Simranjit Kaur, Ph.D Email & Phone Number

I am a Microbiologist and Plant Pathologist with a passion for developing innovative biological solutions to tackle pathogen/pest, future climate challenges and promote sustainable farming practices. Currently, I work as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Teagasc, Ireland, where I explore insect-fungi interactions and develop biological control methods to manage pests in cereal crops.My PhD research at Western Sydney University, funded by the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment and co-funded by the Cotton Research & Development Corporation, Australia, focused on creating microbial bio-solutions for managing Fusarium and Verticillium wilts. This work contributed to improving managing soil/root borne pathogen , enhancing nutrient cycling, and boosting crop productivity.My research spans in different areas of microbial science:~Microbial Culture Collections: I curate diverse microbial strains with potential agricultural applications, focusing on bacteria, fungi, and algae.~Microbial Discovery for Pathogen and Pest Control: I identify and develop microbial candidates to combat pathogens and manage biotic/abiotic stress in crops.~Soil Microbiology: My work investigates how soil microbes influence soil fertility, nutrient acquisition, and pathogen suppression.~Microbial Ecology: I study microbial bioindicators to promote sustainable agri-ecosystems and enhance crop resilience.~Policy and Regulation in Biologicals/IPM: I actively explore policies and regulations to support the commercial success of biological solutions.I have expertise in high-throughput microbial isolation, biocontrol, integrated pest management (IPM), and the designing of synthetic microbial communities (SynComs). I specialize in biological seed treatments and the large-scale cultivation of cyanobacterial biofilms. My skills also include detecting soil and foliar fungal pathogens and characterizing various microbial groups, including fungi, bacteria, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). I am proficient in molecular techniques such as DNA/RNA extraction, Sanger sequencing, and qPCR, and I have experience designing and executing both controlled and field experiments. My analytical skills extend to soil nutrient analysis and microbial activity assessments. For data analysis and visualization, I use tools like R, SigmaPlot, and SPSS.Thank you for visiting my profile!