Dr. Puja Prajyot Sakhalkar

Designation: Assistant Professor

Department: Botany

Type of Appointment: Regular

Email Address: pujasakhalkar@carmelcollegegoa.org

Educational Qualifications: M.Sc., Ph.D., SET

Years of Teaching Experience: 8 years

Subjects Taught: Fundamentals of Botany, Diversity of Microbes & Non-flowering plants, Herbal Technology, Cytogenetics & Plant Breeding, Cell Biology & Plant Biochemistry, Techniques in Floral Arrangement and Post-harvest Technology

Areas of Interest: Fungal Taxonomy, Mycofloristics and Myco-Prospecting.

Research Papers Published/Presented (Paper title, Publication Name/Conference Name, page number, volume, month and year):

Peer-reviewed Journals:

1. Singh S.M., Gawas-Sakhalkar P., Naik S., Ravindra R., Sharma J., Upadhyay A.K., Mulik R.U. & Bohare P. (2015) Elemental composition and bacterial incidence in firn-cores at Midre Lovénbreen glacier, Svalbard. Polar Record51: 39-48, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0032247413000533
2. Singh S.M., Sharma J., Gawas-Sakhalkar P., Upadhyay A.K.,Naik S., Pedneker S.M & Ravindra R. (2012). Atmospheric deposition studies of heavy metals in Arctic by comparative analysis of lichens and cryoconite. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment185(2): 1367-1376, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-012-2638-5
3. Singh S.M., Sharma J., Gawas-Sakhalkar P., Upadhyay A.K., Naik S., Bande D. & Ravindra R. (2012). Chemical and bacteriological analysis of soil from the middle and late Weichselian from Western Spitsbergen, Arctic. Quaternary International271: 98–105, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2012.03.008
4. Gawas-Sakhalkar P., Naik S. & Singh S.M. (2012) High temperature optima phosphatases from psychrotrophic Arctic fungus, Penicillium citrinum. Polar Research31: 11105, https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v31i0.11105
5. Gawas-Sakhalkar P. & Singh S.M. (2011) Fungal community associated with Arctic moss, Tetraplodon mimoidesand its rhizosphere: bioprospecting for production of industrially useful enzymes. Current Science 100: 1701-1705, https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/100/11/1701.pdf
6. Gawas-Sakhalkar P. & Bhat D.J. (2010) Mycoflora associated with medicinal plant, Aegle marmelos. Kavaka37: 65-74.
7. Gawas P. & Bhat D.J. (2007) Vittalia indica & sp. nov. and Helicoma indicumsp. nov. from the forests of northeastern India. Mycotaxon, 100: 295-303, http://www.mycotaxon.com/vol/abstracts/100/100-295.html
8. Singh S.M., Puja G. & Bhat D.J. (2006) Psychrophilic fungi from Schirmacher Oasis, East Antarctica. Current Science, 90: 1388-1392.
9. Gawas P. & Bhat D.J. (2005) Vamsapriya indica et sp. nov., a bambusicolous, synnematous fungus from India. Mycotaxon,94: 149-154, http://www.mycotaxon.com/vol/abstracts/94/94-149.html
10. Puja G., Shenoy B.D., Hyde K.D. & Bhat D.J. (2005) Echinosphaeria macrospora nov., teleomorph of Vermiculariopsiella endophyticasp. nov. Cryptogamie Mycologie 27: 1-11, http://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/cryptogamie-mycologie2006v27f1a2.pdf
11. Pratibha S.J., Puja G., Shenoy B.D., Hyde K.D. & Bhat D. J. (2005) Chalara indica sp nov. and Sorocybe indicus nov. from India. Cryptogamie Mycologie26: 97-103, http://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/cryptogamie-mycologie2005v26f2a2.pdf

Conference Proceedings:

Bhat D.J., Pratibha J., Gawas P., Sarita K.Y. & Swapnaja D. (2009) Diversity of microfungi in the forests of Western Ghats in Goa and surrounding regions. In: Plant and Fungal Biodiversity and Bioprospecting (Eds. Krishnan S. and Bhat D.J.). Goa University, pp. 117-133.

Completed Research Project:

Principal Investigator for a Department of Science and Technology (DST - New Delhi) funded Major Research Project under the SERB Start-up Research Grant (Young Scientist) Scheme. Project title “Investigation on cellulases and ligninases producing fungi in the forests of Goa”. Duration: April 2015-March 2018 (3 years); Total Project Cost: Rs. 25,70,736/-

On-going Research Project:

Co-Principal Investigator for a Goa State Research Foundation (GSRF) funded Major Research Project titled “Study of Angiospermic and Microfungal Diversity Associated with Myristica Swamps of Goa”. Duration: 3 years w.e.f. March 2024; Total Project Cost: Rs. 20,55,000/-

Extracurricular Activities/Hobbies: Gardening and Herbal Soap Making.