DR. GEETHA SANKET JOSHI
PhD Microbiology
Office
: 1027
Telephone
: +968 24146826
Fax
: +968 24141437
GSM
: +968 99620121
E-mail
: geetha2578@yahoo.co.in; geethasank@gmail.com
Credentials
: MSc (SPU, 2001)
PhD (MSU, 2008)
: MICROBIOLOGY
Specialization
Google Scholar Profile: http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=XroZiFgAAAAJ&hl=en
ResearchGate Profile:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Geetha_Joshi?ev=hdr_xprf
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY AND VISION
As a teacher: To educate is to become better educated, it is a multidimensional process that
improved with time. I believe the responsibility of teacher is to provide students with the necessary
knowledge and skills in the field of microbiology and biotechnology to succeed in academic,
research and personal areas. Education provides the tools to make informed decisions, synthesize
ideas and critically evaluate relevant issues and to enjoy life. In my interaction with students, I will
strive always to be respectful, especially when dealing with differing opinions that may arise as a
result of scientific thinking. I want my students to learn to think critically, not merely to accept my
ideas and opinions. My drive to pursue higher education and research was due in part to several
teachers who inspired me and helped me learn the skills necessary to accomplish these goals. I
would like to be a catalyst for other people to pursue their dreams. Therefore, pursuing knowledge
and working to improve my skills as an educator are among my highest priorities.
As a researcher: To contribute in the field of science and technology, to solve problems of vital
importance to the nation and the world pertaining to national security, energy and the
environment, where my education and interdisciplinary skills would be utilized in an integrated
approach. To be part in solving world’s critical and intriguing problems that demand solutions
those are startlingly different. To work in an enthusiastic team oriented environment.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Since February 2011 – Working as Teaching Consultant at Biology Department, College of
Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman. Teaching courses and in
laboratories- General Biology and Bacteriology.
July 2006 – February 2011:- Worked as an Assistant Professor at Ashok and Rita Patel Institute
of Integrated Study and Research in Biotechnology and Allied Sciences (ARIBAS), S.P. University,
Vallabh Vidyanagar, Anand, Gujarat, INDIA.
Courses taught: (Post Graduate Courses)
1. Bacteriology.
2. Immunology.
3. Bioprocess Engineering and Fermentation Technology
4. Physiology and Biochemistry.
5. Microbiology and Microbial Genetics.
6. Molecular biology and r-DNA technology.
Sept. 2005-June 2006:- Teaching Assistant at Dept. of Microbiology and Biotechnology,
M.S. University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
Assisted and instructed postgraduate students in classroom and laboratory settings.
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May 2002-June 2002:- Scientific Officer at Zydus Research Center, Zydus Cadila
Healthcare Ltd., Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India I Was responsible for maintaining the
hepatocytic cell lines.
Oct. 2001-April 2002: Adhoc (temporary) Lecturer for Microbiology at N.V Patel College of
Pure and Applied Sciences, Sardar Patel University, V.V Nagar, Gujarat , India.
July 2001-Sept. 2001: Laboratory Assistant at Genetic counseling lab of Dr Purandare,
Mumbai, India I was one of the lab assistants whose responsibility was to prepare the sl ide
for Karyotyping of human abortive samples.
May 2000- June 2000: Summer Trainee at Radiation Biology Division of Bhabha Atomic
Research Centre, Mumbai, India. Project Work Title: Radioprotection by caffeine using
yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Teaching EXPERIENCE: Ten Years of teaching experience (Graduate and Post graduate) in
Microbiology and Biotechnology, and guided M. Sc. students as an intermediate and
guide for their M. Sc. Dissertation.
EDUCATION
Doctorate of Philosophy (2008)
Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology,
Maharaja Sayaji Rao University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
Dissertation topic: Construction of transgenic Rhizobium for Cajanus cajan (Pigeon pea)
by cloning and expression of a genomic region encoding iron siderophore recepto r.
Master of Science in Microbiology (2001)
Department of Biosciences,
Sardar Patel University, V.V. Nagar, Gujarat, India
Bachelor of Science in Microbiology (1999)
V.P and R.P.T.P Science College,
Sardar Patel University, V.V. Nagar, Gujarat, India
BROAD AREA OF RESEARCH INTEREST:
1. Plant
growth
promotion
caused
due
to
the
effect
of
microbial
(endophytes/epiphytes) interactions in the rhizoplane and rhizosphere of the
economically important crops.
2. Rhizospheric and nodule microbial diversity study in the leguminous plants.
3. Role of endophytes in Plant Growth Promotion.
4. Developing Transgenic Biofertilizers.
5. Study of hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms and bioremediation.
PUBLICATIONS
Doctoral Thesis
Geetha R., Construction of transgenic Rhizobium for Cajanus cajan (Pigeon pea) by
cloning and expression of a genomic region encoding i ron siderophore receptor,
Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Maharaja Sayaji Rao University in
December 2008.
Journal Publications (starting from 2006 to 2013)
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1. Geetha R., Arif Khan., Aparna Akolkar., Ami Pandya., G.Archana., Anjana J Desai.,
Differential cross-utilization of heterologous siderophores by nodule bacteria of
Cajanus cajan and its, possible role in growth under iron -limited conditions, Applied
Soil Ecology 34 (2006) 19-26.
2. Geetha R, Shreni Mistry, Anjana J Desai, G. Archana, Functional expression of E.coli
fhuA gene in Rhizobium spp. of Cajanus cajan allows utilization of Fe3+: ferrichrome as
iron source, Archives of Microbiology 187 (2007) 257-264.
3. Geetha R, Falguni Singh, Anjana J Desai, G. Archana. Enhanced growth and
nodulation of pigeon pea by co-inoculation of Bacillus strains along with Rhizobium
spp. Bioresource Technology 99 (2008) 4544-4550.
4. Geetha R, Anjana J. Desai and G. Archana. Effect of the expression of E.coli fhuA
gene in Rhizobium sp. IC3123 and ST1 in planta: Its role in increased nodule
occupancy and function in Pigeon pea. Applied Soil Ecology 2009.
5. Geetha R, Maheshwari Patel, Sanket Joshi. Isolation and characterization of nodule
associated Exiguobacterium sp. from the root nodules of Fenugreek (Trigonella
foenum-graecum) and their possible role in plant growth promotion. Published online
23 rd February 2012, International Journal of Microbiology, doi: 10.1155/2012/693982.
6. Hardik A. Patel, Rajesh K. Patel, Sunil M. Khristi, Kruti Parikh, Geetha Rajendran. Isolation
and Characterization of Bacterial Endophytes from Lycopersicon esculentum Plant
and Their Plant Growth Promoting Characteristics. Nepal Journal of Biotechnology.
Jan. 2012, Vol. 2, No. 1: 37 – 52.
7. Geetha S. J and Sanket J. Joshi. Engineering Rhizobial Bioinoculants: A Strategy to
Improve Iron Nutrition. The Scientific World Journal, vol. 2013, Article ID 315890, 15
pages, 2013. doi:10.1155/2013/315890.
8. Sanket Joshi, Geetha Joshi (2013) પે ટ્રોલિયમ ઉદ્યોગ અને બાયોટે ક્નોિોજી: વર્ત માન પરિસ્થિતર્
(Petroleum Industry and Biotechnology – Current Status), ISSN 0976 – 9809, VVidyanagar, 5: 33 – 35.
9. Sanket Joshi, Geetha SJ, Sanjay Yadav and Anjana Desai (2013) Optimization of
bench-scale production of biosurfactant by Bacillus licheniformis R2, APCBEE Procedia,
Elsevier, 5: 232 – 236.
10. Geetha SJ, Sanket Joshi and Shailesh Kathrotiya (2013) Isolation and characteri zation
of hydrocarbon degrading bacterial isolate from oil contaminated sites, APCBEE
Procedia, Elsevier, 5: 237 – 241.
11. Sanket Joshi, Sujata Jha and Geetha SJ (2015) Lipopeptide production by Bacillus
subtilis R1 and its possible applications(BJM-2015-0552) in progress.
Conference Papers
1. Siderophore production and cross-utilization studies of rhizobial and non-rhizobial
isolates from rhizospheric soil of Cajanus cajan. 44th Annual Conference of Association
of Microbiologist of India, 12-14 Nov 2003 at Dharawad, Karnataka, INDIA.
2. Ferrichrome utilization by transgenic rhizobia expressing E. coli fhuA gene . 46 TH Annual
Conference of Association of Microbiologist of India, 08-10 Dec 2005 at Osmania
University, Hyderabad, INDIA.
3. Isolation of Nodule associated microorganisms from root nodules of Cajanus cajan and
their possible role in plant growth promotion. 3 rd BRSI International Conference, 02-04
Nov 2006 at Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar, Anand, Gujarat, INDIA.
4. Rhizospheric performance of transgenic rhizobia expressing E. coli fhuA gene
encoding Fe 3+ : ferrichrome receptor. 75 TH Society of Biological Chemist, 08-11 Dec
2006 at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, INDIA.
3
5. Patel MH, Rutuja A., Geetha R. Isolation and characterization of nodule associated and
rhizospheric bacteria from root nodules of Fenugreek and their possible role in plant
growth promotion. National symposium on exploring new horizons in microbial
biotechnology-colloquium-2011, 5 th Jan 2011, organized by Department of
Microbiology and Biotechnology, genetics and bioinformatics at N V Patel college of
Pure & Applied Sciences.
6. 4 th International Conference on Environmental Science and Development (ICESD
2013), January, 19th- 20th, 2013, Dubai, UAE. Geetha SJ, Sanket Joshi, and Shailesh
Kathrotiya, Title: ‘Isolation and characterization of hydrocarbon degrading bacterial
isolate from oil contaminated sites’.
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