD), writing on biotechnology for the East, South Asia, and the Pacific region.

 

research

research and scholarship focus

  • VIVO
  • effects of transgenic crops on soil flora and fauna
  • molecular/microbial ecology
  • cropping systems research
  • epidemiology

international geographic focus

affiliations

administrative responsibilities

  • Coordinator of VIVO

librarian in

teaching

teaching focus

  • bioinformatics tools
  • introductory genomics
  • agriculture in developing nations
  • library research

 

recent courses taught

  • CSS 4140
  • Mann Library introductory bioinformatics workshops
  • United States Agricultural Information Network. October 8, 2006, Ithaca. Pre-conference workshop: An Introduction to NCBI?s Bioinformatics Resources.
  • NYSAES-Geneva Bioinformatics Workshop. November 2, 2006, Geneva. An Introduction to Data Mining in Bioinformatics

service

outreach focus

current professional activities

  • Member of ASA/CSSA/SSSA
  • Reviewer for Soil Biology and Biochemistry

library liaison to

background

educational background

  • Ph.D., Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell University, 2000
  • M.S., Environmental Toxicology, Cornell University, 1993
  • B.S., Biology, Colby College, 1988

professional background

publications

selected publications (listing in progress)

Articles

Wu, W., W. Liu, H.H. Lu, Y.X. Chen, M. Devare, and J. Thies. Use of 13-C labeling to assess C-partitioning in transgenic and non-transgenic (parental) rice and their associated rhizosphere soil microbial communities. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 67(1): 93-102.

Porciello, J., M. Devare, and J. Corson-Rikert. November 2008. VIVO: Simplifying research discovery in the life sciences. Against the Grain 20 (5): 34-38.

Wang, Y., W. Wu, Y. Ding, W. Liu, A. Perera, Y. Chen, and M. Devare. Methane oxidation activity and bacterial community composition in a simulated landfill cover soil is influenced by the growth of Chenopodium album L. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 40 (9): 2452-2459.

Devare, M., L.M. Londoño-R, and J.E. Thies. 2007. Neither transgenic Bt maize (MON863) nor tefluthrin insecticide adversely affect soil microbial activity or biomass: A 3-year field analysis. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 39(8): 2038-2047.

Caruso, B., B.J. Lowe, J. Corson-Rikert, and M. Devare. 2007. VIVO: Case study of an ontology-based web site. Arlington, VA. Technical Report FS-06-06 106-1.

Devare, M.H., J. Corson-Rikert, B. Caruso, B. Lowe, K. Chiang, and J. McCue. VIVO: Connecting People, Creating a Virtual Life Sciences Community. D-Lib Magazine (July/August 2007).

Osterbur, D., K. Alpi, C. Canevari, P.M. Corley, M. Devare, N. Gaedeke, D.K. Jacobs, P. Kirlew, J.A. Ohles, K.T.L. Vaughan, L. Wang, Y. Wu, and R. Geer. 2006. Vignettes: Diverse Library Staff Offering Diverse Bioinformatics Services. Journal of the Medical Library Association 94(3): 306, E 188-191.

Banu, S.P., M.A. Shaheed, A.A. Siddique, M.A. Nahar, H.U. Ahmed, M.H. Devare, J.M. Duxbury, J.G. Lauren, G.S. Abawi, and C.A. Meisner. 2005. Soil Biological Health: A Major Factor in Increasing the Productivity of the Rice-Wheat Cropping System. International Rice Research Notes 30 (1): 5-11.

 

Book chapters

Devare, M., C. Greenidge, G. Kelkar, E. Dano, W. Kabir, and R. Sulaiman. 2009. Development and sustainability goals: AKST options. Chapter 5 in B. D. McIntyre, H.R. Herren, J, Wakhungu, and R.T. Watson (ed.) Agriculture at a Crossroads: the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD), Volume II: East and South Asia and the Pacific. UNDP, FAO, UNEP, UNESCO, the World Bank, WHO, and the Global Environment Facility. Island Press, Washington DC.

Thies, J.E. and M. H. Devare. An Ecological Assessment of Transgenic Crops. Pp. 97 - 130 in R.J. Herring (ed.) Transgenics and the Poor. Routledge, London and New York.

talks and presentations

Devare, M. Supporting the Virtual Organization: A Role for Libraries? Presentation for Reactor Panel: Supporting Virtual Organizations. Association for Research Libraries (ARL) Fall Forum, "Reinventing Science Librarianship: Models for the Future", Arlington, VA. October 16-17, 2008.

Powell, J., J. Corson-Rikert, K. Hensley, M. Devare, B. Caruso, B. Lowe, and N. Cappadona. VIVO: Promoting Research and Collaboration. One Step Beyond: Taking Collaboration to the Next Level, ASEE ELD Annual Conference, Pittsburgh. June 25, 2008.

Devare, M. and the Cornell University Library Life Sciences Working Group. VIVO: Connecting People, Creating Communities. Columbia University Libraries Reference Symposium, “Changing Points of Reference and Shifts in Higher Education”, New York City. March 9, 2007.

Devare, M. Scientists as Librarians: Subject Expertise in Cornell University Libraries. Frontiers in Information Provision for the Bio- and Environmental Sciences (FIBS) Conference. London, UK. January 25, 2007.

Devare, M. (Moderator) Learning Methods and Technologies. Indo-US Agriculture Knowledge Initiative Joint Workshop on Curriculum Development. DARE/ICAR, New Delhi, India. January 22-23, 2007.

Xue, K., R. Serohijos, M. Devare, and J.E. Thies. Microbial communities colonizing residues and rates of residue decomposition do not differ between Cry3Bb Bt and non-Bt corn hybrids in the field. American Society of Agronomy, Indianapolis, November 12-16, 2006.

Devare, M. An Introduction to Data Mining in Bioinformatics. NYSAES-Geneva Bioinformatics Workshop, Geneva. November 2, 2006.

Devare, M. and G. Steinhart. 2006. Beyond Reference: New Models for Librarian Involvement in Scientific Research. United States Agricultural Information Network (USAIN), Ithaca. October 9, 2006.

Devare, M. Pre-conference workshop: An Introduction to NCBI's Bioinformatics Resources. United States Agricultural Information Network (USAIN), Ithaca. October 8, 2006.

Londono-R, L-M, M. Devare, and J.E. Thies. Populations of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi appear unaffected by interactions with Bt corn as compared with its non-transgenic isoline. 11th International Society for Microbial Ecology, Vienna, Austria. August 20-25, 2006.

Thies, J. (speaker), M. Devare, L. Londono, K. Xue, E. Barrios, and W. Wu. Assessing the Effects of Bt Crops and Insecticides on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Residue Carbon Turnover and Fate in Soil 2004-2007 - Report to the SM-CRSP Technical Committee. USAID-Soil Management CRSP Stakeholders Meeting. Denver, June 26-30, 2006.

Devare, M. (coordinating lead author): Chapter 5: Development and Sustainability Goals. International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (East, South Asia, and Pacific region). Penang, Malaysia, December 1-4, 2005 and June 26-30, 2006; Bangkok, Thailand, December 9-13, 2006; Capetown, S. Africa, June 20-25, 2007.

Devare, M. VIVO: A Virtual Life Sciences Community. Ithaca-Weill Medical College Joint Symposium on Faculty Collaboration. April 19-20, 2006, New York City.

contact

email address

mhd6@cornell.edu