Journal of Plant Pathology & Microbiology

Simrat Kaur

Simrat Kaur
Microalgal Biotechnologist at Algae Health Claregalway
Ireland

Biography

Dr Simrat Kaur is Microalgal Biotechnologist in Irish start-up company Algae Health Ltd. She has nine years of research experience in algal biotechnology. She qualified for EPA-STRIVE funded microalgal research project and completed her PhD degree from NUI Galway in 2014. During her PhD, she worked on marine diatom called Phaeodactylum tricornutum for production of value added bio products such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (Eicosapentaenoic acid). She developed several high lipid and EPA producing novel diatom P. tricornutum strains. She also did genetic transformations (Genetically modified, GM) and genetic mutagenesis (non-GMO) on this diatom and grasped experience in molecular biology research of microalgae. She developed a novel artificial microRNA mediated gene silencing system for model diatom P. tricornutum. She published various peer reviewed book chapter and research papers. She worked on Algal-Biodiesel project with Defence Research Laboratory, DRL (Defence Research & Development Organisation, Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India) as research scholar from 2007-2010. In this project she gathered experience in isolation, culturing and maintenance of tropical freshwater microalgae for screening of oleaginous strains. She isolated many freshwater strains and optimised their growth conditions for enhanced lipid production suitable for biodiesel feedstock. She published a well cited scientific paper on her work in DRL. She got her M.Phil degree from Delhi University in 2006 where she worked on effects of seaweed fertilizers on growth and biochemical characteristics of crop plant Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek).

Research Interest

1. Microalgal Biotechnology
   Culturing & Maintenance
   Pilot-scale and industrial scale cultivation in photo bioreactors
   Mutagenesis (Chemical and UV) and strain development
   Genetic engineering (include biolistic transformation of diatoms, RNA interference)
   Analysis and extractions of value-added bio products (mainly pigments and nutritional omega fatty acids)
2. Molecular Biology
   PCR, RTPCR, Cloning, Genetic transformation, RNA silencing
3. Flow cytometry
   Cell sorting
   Screening of high lipid microalgal cell populations
4. Microscopy
   Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy (SEM, TEM)
5. Instrumentation
   Gas Chromatography
   Bio Analyser (for CNP analysis)
   Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (for metals & heavy metal analysis)
   Oxymeter (for measuring photosynthetic activity of microalgae)