Shagun Sharma

Title: IB PhD Student
Dept/Program: Geosciences
Email: ss260@zips.uakron.edu

Biography

I received my bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from Uttar Pradesh Technical University, India. During my undergraduate studies, I worked with the Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO) lab focusing on understanding the neurobiology of anxiety in the human brain at low temperatures. To further pursue my interest of applying technology in biological systems, I worked with Mankind Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical company (antimicrobial division) to understand how we are using the end product of previous biomedical research in commercially driven fields.

My industrial tenure sparked an interest in learning about the resistance of ever-changing microorganisms to presently available treatments. In order to understand the complexity of interactions between different biological systems, I joined The MS program at The University of Akron in 2012, advised by Dr. Todd Blackledge. The focus of my thesis was the investigation of the biomaterial properties of spider silk and its potential use as an antimicrobial. The motivation was to integrate different microbial techniques to learn how microorganisms respond to the presence of spider silk in their environment, and also how proteinaceous spider silk, a prospective food source, survives in the presence of bacteria.

I chose to pursue my doctorate in Integrated Biosciences, Department of Biology at The University of Akron because the program provides me an opportunity to think out-of–the-box since it lies at the interface of multiple disciplines.

I am currently studying bioremediation of acid mine drainage and its geochemistry in Dr. John Senko’s Lab (Geo-microbiology, Environmental Biogeochemistry) as an IB student. My work focuses on understanding the microbial mediation of redox transformation of iron and sulfur species in acid mine drainage (AMD)- impacted systems. I am interested in learning how different environments affect the biology of microorganisms, how their changes proceed in the ecosystem, and how can we use microbial systems for developing novel, sustainable, and eco-friendly resources.