In 2009, Dr. Savita Kerkar, Head of Department of Biotechnology, represented India on the Third Indian Arctic Expedition as a Research Scientist. Dr. Kerkar undertook studying the effect of global warming on marine bacteria during her stay at the North Pole.She will recount her unique North Pole experience on January 22, 11 am at Museum of Goa, Pilerne.
Holding her first Master of Science in Microbiology from Bombay University and the second in Marine Biotechnology from Goa University, Dr. Kerkar also earned a PhD in Marine Sciences from Goa University.
Conducting extensive research in areas concerning bacterial diverstiy, Dr. Kerkar has contributed significantly to scientific knowledge of aquaculture and marine ecosystems among other topics. She has previously completed research on screening of marine microbes from salterns of Goa for bioactive compounds, which was funded by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
One ongoing topic of Dr. Kerkar's research centers on studying the impact of tourism on estuarine water quality and its effect on mangrove and saltpan ecosystems of Goa. This is a three year project that is funded by the Department of Science, Technology and Environment (DSTE).
In 2012, she was awarded the Lupin Visiting Fellowship Endowment (2012-2013) by the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai
