Experience

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  Innovation Agri-Tech Group

  • Bracknell, England, United Kingdom

  • Lead Plant Scientist

    • Jul 2022 - Present
    • Bracknell, England, United Kingdom

    Lead plant scientist responsible for research and development in the company. It involves planning of experiments for the optimisation of crop recipes for maximum yield and quality, research on various crops for commercial compounds, laboratory analysis of nutrients and flavour compounds, microbial testing and microbiome study, collaborating with Universities for various grant funding and research works, interacting with clients, presenting research findings and writing reports, supervising students in PhD and internships onsite.

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  University of Reading

  • Reading, England, United Kingdom

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Biological Sciences

    • Sep 2018 - Jul 2022
    • Reading, England, United Kingdom

    PhD Research Project: Host mediated microbiome selection to study the changes in the nutrient cycling, root exudation andmicrobial population in the rhizosphere of soybean genotypes., root exudates and microbial DNA analysis.The study involved the following.1. Effect of microbiome selection on host phenotype and its relation to nutrient cycling by measuring the soilextracellular enzymes, N-acetyl beta glucosaminidase (NAG) and phosphatase (PHOS)2. Colorimetry and GCMS based analysis of the effect of microbiome on the root exudation of sugars, phenols,and amino acids3. Soil microbial DNA extraction and PCR amplification for next generation sequencing (NGS) to understandthe difference in microbiome between soil types, before and after microbiome selection.4. Use of statistical methods to analyze data and draw conclusions including linear models and correlation andprincipal component analysis.

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  University of Reading

  • Reading, England, United Kingdom

  • Technician-School of Biological sciences

    • Jul 2017 - Jul 2018
    • Reading, England, United Kingdom

    1. Research assistance to students in laboratories and classrooms.2. Pre and post research session preparation, calibration, and maintenance.3. Preparation of technical layouts of practical classes and management of research logistics4. Research assistance to project students in the microbiology lab.

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  Syngenta

  • Bracknell, England, United Kingdom

  • Technical Administrative Assistant

    • Oct 2015 - Jun 2017
    • Bracknell, England, United Kingdom

    1. Analyze, trouble shoot and critical review of residue study data from multiple locations and feed into a centralized data point for coherent reporting.2. Database synchronization between central as well as field data sources.3. Preparation of screened master documents by running queries on tables and arrange them according to the critical GAPs.4. Quality check of reports to align the study as per the study plans and check for deviations.5. Ensure the data in the report follow the right pattern of sampling times and the chromatograms.6. Method validation and storage stability report checking following European guidelines.7. Preparing OECD summaries for storage stability and validation studies and upload them to the search tool Smart Doc.8. Assist the study managers and risk assessors to use the Bio-Design tool to prepare study protocols.

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  Syngenta

  • Bracknell, England, United Kingdom

  • Experimentalist

    • May 2010 - Mar 2012
    • Bracknell, England, United Kingdom

    1. Responsible for the project involving Seed Care Biokinetics and Soil Diffusion of Compounds involving major tasks like. a. Collection of soil samples and soil columns following standard scientific protocols for the experiments. b. Calculation and preparation of formulations for seed treatment.2. Conducting lab experiments such as. a. Preparing soil diffusion assay (SDA) for various compounds in soil columns and improving the existing SDA method and use of HPLC b. Studying the uptake of compounds in plant after diffusion to soil from seeds using radioactive carbon (14C) in rhizome boxes c. Image analysis of plants to determine the uptake of different active ingredients from soil and microanalysis to study the difference in formulations using X-rays

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  CWRDM

  • Kerala, India

  • Researcher

    • Mar 2003 - Oct 2005
    • Kerala, India

    1. Field verification of sample collection process for lab experiments and research2. Data collection and analysis using multiple scientific instruments for research reports and presentations3. Soil & plant analysis for macro and micro-nutrientsKey AchievementsGained expertise in handling wide range of quantitative and qualitative analytical instruments including- spectrophotometric and colororimetric analysis, Sap flow meter (Dynamax), Steady state porometer (LI-COR 1600), Portable leaf area meter (LI-COR3000A), Plant canopy analyzer/ Leaf area index meter (LAI- 2000), Light meter (Metravi 1332), Assman’s Psychrometer, Time-Domain Reflectometer, Cone Penetrometer, Kjeldahl’s automatic digestion and nitrogen distillation system, Electrical conductivity meter and pH meter, UV visible spectrophotometer and flame photometer.