About & CV
CV
About
My research is motivated by the incredible diversity of metabolisms that microorganisms possess. I believe that understanding and characterizing this diversity is the key to solving several environmental issues faced by our society.
I am currently a postdoctoral research associate at Northeastern University (Boston MA) working with Dr. April Gu and Dr. Ameet Pinto. My current research involves characterizing the microbial ecology of phosphorus (P) cycling in both natural and engineered environments. I study the impact and ecology of microorganisms on P-removal in enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) processes in wastewater removal and recovery facilities (WRRFs), prevalence of polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) in the natural environment and their role in P-cycling. For this I use a variety of high-throughput techniques such as fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metagenomics along with activity tests. More specifics about projects I am working on are provided on my research page.
I got my PhD from University of Massachusetts-Amherst working with Dr. Caitlyn Butler on Microbial Ecology and Competition in Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs). A major issue with MFCs is coulombic efficiency losses due to competition with microorganisms competing for electron donors and acceptors. I used both experimental and modeling approaches to characterize the competition and propose conditions under which the competition could be minimized. This could aid in scaling-up MFCs for wastewater treatment.
I got my Bachelors degree in Industrial Biotechnology from Anna University, Chennai, India where I developed an interest in using biotechnological solutions to environmental issues plaguing this world. This motivated me to get my Masters degree in Environmental Engineering from University of Massachusetts-Amherst where I performed my thesis research with Dr. David Reckhow on the fate and transport of trace organic contaminants in drinking and surface water. Here I learnt and developed analytical techniques to measure a variety of organic compounds such as disinfection by-products, endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). I also used chemometrics to study the co-occurrence patterns of various EDCs/PPCPs in the Assabet River, MA.
Details about my previous research projects are available on my research page.
