Dr. Ekta Pathak Mishra

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY EXPERTISE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROJECTS PUBLICATIONS CONFERENCES TEACHING EXPERIENCE OTHER

Assistant Professor

+91-9554786766

ektapathakmishra@shuats.edu.in

+91-9554786766

ektapathakmishra@shuats.edu.in

Department of Forest Products and Utilization

Educational Details

Doctorate

Ph.D

University of Florida ,
U.S.A

Graduated in 2014

PG

NET

UGC-ICAR

Qualified in 2006

M.Sc

Gurukul Kangri University,
Haridwar

Graduated in 2006

UG

B.Sc

Ch. Charan Singh University,
Meerut

Graduated in 2004

Professional Summary

Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, School of Forestry and Environment, SHIATS, Allahabad. 2014-till date

Ph. D. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, Entomology & Nematology, December 2014.

M. Sc. Gurukul Kangri University, Haridwar, UA, India, Environmental Sciences, (High honors), August 2006.

B. Sc. Chinmaya Degree College, Haridwar, UA, India, Biology, August 2004.

Research Experience

2009-2014 Graduate Research Assistant, Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Florida, USA. Dissertation title: Use of molecular tools in evaluating diversity and ecology of nematophagous fungi populations and their relevance to the regulation of entomopathogenic nematodes in Florida Citrus Orchards. Advisor: Dr. Larry W. Duncan, Professor, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, CREC, Lake Alfred, FL.

2007-2008 Volunteer in Nematology lab with Dr. Larry Duncan, Professor, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, CREC, Lake Alfred, FL.

2006-2007 Volunteer in Wetlands Ecology and Conservation Lab with Dr. Peter Frederick, Research Professor, Dept. of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

2005-2006 Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun

Area of Specialization

My research goal is to increase our understanding of soil microbial communities and their activities, so that ultimately we can manage microbial communities for soil ecosystem services. Specifically, I am interested in identifying important ecosystem service providers within microbial communities, the abiotic and biotic factors that regulate their activities, and spatial and temporal scales over which these microbes and their activities occur. In our research, we integrate multiple technologies to discern any connections among diverse microbial communities, their metabolic functions, climatic parameters and the land systems they reside. The technologies include but are not limited to Molecular biology, Metagenomic, and bioinformatics tools. My approach blends field experiments, analysis of remote sensing spatial data, and theoretical modeling.

Expertise

Environmental microbiology
Soil-ecology
Microbial communities, their metabolic functions, climatic parameters
Molecular biology techniques

Publications

Ekta Pathak, Fahiem E. El–Borai, Raquel Campos–Herrera, Evan G. Johnson, Robin J. Stuart, James H. Graham, Larry W. Duncan. 2012. Use of real-time PCR to discriminate parasitic and saprophagous behavior by nematophagous fungi. Fungal Biology. 116: 563-573.
Raquel Campos-Herrera, Ekta Pathak, Fahiem E. El–Borai, Arnold Schumann, M.M.M. AbdElgawad, Larry W. Duncan. 2013. New citriculture system suppresses native and augmented entomopathogenic nematodes. Biological Control. 66: 183-194.
Raquel Campos–Herrera, Ekta Pathak, Fahiem E. El–Borai, Robin J. Stuart, Carmen Gutiérrez, J.A. Rodriguez-Martin, James H. Graham, Larry W. Duncan. 2013. Geospatial patterns of soil properties and the biological control potential of entomopathogenic nematodes in Florida citrus groves. Soil biology and biochemistry. 66: 163-174.
Larry W. Duncan, Robin J. Stuart, Fahiem E. El–Borai, Raquel Campos–Herrera, Ekta Pathak, Mihai Giurcanu, James H. Graham. 2013. Modifying orchard planting sites conserves entomopathogenic nematodes, reduces weevil herbivory and increases citrus tree growth, survival and fruit yield. Biological Control. 64: 26-36.
Fahiem E. El–Borai, Robin J. Stuart, Raquel Campos–Herrera, Ekta Pathak, Larry W. Duncan . 2012. Entomopathogenic nematodes, root weevil larvae, and dynamic interactions among soil texture, plant growth, herbivory, and predation. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 109: 134-142.
Ekta Pathak, Raquel Campos–Herrera, Fahiem E. El–Borai, Robin J. Stuart, James H. Graham, Larry W. Duncan. 2012. Environmental factors affecting community structure of nematophagous fungi and their prey in Florida citrus groves. Society of Nematologists, 51st Annual Meeting, Savannah, Georgia, USA, August 12-15.
Ekta Pathak, Fahiem E. El–Borai, Raquel Campos–Herrera, Robin J. Stuart and Larry W. Duncan. 2011. Nematophagous fungi, temperature effects and the dynamics of interspecific competition. Society of Nematologists, 50th annual meeting, Corvallis, Oregon, USA, July 17-20.

Conferences

Attended a 7-day BASINS/HSPF water quality modelling workshop at IIT Roorkee under the GIAN Program sponsored by Ministry of Human Resources Development, India, June 6-14, 2016.
Ekta Pathak, Raquel Campos–Herrera, Fahiem E. El–Borai, Robin J. Stuart, James H. Graham, Larry W. Duncan. 2012. Environmental factors affecting community structure of nematophagous fungi and their prey in Florida citrus groves. Society of Nematologists, 51st Annual Meeting, Savannah, Georgia, USA, August 12-15.
Ekta Pathak, Fahiem E. El–Borai, Raquel Campos–Herrera, Robin J. Stuart and Larry W. Duncan. 2011. Nematophagous fungi, temperature effects and the dynamics of interspecific competition. Society of Nematologists, 50th annual meeting, Corvallis, Oregon, USA, July 17-20.
Raquel Campos–Herrera, Ekta Pathak, Fahiem E. El–Borai, Robin J. Stuart, James H. Graham, Larry W. Duncan. 2011. Entomopathogenic nematodes and the seasonality of food webs in Florida citrus groves. Society of Nematologists, 50th annual meeting, Corvallis, Oregon, USA, July 17-20.
Raquel Campos–Herrera, Ekta Pathak, Fahiem E. El–Borai, Robin J. Stuart, Carmen Gutiérrez, James H. Graham and Larry W. Duncan. 2011. Entomopathogenic nematodes and the molecular assessment of soil food webs in space and time. Ecological Society of America, 96th annual meeting, Austin, Texas, USA, August 7-12.
Raquel Campos–Herrera, Ekta Pathak, Fahiem E. El–Borai, Robin J. Stuart, Carmen Gutiérrez, James H. Graham, Larry W. Duncan. 2011. Molecular methods, food web dynamics, and the distribution of entomopathogenic nematodes in Florida citrus groves. 6th International Organization of Biological Control (Working Group "Multitrophic Interactions in Soil", Córdoba, Spain). Córdoba, Spain, April 4-7.
Fahiem E. El–Borai, Robin J. Stuart, Raquel Campos–Herrera, Ekta Pathak and Larry W. Duncan. 2011. Nematophagous fungi, entomopathogenic nematodes and biological control of citrus root weevils in Florida. Ist World Congress of Microbes, SM 1-9: Biological Control of Fungi, Beijing, China, July 29-August 2.
Robin J. Stuart, Raquel Campos–Herrera, Fahiem E. El–Borai, Ekta Pathak, Larry W. Duncan. 2011. Entomopathogenic nematodes as model predators in soil food webs. 44th Annual Meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. August 7-11.
Ekta Pathak, Raquel Campos–Herrera, Robin J. Stuart, Fahiem E. El–Borai, Arnold W. Schumann, James H. Graham and Larry W. Duncan, 2010. The impact of a new tactic to manage a citrus disease on biological control of a citrus pest by entomopathogenic nematodes. Society of Nematologists, 49th annual meeting, Boise, Idaho, USA, July 11-14.
Raquel Campos–Herrera, Ekta Pathak, Robin J. Stuart, Fahiem E. El–Borai, Carmen Gutiérrez, James H. Graham and Larry W. Duncan. 2010. Entomopathogenic nematode ecology as a basis for their use in pest management. Society of Nematologists, 49th annual meeting, Boise, Idaho, USA, July 11-14.
Ekta Pathak, Raquel Campos–Herrera, Evan G. Johnson, Fahiem E. El–Borai, James H. Graham, and Larry W. Duncan. 2009. Developing real time PCR assay to detect the predation rate of endemic nematophagous fungi on entomopathogenic nematodes. The Society of Nematologists and Soil Ecology Society Conference, UVM Davis Center, Burlington, Vermont, USA, July 12-15.
Participated in workshop on “Decentralized waste water treatment systems and their scope in Uttaranchal” organized by Uttaranchal Pollution Control Department, Haldwani, June 29-30, 2005.
Presented poster in International Seminar on Birds and Environment organised by Ornithological Society of India, Haridwar, Nov 21-24, 2004.

Other

Deapartmental Co-ordinator for the Directorate of Innovation, Projects & Consultancy, SHIATS, Allahabad, 2016
Vice Chair, Student Committee, Society of Nematologists, 2011-12
Active member at the Entomology and Nematology Student Organization, University of Florida, FL, 2009-12
Best Student Paper award at the Society of Nematologists, 2010
Invited Judge for 56th Annual State Science and Engineering Fair of Florida, Orlando, FL, 2011
Dow Agro Sciences Graduate Student Travel Award $700, 2010
T. A. Wheaton Graduate Student Travel Award $500, 2009
Achieved University First Rank in M.S., 2006
Achieved through National Educational Test (NET) for the entrants in the teaching profession conducted jointly by University Grant commission (UGC) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, India, 2005
Certifications for Conservation and Environmental Awareness Campaigns organized by Group for Research in Environment Education and Nature (GREEN, NGO), Rishikesh, India, 2000
Received “Paryavaran Ratna Award” as a high school student by Indian Centre for Wildlife and Environmental Studies in South Asia Region for community activity, 1997
Qualified All India General Knowledge test conducted by United School Organization (USO, UNESCO), 1995
Secured first position in the poster competition at district level on environmental awareness, 1994

Faculty Profile