New York: An Indian-origin woman in the US has been conferred an Indian diaspora organisation's 2014 Service Award. Meena Kumari, associate professor of anatomy and physiology at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, has received the 2014 Service Award of the Association of Scientists of Indian Origin in America, a university statement issued Tuesday said. "It is very humbling to be chosen for this award," Kumari said in the statement.

"Being at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine has taught me what it means to serve with dedication and, above all, enthusiasm," she said. Kumari has a doctorate in Andrology and master's in Neuroendocrinology from the University of Delhi. Kumari, with a passion for teaching and research, was conferred the service award in recognition of her dedication to the society's goals. She focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying alterations in gene expression in the brain following chronic alcohol exposure, the association said.

The association was formed in 1981 to foster fellowship among scientists of Indian origin. The association's main objective is to serve as an educational and scientific conduit for all scientists at all levels of their scientific career. Its membership has grown over the years and it now has several hundred members.