Shyamala Gopalan Bio, Husband, Kamala Harris and Cause of Death

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Shyamala Gopalan Biography

Shyamala Gopalan was an Indian-American cancer researcher and civil rights activist. She is widely recognized for being the mother of Kamala Harris, a Senator from California and the vice president pick for Joe Biden. 

Shyamala Gopalan Date of Birth and Education

Shyamala was born on April 7, 1938, in Madras, India, she graduated with an undergraduate degree from Lady Irwin College, Delhi at the age of 19. She proceeded to earn a doctor of philosophy in nutrition and endocrinology from the University of California, Berkeley at the age of 25. Shyamala’s dissertation was titled The isolation and purification of a trypsin inhibitor from whole wheat flour.

Shyamala Gopalan Cause of Death

Gopalan died of colon cancer in 2009. She was 70 years old. She survived by her two daughters Kamala and Maya.

Shyamala Gopalan Height

Gopalan stood at an average height and moderate weight. She appeared to be quite tall in stature if her photos, relative to her surroundings, were anything to go by. However, details regarding her actual height and other body measurements are currently not publicly available. We are keeping tabs and will update this information once it is out.

Shyamala Gopalan Father and Siblings

Shyamala was born in Madras, India to P.V. Gopalan (father) and Rajam (mother). Her father was an Indian freedom fighter and a career civil servant who served as Director of Relief Measures and Refugees in the federal Government of Zambia. He later became an adviser to the Government of Zambia.

Shyamala has four siblings; a brother, Balachandran who earned PhD in economics and computer science from University of Wisconsin, and two sisters Sarala and Chinni.

Shyamala Gopalan Husband

Shyamala was married to Donald Harris, who later became a professor of economics at Stanford, originally from Jamaica. The couple met when Harris was at Berkeley and both were involved in the civil rights movement. The pair divorced when their daughter Kamala was 7 years old.

Shyamala Gopalan Daughters

Gopalan survived by her two daughters, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris and lawyer Maya Harris. She emphasized on giving her daughters names stemmed from Indian mythology to help preserve their cultural identity.

Shyamala Gopalan Harris Facts

Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Shyamala Gopalan.

Shyamala Gopalan Wiki

  • Full Names: Shyamala Gopalan
  • Gender: Female
  • Profession: Cancer researcher and civil rights activist.
  • Nationality: Indian-American
  • Race/ Ethnicity: Indian
  • Religion: Not Known
  • Sexual Orientation: Straight

Shyamala Gopalan Age and Birthday

  • Died: February 11, 2009 (aged 70)
  • Place of Death: Oakland, California, U.S.
  • Zodiac Sign: Aries
  • Date of Birth: April 7, 1938
  • Place of Birth: Madras, India
  • Birthday: April 7

Shyamala Gopalan Body Measurements

  • Body Measurements: To be updated
  • Height: Average
  • Weight: Moderate
  • Eye Color: Brown
  • Hair Color: Black
  • Shoe Size: Not Available

Shyamala Gopalan Family and Relationship

  • Father (Dad): P.V. Gopalan
  • Mother: Rajam
  • Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): Balachandran, Sarala and Chinni
  • Marital Status: Divorced
  • Spouse: Donald Harris
  • Children: Kamala Harris and Maya Harris

Shyamala Gopalan Net Worth and Salary

  • Net Worth: $1 million – $5 million dollars (approx. 2020)
  • Salary: To be updated
  • Source of Income: Research and Activism

Shyamala Gopalan Harris Career

Gopalan led research in the Cancer Research Lab in UC Berkeley’s Department of Zoology. She served as a breast cancer researcher at the University of Illinois and the University of Wisconsin. She served for 16 years at Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research and McGill University Faculty of Medicine.

Shyamala worked as a peer reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and later as a site visit team member for the Federal Advisory Committee. She additionally worked on the President’s Special Commission on Breast Cancer. She trained dozens of students in her lab. For her last ten years of research, Gopalan worked in the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Her research led to advancements in the understanding of hormones concerning to breast cancer. Shyamala’s work in the separation and characterization of the progesterone receptor gene in mice changed research on the hormone-responsiveness of breast tissue. At Berkeley Laboratory, her lab studied the role of sex steroids in the induction of breast cancers.

Shyamala Gopalan Net Worth

Shyamala had an approximate net worth between $1 million and $5 million dollars, she had enjoyed a long career in the research industry. Through proceeds from her work as a researcher, she had been able to accumulate a modest fortune. Despite her obvious riches, she preferred to lead a modest lifestyle.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shyamala Gopalan Harris

Who is Shyamala Gopalan?

Shyamala Gopalan was an Indian-American cancer researcher and civil rights activist. She is widely recognized for being the mother of Kamala Harris, a Senator from California and the vice president pick for Joe Biden.

How old was Shyamala Gopalan when she died?

Shyamala was born on April 7, 1938, in Madras, India. Gopalan died of colon cancer in 2009, she was 70 years old.

How tall was Shyamala Gopalan?

Gopalan stood at an average height and moderate weight. She appeared to be quite tall in stature if her photos, relative to her surroundings, were anything to go by. However, details regarding her actual height and other body measurements are currently not publicly available. We are keeping tabs and will update this information once it is out.

Was Shyamala Gopalan married?

Shyamala was married to Donald Harris, who later became a professor of economics at Stanford, originally from Jamaica. The couple met when Harris was at Berkeley and both were involved in the civil rights movement. The pair divorced when their daughter Kamala was 7 years old.

How much was Shyamala Gopalan worth?

Shyamala had an approximate net worth between $1 million and $5 million dollars, she had enjoyed a long career in the research industry. Through proceeds from her work as a researcher, she had been able to accumulate a modest fortune. Despite her obvious riches, she preferred to lead a modest lifestyle.

Is Shyamala Gopalan dead or alive?

Gopalan died of colon cancer in 2009.

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