Dr. Monali C. Rahalkar

Biography

Her Education & Scientific Career: Postdoctoral research fellow in University of Bremen, Germany (2007-2009), Doctorate in Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, Germany (2003-2007), Junior Research Fellow (CSIR) in Division of Biochemical Sciences, NCL, Pune (2001-2003), Project Assistant in Division of Biochemical Sciences, NCL, Pune (1999-2000), MSc in Microbiology (1997-99) University of Pune, BSc in Microbiology (1994-97) University of Pune. Her main focus is to understand the nature and role of microbial communities in various natural and artificial systems and processes. She would be mainly using culturing and culture independent molecular methods for this purpose. Here they are mainly focusing on anaerobes or low oxygen requiring microbes which are important in the methane or solvent generating pathways. In addition she is interested in various aspects of microbial ecology involving structure and function relationship between the microbial communities, description of novel species, etc.

Research Interest

Microbial taxonomy, isolation and description of novel species, microbes useful in energy, anaerobic microbiology, community dynamics, developing new cultivation strategies for microbes, microbial metabolism of anaerobes including methanogens and syntrophs and microbes with C1 metabolism.