Dhritiman Ghosh
Saint Peters,MO
Summary
Accomplished, self-driven scientist and research manager with extensive experience in Molecular Microbial Ecology, Soil Microbiology and Environmental Microbiology. Demonstrated experience in discovering novel microbes and/microbiomes in connection to various environmental functions, especially in soil microbiome and developing novel microbial products such as bio-insecticides and bio- fungicides. Hands-on experience in molecular microbiology, microbial ecology, microbial physiology and metagenomic sequencing and data analysis. Self-starter with proven abilities in managing a team and delivering milestones within aggressive timelines. Demonstrated success in team work, publications in peer-reviewed journals and patent applications.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Microbial Research and Operations Manager
Lavie Bio, Inc
St. Louis, MO
10.2018 - Current
- Managed validation pipelines for bio-insecticide and bio-fungicide programs.
- Managed operations for production of materials for microbial field trials of bio-stimulant and biopesticide programs.
- Led and managed bio-insecticide program at US site.
- Led research for developing various microbiomes for bio insecticide products and oversee bio fungicide discovery pipeline.
- Led and managed USDA-APHIS approvals for field trials in connection to tight timelines for commencements.
- Managed timelines for delivering samples to CROs and strategic partners (such as Cortes Agrisciences) for parallel trials.
- Lead microbial optimization research for high efficacy product development.
- Developed insecticidal microbial products that are currently under phase III trials.
- Developing bio fungicidal plant microbe fungus tri-trophic assay for screening microbial products.
- Conducted experiments in laboratory environment for product development purposes.
- Used Microsoft Project and other software tools to create timeline and milestones.
- Identified project scopes, constraints, risks and deadlines.
Research Leader – Experimental Genomics & Microbial Research Manager
Evogene, Inc
St. Louis, MO
08.2015 - 12.2019
- Developed experimental metagenomic methods for discovering insecticidal genes.
- Developed selective culturing techniques for discovering insecticidal microbiomes.
- Developed high resolution on-plant tri-trophic (plant-microbe-insect) assay system for validating in vitro microbiome discovery.
- Developed insecticidal microbial products that are currently under phase III trials.
- Led bio-insecticide program at US site Managed sample production for various field trial experiments.
Research Assistant Professor
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN
01.2011 - 08.2015
- Discovered and developed viral endolysins from soil viruses as protection against bacterial pathogens of plants (1.5 years).
- Analyzed various metagenomes from microbiomes of subglacial lakes in Antarctica and discovered light independent photosynthetic pathways are more prevalent in this environment (1.5 years).
- Encouraged class discussions by building discussions into lessons, actively soliciting input, asking open-ended questions and using techniques to track student participation
- Created excitement and enthusiasm in classroom by delivering engaging subject matter
- Generated grant proposals to gain funding for start-up research, winning $40K for UT early development project.
Post-Doc Research Associate
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN
04.2005 - 12.2010
- Discovered novel molecular mechanism of prophage induction (virus production) in soil microbiome in connection to bacterial communication (quorum sensing).
- This discovery led to broader understanding of how prophage encoded toxin (such as cholera toxin) get expressed in clinical context (recently cited in “Cell” Volume 176, 2019, Pages 268-280).
- Discovered occurrence of horizontal gene transfer among bacterial communities in soil is mediated by viruses.
- Used novel bio-sep bead matrix to isolate Atrazine degrading bacteria in soil.
- As a part of a team, analyzed Chesapeake bay viroplankton, one of the first viral metagenomes from aquatic environment.
- Post-doctoral Research.
- Exceeded goals through effective task prioritization and great work ethic
Post-Doc Research Associate
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY
03.2003 - 03.2004
- Experiences and accomplishments: Engineered whole cell biosensor for detecting polychlorinated biphenyl from soil and sediments.
Education
PhD - Microbiology
Jadavpur University
Kolkata, IndiaMaster of Science - Plant Sciences
Visva Bharati University
Santiniketan, IndiaSkills
Microorganisms classification
Anaerobic and microaerophilic culturing techniques
Computer proficiency
Database Management
Aseptic procedures
Organization, Time and project management Proficiencies with Microsoft Project
Knockout mutagenesis
Molecular biology and genetics
Microscopic techniques
Additional Information
Publications
- Ghosh, D, B Bal, V. K. Kashyap, and S. Pal. 2003. Molecular Phylogenetic Exploration of Bacterial Diversity in a Bakreshwar (India) Hot Spring and Culture of ShewanellaRelated Thermophiles. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69: 4332-4336.
- Ghosh, D, K. Roy, K. E. Williamson, K. Eric Wommack and Mark Radosevich. 2009. Acyl-homoserine lactones can induce viral production in lysogenic bacteria: an alternative paradigm for prophage induction. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75 (22):7142-52.
- Ghosh, D., K. Roy, K. E. Williamson, D. C. White, K. E. Wommack, K. L. Sublette, and M. Radosevich. 2008. Prevalence of Lysogeny among Soil Bacteria and Presence of 16S rRNA and trzN Genes in Viral-Community DNA. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74: 495-
- Ghosh, D, K. Roy, V. Srinivasan, T. Mueller, O. H. Tuovinen, K. Sublette, A. Peacock, M. Radosevich. 2009. In-situ enrichment and analysis of atrazine-degrading microbial communities using atrazinecontaining porous beads. Soil Biol. Biochem. 41:1331-1334
- K Roy, D Ghosh, JM DeBruyn, T Dasgupta, KE Wommack, X Liang, M. Radosevich. Temporal dynamics of soil virus and bacterial populations in agricultural and early plant successional soils. Frontiers in Microbiology 11, 1494· July 2020
- Mikucki, J.A., Lee, P.A., Ghosh, D., Purcell, A.M., Carter, S., Mitchell, A., Tulaczyk, S., Mankoff, K.D., Scherer, R. and the WISSARD Science Team. 2016. Initial findings on the microbial ecology of Subglacial Lake Whillans. Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci 374(2059):20140290.
- Srinivasiah, S., J. Lovett, D. Ghosh, K. Roy, J. Fuhrmann, M. Radosevich, and K.E. Wommack. 2015. Dynamics of autochthonous soil viral communities parallels dynamics of host communities under nutrient stimulation. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2015 Jul;91(7):fiv063.
- Purcell AM, Mikucki JA, Ghosh D, et al. 2014. Microbial sulfur transformations in sediments from Subglacial Lake Whillans. Frontiers in Microbiology. 2014;5:594. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2014.00594.
- Srinivasiah, S., J. Lovett, S.W. Polson, D. Ghosh, K. Roy, J. Fuhrmann, M. Radosevich, and K.E. Wommack. 2013. Direct assessment of viral diversity in soils using RAPDPCR. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. (in press). Published online on 21 June 2013 (doi:10.1128/AEM.00268-13)
- Prado, M. E., D. Ghosh, and S. A. Ripp. 2012. Applications of bacteriophages for the control of veterinary pathogens, In Boulanger A, Blanc M (ed.), Bacterial Pathogens: Virulence Mechanisms, Diagnosis and Management, Ed. NOVA Publishers, Inc., Hauppauge, NY.
- Srinivasiah, S., J. Lovett, D. Ghosh, K. Roy, M. Radosevich and K. E. Wommack. 2013. Dynamics of autochthonous soil viral communities parallels dynamics of host communities under nutrient stimulation. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. (in review)
- Omotayo, A.E., M. O. Ilori, O. O. Amund, D. Ghosh, K. Roy, and M. Radosevich. 2011. Establishment and characterization of atrazine degrading cultures from Nigerian agricultural soil using traditional and Bio-Sep bead enrichment techniques. Appl. Soil Ecol. 48 (1): 63–70
- Bench, S. R., T. E. Hanson, K. E. Williamson, D. Ghosh, M. Radosevich, K. Wang, and K. E. Wommack. 2007. Metagenomic Characterization of Chesapeake Bay Virioplankton. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73: 7629-7641.
- Xu, S, E. D'Angelo, D. Ghosh, J. Feliciano, S. Deo and S. Daunert. 2005. Detection of polychlorinated biphenyls employing chemical dechlorination followed by biphenyl whole cell sensing system. Toxicol. Environ. Chem., 2005, 87, 3, 287-298
- Saha, M, D. Ghosh Jr., D. Ghosh, D. Garai, P. Jaisankar, K. K. Sarkar, P. K. Dutta, S. Das, T. Jha and J. Mukherjee. 2005. Studies on the production and purification of an antimicrobial compound and taxonomy of the producer isolated from the marine environment of the Sundarbans. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 2005. 66 (5), 497-505
Patent:
- INSECTICIDAL POLYPEPTIDES AND USE THEREOF Patent date Issued Nov 7, 2019 Patent issuer and number US WO2019211850
- NOVEL INSECTICIDAL MICROBIOME AGAINST AGAINT WESTERN CORN ROOT WORM (provisional) (under submission).
Timeline
Microbial Research and Operations Manager
Lavie Bio, Inc
10.2018 - Current
Research Leader – Experimental Genomics & Microbial Research Manager
Evogene, Inc
08.2015 - 12.2019
Research Assistant Professor
University of Tennessee
01.2011 - 08.2015
Post-Doc Research Associate
University of Tennessee
04.2005 - 12.2010
Post-Doc Research Associate
University of Kentucky
03.2003 - 03.2004
Master of Science - Plant Sciences
Visva Bharati University
PhD - Microbiology
Jadavpur University