Rate My Professor Utpal Pal

Utpal Pal is a professor in the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Maryland. He earned a Master of Science degree in Zoology from the University of Calcutta in India in 1988 and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Zoology from the University of Calcutta in 1993. He completed postdoctoral training at Yale University School of Medicine in 2002. Dr. Pal joined the University of Maryland as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2011 and to full Professor in 2016. He served as Graduate Program Director for Veterinary Medical Sciences from 2016 to 2019. His academic career has centered on advancing understanding in veterinary medicine through sustained research and teaching at the University of Maryland.

Dr. Pal's research specializes in the biology and prevention of tick-borne infections including Lyme disease and anaplasmosis as well as leptospirosis. He has led studies examining molecular interactions between ticks and hosts with the goal of informing potential vaccines and therapeutics. In 2025 he was named an MPower Professor by the University of Maryland in recognition of his scholarly impact. Dr. Pal directs a research laboratory focused on these topics and maintains an active program of investigation in vector biology and microbiology. His contributions include extensive publication of research findings in the scientific literature and leadership in multi-institutional projects supported by the National Institutes of Health.