Dr. Karandikar completed his basic medical education in 1990 at the B. J. Medical College, University of Poona, India. After completing a pathology residency at the same institution, he was awarded the prestigious Y. M. Bhende Gold Medal at the post-residency examinations. In addition to a top score, this medal requires unsolicited recommendations from the entire examining panel. During his residency training in India, he developed an interest in scientific research and joined the doctoral program at Northwestern University, Chicago. After getting his Ph.D. in immunology, he completed a clinical pathology residency, a hematopathology fellowship and postdoctoral immunology research at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Since 2001, Dr. Karandikar is on faculty in the departments of pathology and neurology. In addition to being a researcher, he is an attending hematopathologist in the diagnostic flow cytometry laboratory, directs the flow cytometry and cellular immunology laboratory, and is the director of Division of Hematopathology & Immunology. In 2007, Dr. Karandikar was appointed to the Vernie A. Stembridge, MD Distinguished Cahir in Pathology. He holds the Harry Weaver Neuroscience Scholar Award of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (2003-2008).