Project 1: FASt biomarker developmentDescription: Our water system is heavily contaminated with 100s of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, herbicides, flames retardants and other such so called "forever chemicals" which are not removed by conventional water treatment process. Though these compounds are present at low concentrations, they can pose serious health issues. Fortunately, many of these contaminants can be broken down by bacteria. Usually, contaminants are studied one at a time. It can take many years to find a solution for each contaminant. We are taking multi-omic approach to identify 1000s of functional genes, present in 100s bacteria native to the water system. The project will create a new molecular tool: Functional gene Amplicon Sequencing tests (FASt) to find and measure these important bacteria. FASt biomarker assays will use next-generation gene sequencing technology to sequence and identify functional genes (“biomarkers”) that control the chemical reactions bacteria use to break down these compounds of interest.Project 2: Characterizing microbiomes associated with emerging contaminant impacts and attenuationDescription: The main objective of this project was to use next generation sequencing to characterize the microbial community and the functional genes involved in the remediation of PFAS, PFOS and other forever chemicals present. This project was funded by Jacobs Engineering Group.3. Taught course Biomolecular Tools for Engineers (BIOM/CIVE 533): Fall 2021 and Fall 2022.

1. BIORAT-2 ProjectBIORAT-2 project is a sub-project under the framework of the Bioregenerative Life Support System alternative (MELiSSA) of European Space Agency. The BIORAT-2 project is a flight demonstration experiment which aims to evaluate whether urine can be valorized as nutrient source for cyanobacterial cultivation, while recycling water, producing oxygen and edible biomass at the same time. The main objective of this research to investigate whether it is possible to recycle human waste (CO2 and ammonium, urea, nitrite and nitrate rich urine) as nutrient sources for cutlivation of Arthrospira sp. in a photobioreactor. In order to valorize urine as nutrient source for cyanobacterial cultivation we can evaluting the effect of (1) high urine salinity, (2) presence of organics present urine and (3) mixture of nitrogen sources present in urine on the biomass productivity, oxygen yield, biochemical profile (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, pigments, etc.,) and proteome of cyanonobacteria.The first leg of the MELiSSA project (ARTEMiSS) has successfully entered the testing phase on International Space Station. As a part of this project a photobioreactor (with Arthrospira sp.) has already been tested under microgravity conditions on International Space Station.2. Purge to Value Project“Purge to Value” project is funded by "Southeast Asia and Europe: Joint Funding Scheme for Research and Innovation". We are collaborating with EnerGaia, Thailand and Hochschule Biberach University of Applied Sciences, Germany to investigate the possibility of cultivating Spirulina using yeast wastewater to produce nutritious biomass and eventually recycle the spent wastewater from Spirulina cultivation as nutrient yeast cultivation. We are using metabolic and proteomic studies to evaluate the effects of various metabolites (identified by NMR) present in yeast wastewater on the growth and biomass quality (lipid, carbohydrate, protein and pigment) content of Spirulina biomass.

As part of a bigger initiative of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, I was involved in optimizing and increasing the biofuel production from microalgae. • Collaborated with DBT partners to identify microalgae and diatoms strains with high lipid content.• Defined cultivation methodologies to increase biodiesel production and biomass productivity.• Developed thermo-tolerant and high lipid producing mutants Chlorella pyrenoidosa. • Optimized low cost biomass harvesting (ultrafiltration) and lipid extraction techniques • Used Dual PAM Flurometry to evaluate photosynthetic efficiency of microalgae • Formulated a kinetic growth model and used it to scale-up the production process.• Designed and commissioned 200L and 3000 L photobioreactor.

As the Safety Biomarker Scientist, I collaborated with US-FDA and:• Screened and identified potential novel safety biomarker candidates of kidney, heart and muscle. • Developed and validated automated assays for quantification of biomarkers on Luminex, Masterplex, Nexgen, Mesoscale (MSD), Jannus, Flow Cytometer & Roche-Hitachi Modular.• This work contributed towards FDA-approval of use of Kidney biomarkers for clinical studies.• Obtained FDA certification to execute GLP studies, instrument validation and data reporting.

ResponsibilitiesStudied the role of ultra large complexes of PF4 and Heparin in pathogenesis of heparin induced thrombocytopenia and develop chimeras to study their effect on HEK, HUVEC, MEF and other Cell lines.Isolated and purified bacterial protein using AKTA Heparin column- Affinity and Ion exchange chromatography and quantify the results using Electrophoresis, ELISA, SDS Page, Western Blot, Silver Staining, PCR, Cell based & Luciferase Assays

Studied the hydrocarbon bioremediation potential of bacterial strains on different petroleum fractions. The study involved the analysis of percentage degradation of carbon bonds in the petroleum hydrocarbons and their conversion into environmentally friendly by products. The main techniques learned during the project: HPLC, IR spectrophotometry, AAS, TLC, GLC & PCR.

Production of fungal enzymes using solid state fermentation.