Dr Ruchika Geedi

Publication

• Date
• Type
• Promoted

Biography

My current research focusing on “Novel feeding preferences of Anopheles mosquitoes” under the supervision of Prof. Colin Berry

Prior to this, I was involved in Electrophysiological techniques using GC-SSR under the supervision of Dr Wynand Van Der Goes Van Naters, Cardiff University. We are interested to exploit different odours on different sensilla present in antennae of Anopheles mosquitoes.

Before, joining Cardiff School of Biosciences as a Research Associate Scientist in August 2022, I was working with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Wooster, Ohio, United States as Postdoctoral Research Associate  under the Supervision of Dr Christopher Ranger (Research Entomologist). Throughout my postdoctoral work, the main purpose of my research was to characterize the volatile compounds from entomopathogenic fungi (B. bassiana) and analyse behaviour of aphids. I gained extensive experience working with analytical techniques such as Solid Phase Microextraction- Gas chromatography (SPME-GC-MS), Electrophysiological techniques (GC-EAG), Y-tube olfactometer and various microbiological techniques to develop entomopathogenic fungi cultures. I maintained a huge colony of Myzus persicae and involved in data analysis using various statistical tools. I did contribute to planning laboratory experiments, helping visitors, and attended/presented in conferences nationally and internationally.

I was awarded NSF award in 2018 then moved to the United States for further research. I did this project in collaboration of Horticultural Insect Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Wooster, Ohio as a Visiting scientist. Within 6 months, I appointed as Postdoctoral Research Associate in the same institution.

In 2016, I joined and worked as “Research Scientist (Entomology)” in A.G. Biosystems Private Limited, Hyderabad for more than 2 years where my responsibilities included both technical and commercial aspects of research. Looking for Innovative approaches of Pheromone technology, Insect Pest Management and Crop Protection. I had written several projects for getting grant/projects nationally as well as internationally and attending bussiness meetings.

I moved to the other state of India in 2014, I worked as a Senior Researcher in National Institute of Plant Health Management, Hyderabad in the project entitled “Development of systems approach for management of Khapra beetle. This project was funded by USDA- APHIS in collaboration of National Institute of Plant Health Management, Hyderabad.

After completion of my Ph. D., I joined National Institute of Malaria Research (Indian Council of Medical Research), New Delhi in 2013, as Research Associate in a project entitled “Impact of insecticidal nets using ITNs and LLINs on vector borne diseases to control mosquitoes – A multidisciplinary approach”.

I earned my Ph. D. in 2012 under the supervision of Prof. Dolly Kumar from the Department of Zoology, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat, India. The work plan of my thesis “Towards Integrated Pest Management- An eco-friendly approach for control of insect pests in Vadodara, Gujarat".  I worked on extraction and identification of volatile compounds from different species of aphids.

Honours and awards

Honors and Awards recognition

Seed Corn Funding, Cardiff University, UK

National Science Foundation – IGTRCN group, University of Maryland, USA

Certificate of Excellence in Reviewing, Science Domain International (AJAEES)

Certificate of Excellence in Reviewing, Science Domain International (JAERI)

Selected as Research Associate Scientist, National Institute of Malaria Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Government of India, New Delhi

Selected as Visiting Faculty, Faculty of Environmental Science, M.S. University of Baroda, Gujarat, India.

University Grant Commission (RFSMS) -Applicant.

Professional memberships

Professional Membership

·      Entomological Society of America (Early Career Professional)

·      International Society of Chemical Ecology (Early Career Professional)

·      Indian Science Congress Association, Government of India (Young – Professional for Lifetime membership)

·      Society of Science, Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore (Early Career Professional)

·      The International Nanoscience Community, Budapest, Hungary

Academic positions

Experiences/ Academic appointments

• 2023 - Present : Research Associate, Cardiff University, United Kingdom.
• 2022: Research Associate,  Cardiff University, U.K.
• 2018 - 2022: Post- Doctoral Research Associate and Visiting Scientist,United States Department of Agriculture (USDA-ARS), Wooster, Ohio, USA.
• 2016- 2018 : Research Scientist (Entomology), A.G. Biosystems Private Limited, Hyderabad, India.
• 2014-2015: Senior Researcher, National Institute of Plant Health Management, Hyderabad, India.
• 2013- 2014 : Research Associate, National Institute of Malaria Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India.
• 2008- 2012 : Visiting Faculty (Part-time), Department of Environmental Sciences, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, India.

Speaking engagements

Invited Presentations (5 most recent)

(Attended and Presented in more than 25 conferences Nationally and Internationally)

• Detection of insect responses using electrophysiological (EAG and EAD) techniques, ESA Annual Meeting, Vancouver Convention Center, Canada ( November 2022) - Invitation by Bayer CropScience 
• Attraction of Myzus persicae (Hemiptera:Aphididae) to microbial volatiles emitted from the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana. Entomological Society of America, Denver, CO, US (Novermber 2021).
• Attraction of Myzus persicae to volatiles emitted from entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana, ESA 2020.
• IPM fundamentals for insect pests of ornamental and food crops within controlled environment. Maumee Valley Grower Association Meeting, Toledo, Ohio (2020)
• Behavioural Response of Myzus persicae to microbial emissions from Beauveria bassiana. ESA annual meeting, St. Louis. (2019)

Committees and reviewing

Professional Services 

Peer Reviewer for the following Journals 

International Journal of Pharma and Biosciences, International Journal of Tropical Insect Sciences,  Asian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research, Annals of the Entomological Society of America.