Sunil Ghatge | Biotransformation | Young Scientist Award

Dr. Sunil Ghatge | Biotransformation | Young Scientist Award

Post-Doc at Biotransformation, Gwangju Institute of science and technology, Iraq

Rand Al-Obaidi is a highly accomplished dentist with a strong academic background and extensive professional experience. She holds a Certificate in Dental Surgery from Baghdad University, where she ranked 45th out of 304 students. Rand also earned a Master of Science in Preventive Dentistry from the same university, achieving an impressive average of 87.33%. Her academic journey culminated in a Ph.D. in Cariology and Comprehensive Care from the University of Montpellier, France, in 2018. Throughout her career, Rand has gained valuable experience through various roles, including training at the Alliwia Dental Center, serving as a general dental practitioner at the Diyala Health Center, and working as a lecturer at Al-Mustansiria University. She is a member of several prestigious dental associations and has made significant contributions to the field through her research, presentations, and publications. Rand’s dedication to dentistry is evident in her continuous pursuit of knowledge and her commitment to improving oral health care practices.

Professional Profiles:

Technical and experimental skills:

Dr. Sunil Ghatge is experienced in various molecular biology and biochemistry techniques. He is proficient in electrophoresis techniques such as SDS-PAGE, PAGE, agarose gel electrophoresis, Southern and Western blotting. He also has expertise in PCR-related techniques including random mutagenesis, site-directed mutagenesis, screening of metagenomic libraries, RT-PCR, QPCR, and overlap PCR. Dr. Ghatge is skilled in molecular biology and recombinant DNA techniques such as cloning, restriction digestion, restriction mapping, transformation, electroporation, homologous recombination, and gene knockout. Additionally, he is experienced in protein purification techniques such as adsorption, ion exchange, and affinity chromatography using Akta prime, purifier, and explorer systems. He is also proficient in various biophysical techniques including calorimetry, UV-visible spectrophotometry, viscometry, SEM, XRD analysis, flame photometry, HPLC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS, and FTIR. In enzymology, Dr. Ghatge has expertise in biochemical characterization, rational engineering for desired properties, assay development, enzyme kinetics, computational analysis, and understanding enzyme mechanisms and modes of action.

Trainee Officer:

During his tenure as a Trainee-Officer at Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd in Pune, India, from June 2010 to January 2011, Dr. Sunil Ghatge worked in the Downstream/Upstream processing and quality control unit of the Process and Development Department. His responsibilities likely included supporting the development and optimization of biopharmaceutical processes, ensuring quality control measures were met, and gaining valuable hands-on experience in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Research Experience:

Dr. Sunil Ghatge has extensive research experience in biodegradation and biotransformation processes. Since May 2015, he has been involved in projects such as the biodegradation of polyethylene and pesticides using the bio-photo Fenton approach, production of biomass-derived flavor or fragrance compounds through lignin valorization using thermophilic laccase, biodegradation and biotransformation of herbicides using nitroreductase, and engineering substrate selectivity of ferulic acid decarboxylase. Prior to his postdoctoral work, Dr. Ghatge completed his Ph.D. at the Division of Applied Life Sciences, Synthetic Biotechnology Lab, Gyeongsang National University, South Korea, with a dissertation titled “Characterization of recombinant cellulases and the role of carbohydrate binding modules in the hydrolysis of crystalline cellulose.” He also holds a Master of Science from Shivaji University, focusing on the isolation and characterization of glucose isomerase from Streptomyces griseus, and a Bachelor of Biotechnology from Lokmangal Biotechnology College, where he studied antimicrobial substrate-producing microorganisms.

Awards and Recognition:

Dr. Sunil Ghatge has received several prestigious awards for his research contributions. On 20 Feb 2014, he was honored with the Best Research Paper Presentation Award at Gyeongsang National University for his exceptional work. Additionally, on 06 Nov 2014, he received the Young Pioneer Research Award, further highlighting his significant contributions to the field. Earlier in his academic career, Dr. Ghatge was awarded the Merit Scholarship of Shivaji University, Kolhapur in April 2009, recognizing his outstanding academic performance and dedication to his studies.

Research Conferences:

Dr. Sunil Ghatge has actively participated in various international conferences and symposiums, showcasing his research through poster presentations and contributing to the scientific community. He presented a poster at ASM Microbe on June 15-19, 2023, in Houston, TX, highlighting his recent work in microbiology. In June 2022, Dr. Ghatge presented an on-demand poster at the FEMS Conference on Microbiology held in Belgrade, Serbia, further demonstrating his commitment to sharing knowledge and advancing the field. His contributions also include poster presentations at the International Symposium of the Federation of Korean Society of Microbiology and Biotechnology in Yeosu, Korea, in June 2018, and at a conference organized by the Microbiological Society of Korea at the Kimdaejung Convention Center in Gwangju, Korea, in April 2016. Dr. Ghatge’s dedication to microbial biotechnology is evident through his participation in the International Symposium and Annual Meeting titled “Recent Breakthroughs in Microbial Biotechnology: from Bench to Industry” in July 2013 in Alpensia, Pyeongchang, Korea, and in the Annual Meeting and Exhibition of the Society for Industrial Microbiology in August 2012 in Washington Hilton, Washington, DC, USA. His involvement also extends to the Korea Bioengineering Conference in April 2011 in Jeju, Korea, showcasing his commitment to professional development and collaboration in the field of microbiology.

Extracurricular Activities and Hobbies:

During his Bachelor of Science (BSc), Dr. Sunil Ghatge was an active participant in the National Service Scheme (NSS) and served as the University representative, showcasing his commitment to community service and leadership. Outside of academia, he enjoys playing cricket, listening to silent songs and music, and watching historical TV programs. Dr. Ghatge also has a passion for culinary experimentation and spends time in the kitchen creating new dishes. Additionally, he finds joy in visiting natural beauty places, highlighting his appreciation for the outdoors and exploration.

Publications:

  1. Biodegradation of polyethylene: a brief review
    • S Ghatge, Y Yang, JH Ahn, HG Hur
    • Applied Biological Chemistry 63, 1-14, 2020
    • Citations: 313
  2. Construction and characterization of chimeric cellulases with enhanced catalytic activity towards insoluble cellulosic substrates
    • AA Telke, SS Ghatge, SH Kang, S Thangapandian, KW Lee, HD Shin, …
    • Bioresource technology 112, 10-17, 2012
    • Citations: 39
  3. Characterization of modular bifunctional processive endoglucanase Cel5 from Hahella chejuensis KCTC 2396
    • SS Ghatge, AA Telke, SH Kang, V Arulalapperumal, KW Lee, …
    • Applied microbiology and biotechnology 98, 4421-4435, 2014
    • Citations: 36
  4. Multifunctional cellulolytic auxiliary activity protein HcAA10-2 from Hahella chejuensis enhances enzymatic hydrolysis of crystalline cellulose
    • SS Ghatge, AA Telke, TR Waghmode, Y Lee, KW Lee, DB Oh, HD Shin, …
    • Applied microbiology and biotechnology 99, 3041-3055, 2015
    • Citations: 35
  5. Thermoalkaliphilic laccase treatment for enhanced production of high-value benzaldehyde chemicals from lignin
    • Y Yang, WY Song, HG Hur, TY Kim, S Ghatge
    • International journal of biological macromolecules 124, 200-208, 2019
    • Citations: 29
  6. Degradation of sulfonated polyethylene by a bio-photo-fenton approach using glucose oxidase immobilized on titanium dioxide
    • S Ghatge, Y Yang, Y Ko, Y Yoon, JH Ahn, JJ Kim, HG Hur
    • Journal of hazardous materials 423, 127067, 2022
    • Citations: 28
  7. Biodegradation of polyethylene: a brief review
    • S Ghatge, Y Yang, JH Ahn, HG Hur
    • Appl Biol Chem 63: 27, 2020
    • Citations: 28
  8. A novel laccase from thermoalkaliphilic bacterium Caldalkalibacillus thermarum strain TA2.A1 able to catalyze dimerization of a lignin model compound
    • S Ghatge, Y Yang, WY Song, TY Kim, HG Hur
    • Applied microbiology and biotechnology 102, 4075-4086, 2018
    • Citations: 28
  9. Engineering of family-5 glycoside hydrolase (Cel5A) from an uncultured bacterium for efficient hydrolysis of cellulosic substrates
    • AA Telke, N Zhuang, SS Ghatge, SH Lee, A Ali Shah, H Khan, Y Um, …
    • PLoS One 8 (6), e65727, 2013
    • Citations: 23
  10. Characterization of a novel thermostable carboxylesterase from thermoalkaliphilic bacterium Bacillus thermocloaceae
    • Y Yang, S Ghatge, HG Hur
    • Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry 83 (5), 882-891, 2019
    • Citations: 17

 

Dr. Sandra Cristino | Environmental Microbiology | Scientific Excellence Achievement Award

Dr. Sandra Cristino | Environmental Microbiology | Scientific Excellence Achievement Award

Researcher at Environmental Microbiology, University of Bologna, Italy

👨‍🎓She remarkable academic journey, extensive research contributions, and dedication to the field of psychology are truly commendable. Your wealth of knowledge and diverse skill set reflect a deep commitment to understanding and addressing critical issues such as bullying, inclusion, and socialization.

🔬 She successful completion of a PhD in Psychology, along with the numerous advanced courses and workshops, showcases your continuous pursuit of excellence and expertise in your field.

🏆 The awards and recognitions, including the First Place in the Poster Award at the University of Stavanger, underscore the impact of your research and the high regard it holds in the academic community.

Professional Profiles:

Experience:

Dr. Sandra Cristino is a Confirmed Researcher in General and Applied Hygiene (SSD/MED42) at the University of Bologna since March 1, 2006. She holds the position of University Researcher in SSD MED 42 at the University of Bologna, Italy. Her professional journey began with internships at the Environmental Microbiology Laboratory and the Immunology and Genetics Laboratory at IRCCS, Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, both in Bologna, from 2000 to 2003. Dr. Cristino has also been involved in research contracts focusing on topics like artificial ligaments and mesenchymal stem cells combined with gene therapy for osteoarticular diseases. Additionally, she served as an Adjunct Professor for Hygiene at the Faculty of Mathematical, Physical, and Natural Sciences, teaching Biological Sciences at the University of Bologna from 2005 to 2006.

Curriculum:

Since 2017, Dr. Sandra Cristino has been an Academic Tutor at the “Borghese-Faranda” Institute in Patti (ME), a Technical-Technological Institute specializing in Chemistry and Health Biotechnologies. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing training projects as part of the High Training and Research Apprenticeship program, in accordance with Legislative Decree 167/2011 and LR 17/2005 of the Emilia Romagna Region. Her responsibilities include mentoring students pursuing a Master’s Degree in Health Biology at the University of Bologna, as well as guiding students in the First-level Master’s Degree program in Safety and Prevention in Work Environments at the same university.

Education and Training:

In 1994, Dr. Sandra Cristino graduated from the Classical Lyceum G. De Rogatis in Apricena (FG) with a score of 52/60. She went on to complete her Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences (single cycle) at the University of Bologna in 2000, achieving a score of 104/110. Following this, she specialized in Toxicology at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Bologna, obtaining a perfect score of 70/70 in 2003. In 2006, Dr. Cristino pursued further studies with an Advanced Course in Molecular Biology in Public Health at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery “Agostino Gemelli,” Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Rome.

Professional Skills:

Dr. Sandra Cristino possesses a diverse skill set in biological and laboratory techniques, including bacterial culture, histology, ELISA assays, and molecular biology techniques such as RNA extraction, RT-PCR, and Real Time PCR. She is proficient in protein analysis techniques like Western Blot. Her expertise extends to cell cultures, encompassing the isolation and cultivation of various cell types like mesenchymal cells, fibroblasts, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, chondrocytes, and lymphocytes. Additionally, she has experience in tissue engineering, three-dimensional cell growth, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, cellular infection techniques, bacterial typing tests, and the development of risk assessment and disinfection protocols for air, water, and food matrices.

Publications:

Visible light-mediated cross-linking of injectable gellan gum hydrogels embedding human chondrocytes

Cooling towers influence in an urban environment: A predictive model to control and prevent Legionella risk and Legionellosis events

First water safety plan approach applied to a Dental Clinic complex: identification of new risk factors associated with Legionella and P. aeruginosa contamination, using a novel sampling, maintenance and management program

Corrigendum: Legionella bononiensis sp. nov., isolated from a hotel water distribution system in northern Italy (Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol, 2022, 72, 005512, 10.1099/ijsem.0.005512)

Investigating the Origin of Mycobacterium chimaera Contamination in Heater-Cooler Units: Integrated Analysis with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Whole-Genome Sequencing

Combining Traditional and Molecular Techniques Supports the Discovery of a Novel Legionella Species During Environmental Surveillance in a Healthcare Facility

Case Report: First Report of Fatal Legionella pneumophila and Klebsiella pneumoniae Coinfection in a Kidney Transplant Recipient

Use of Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy With IR Biotyper® System for Legionella pneumophila Serogroups Identification

Draft Genome Sequence of Legionella Species Isolated from Drinking Water in an Italian Industry

Dynamics of Legionella Community Interactions in Response to Temperature and Disinfection Treatment: 7 Years of Investigation