Master in Biochemistry and PhD in Food Science with 10 years of experience in Research and Teaching

Nilesh's CV

Academic Qualification:

Food Safety Supervision (Hygienic practices for food safety and safe food handling practices), TAFE, Brisbane- 2016

Doctorate of Philosophy (Food Science and Technology), Prince of Songkla University, Thailand, 2008-2011
Master of Science (Biochemistry), University of Pune, India, 2000-2002
Bachelor of Science (Chemistry), University of Pune, India, 1997-2000

Teaching Experience:

Lecturer, Bio Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand, 16th Jan 2014 –31st Dec 2014.
Subject: 791271- Medical Biochemistry (791272- Laboratory)
794532- Pharmacotherapeutics IV (Clinical Nutrition-I, II & III)

Teaching Assistant, Department of Food Technology, faculty of Agro-Industry, prince of Songkla University, Hatyai, Thailand, Jan 2009 – Aug 2009.
Subject: Marine food and Utilization
Food Chemistry and Analysis

Lecturer, Division of Biochemistry, SNDT College of Pharmacy, Nashik, Maharashtra, India, 6th Aug 2003 –11th Oct 2004.
Subject: Biochemistry

Research Experience

UQ-postdoctoral research fellow, Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia, 20th Jan 2015 to 19th Jan 2018.
Project Title- Innovative phytochemical delivery in food through nanotechnology
• Extraction of phenolic compounds from Australian native plants and their application as food or feed additives.
• Evaluation of nutritional and functional properties of Australian native plant and fruit infusions.
• Determination of antioxidant and antimicrobial assay.
• Application of nanotechnology approach in food/feed additives.
• Preparation of natural additive formulation.
• Applying for government and industry fund, project writing.
• Supervised graduate students

Food pilot plant- freeze dryer, hot-air oven dryer, centrifuge, modified atmospheric packaging (MAP), vacuum packaging, good manufacturing practices (GMP), hazards analysis and critical control points (HACCP)

Post-doctoral fellow, Phytomedicine and Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand, 19th Dec 2011 to 18th Dec. 2013.
Project Title: Preparation of brazilin rich extract from C. sappan heartwood and its different pharmacological activity.
• Isolation and preparation of brazilin rich extract by using chromatographic technique.
• Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial assay in different model system.
• Manuscript writing, edit research article for graduate and postgraduate students.
• Supervised graduate student.


Industry Experience

Quality control biochemist, Advanced Enzyme Technology Limited, (AETL) Nashik, Maharashtra, India, 25th Oct 2004 – 31st March 2006.
• Sampling and analysis of raw material, intermediate and finished product.
• Chemical and microbial analysis, different enzyme assay, enzyme formulation (liquid and solid).
• Shelf life study of enzymes, quality assurance documentation (GMP, HACCP).

Project Assistant, Biochemical Science Division, National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pune, Maharashtra, India, 19th April 2006 –18th April 2008.
• Isolation of bacteria and fungi, maintaining cultures.
• Production of enzyme by SSF and LSF. Handle 1L, 10L and 500L fermenter vessel from scale up to production.
• Enzyme immobilization and formulation.
• Lab scale spray dryer, good laboratory practices (GLP) and safety.
• Monitored and guided project trainee.

Laboratory Experience

Food Technology
• AOAC assays, chemical and microbial analysis of food.
• Modified atmospheric packaging, shelf-life study.
• Quality improvement by using natural additives,
• Texture analyzer, zeta-potential analyzer, FTIR, UV-spectrophotometer.
• Sensory analysis.

Biochemistry
• Protein purification and characterization, biochemical assay of different enzymes. Chromatographic techniques like gel filtration, IEC, HPLC, TLC.
• Electrophoresis, western blotting and ELISA.

Microbiology
• Isolation of bacterial and fungal cultures, maintenance of cultures.
• Fermentation technique, stimulation and enhancement of enzyme secretion.
• Production of industrially important enzymes from bacteria and fungus strain in 10 L fermenter vessel.

Award/Achievements

• Invited as poster examiner in the ASEAN Academic Scientific International Conference 2012 (AASIC 2012), 7- 8th Dec 2012, BP Grand Tower Hotel, HatYai, Thailand.

• Invited as Chairperson for Session A: Natural Products and Biotechnology in “The 2nd Current Drug Development International Conference”, 2-4th May 2012, Phuket Graceland Resort & Spa, Phuket, Thailand.

• First place winner at national level (Thailand) in Alltech Young Scientist Competition, 2011. Paper entitled- “Leucaena leucocaphala seed: mimosine extraction and use of extract in retardation of melanosis formation in Pacific white shrimp.”

• Best poster presentation award in “Food Innovation Asia Conference, 11th Agro-industrial conference, BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand; 18-19 June 2009. Abstract entitled- “Effects of catechin and ferulic aicd on the quality of Pacific white shrimp during iced storage.”

• Awarded three years PhD Scholarship from Graduate School, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand (April 2008- April 2011).

Research Projects / Grants

• Title: Inhibition of polyphenol oxidase and melanosis in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) by phenolic compounds” funded by Thailand Research Fund. Duration: 2008-2011, Amount: 1.5 MB.

• Title: Preparation of brazilin rich extract from C. sappan heartwood and its different pharmacological activity funded by Graduate School of PSU. Duration: 2011-2013.

• Title: Innovative phytochemical delivery in food through nanotechnology funded by QAAFI and UQ, Australia, (Jan 2015-Jan 2018)

Publications

Role and responsibility: Conceive research study, planning of experiments and analyses, data analyses, and writing research article
Google scholar: Publication = 29; Total citation = 622; h-index = 13; i10-index = 14
Research gate: Publication = 30; Total citation = 473; Reads = 6,003; h-index = 11
Scopus: Publications = 25; Total citation = 434; h-index = 11