Awkash Sharma

Background

About Awkash Sharma

Allow me to introduce myself; I am Awkash Sharma, working as a Ph.D. student under the supervision of Dr. Dao Qiong Zheng, Scientist, at Marine Genomics department, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan. My current research involves collecting water and sediment samples from the open ocean in order to identify Scheffersomyces yeast and better understand their genomic constituents. I also worked as a Project Assistant II at the CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) in Goa and Mumbai, India, under the supervision of Dr. Abhay Phulke, Scientist. I assisted in the collection of water and sediment samples from the open ocean, as well as the analysis of water quality (Phosphate, Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia, Silica etc.) I was also involved in collection, culturing, isolation, counting and identification of health and fecal indicator bacteria present in sediment and water samples. I also perform several molecular biology techniques such as isolation of DNA and protein from bacteria, PCR and restriction digestion of DNA, separation of protein using SDS PAGE and gel filtration chromatography. I have also learned how to use complete genome sequencing, RNA-sequencing, Biopython, R, Statistica, Blast, and ClustalW software. I have participated in several different research vessels (Cruise) for collection of water and sediment samples from Arabian Sea. I am familiar with the process of collecting water and sediment samples, as well as the various instruments used for marine sampling, such as Van veen grab, CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth), Niskin sampler, Rosette sampler, and Plankton nets (Haron –Tranter). As I am working in the marine biology department I have developed interest in collection, isolation, data analysis and report writing of samples collected from various in shore and offshore locations.