Staff Profile
Dr Kishor Acharya
Research Associate
- Email: kishor.acharya@ncl.ac.uk
- Address: School of Engineering,
Room 3.24, Cassie Building,
Newcastle University,
Newcastle Upon Tyne,
NE1 7RU
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kishor-acharya-6a8440b9/
Introduction
My principle research interest lie in conducting cutting edge research using molecular techniques to improve and protect the environment and the lives of people. Recently, I developed novel portable method to identify pathogens in water in near-real time, and tested and validated this ground breaking work in emerging economies like Nepal, India, Ethiopia and Tanzania by collaborating with leading stakeholders.
Expertise and Academic Background
My expertise are environmental microbiology, design of novel techniques for water quality and bio-remediation for removal of organic pollutants.
2006 - 2010 : Bachelor in Pharmacy, Kathmandu University, Nepal
2011 - 2013 : MSc. in Water Science, University of Duisburg Essen, Germany
2014 - 2018 : PhD, School of Engineering, Newcastle University, UK
2018 - present : Research Associate, School of Engineering, Newcastle University, UK
Memberships
Society for Applied Microbiology (SFAM)
Introduction
I am a highly motivated early career scientist with a proven track record of conducting cutting edge research in the most challenging environments. I have investigated water quality with portable next generation sequencing tools in unplanned settlements, in collaboration with Ardhi University in Tanzania, and independently in Nepal. I have conceived training materials and delivered practical training of more than 50 students, technicians and researchers in molecular microbiology, both in the UK and Malaysia, and in some of the poorest countries in the world (Tanzania, Nepal and India). I am publishing my research in leading journals (Water Research, Environmental Science and Technology). I am an adaptable and transformational young scientist with an ability to work both independently and in teams, and able to grasp opportunities at the scientific frontier.
Expertise and Academic Background
My expertise are environmental microbiology, design of novel techniques for water quality and bio-remediation for removal of organic pollutants.
2006 - 2010 : Bachelor in Pharmacy, Kathmandu University, Nepal
2011 - 2013 : MSc. in Water Science, University of Duisburg Essen, Germany
2014 - 2018 : PhD, School of Engineering, Newcastle University, UK
2018 - present : Research Associate, School of Engineering,
Newcastle University, UK
Memberships
Society for Applied Microbiology (SFAM)
Google
scholar
https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=kSr9I_QAAAAJ&hl=en
Research Vision
As a molecular biology research scientist, I have almost six years of work experience in modern molecular microbiology laboratory. I see the huge potential of molecular microbiology tools for characterizing microbial samples on site and in near real-time. My research vision is to develop a molecular tool box which can revolutionize our ability to describe and manage microbial hazards anywhere in the world, including in the food and drinks industry, the health services, agriculture and beyond.
Research Focus Areas
1) Field methods for water quality surveying, including next generation sequencing
2) QSBR modelling
3) Application of molecular tools in chemical fate studies
Currently Involved Projects
- Water Security and Sustainable Development Hub (Funded by: UK Research and Innovation through GCRF)
- A framework for sustainable aquaculture within peri-urban green infrastructures protecting the Gulf of Thailand (Funded by: BBSRC)
- Vulnerability assessment and sustainable solutions for water quality management in the urban environment (Funded by: DST-UKIERI)
- IMAGINE: Innovative technologies to rapidly survey, map and communicate waterborne hazards. (Funded by: Global Challenges Research Fund & EPSRC)
Previously Involved Projects
- Global Challenges Academy, (Principal Investigator); On-site microbial water quality surveying of Bagmati River in Nepal with portable molecular tool box.
- Developing portable next generation sequencing as innovative technology for microbial water quality management (Funded by: Newton-Fund/British Council)
- Collaboration with China; Enzymatic antibiotics pollution control (Funded by: The Royal Society)
- Valorisation of agricultural wastes in the Thai rural economy for bioenergy production, nutrient recycling and water pollution in aqyaculture (Funded by BBSRC)
- Fate and transport of pharmaceuticals in wastewater treatment plants [PhD student placement] (Funded by Newton Bhabha Fund)
- EPSRC Challenging Engineering - Mitigating the risk micropollutants in the environment (PhD Researcher)
Research Grant
Rapid response call from the Global Challenges Academy (£5k)
UKRI GCRF Water Security and Sustainable Development Hub Rapid Response Award (£10k)
- Pantha K, Acharya K, Mohapatra S, Khanal S, Amatya N, Ospina-Betancourth C, Butte G, Shrestha SD, Rajbhandari P, Werner D. Faecal pollution source tracking in the holy Bagmati River by portable 16S rRNA gene sequencing. npj Clean Water 2021, 4, 12.
- Ho JY, Jong M-C, Acharya K, Xian SLS, Smith DR, Noor ZZ, Goodson ML, Werner D, Graham DW, Eswaran J. Multidrug-resistant bacteria and microbial communities in a river estuary with fragmented suburban waste management. Journal of Hazardous Materials 2021, 405, 124687.
- Acharya K, Halla F, Massawa S, Mgana S, Komar T, Davenport R, Werner D. Chlorination effects on DNA based characterization of water microbiomes and implications for the interpretation of data from disinfected systems. Journal of Environmental Management 2020, 276, 111319.
- Plaimart J, Acharya K, Mrozik W, Davenport RJ, Vinitnantharat S, Werner D. Coconut husk biochar amendment enhances nutrient retention by suppressing nitrification in agricultural soil following anaerobic digestate application. Environmental Pollution 2020, 268(Part A), 115684.
- Petropoulos E, Shamurad B, Acharya K, Tabraiz S. Domestic wastewater hydrolysis and lipolysis during start-up in anaerobic digesters and microbial fuel cells at moderate temperatures. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 2020, 17, 27-38.
- Ospina-Betancourth C, Acharya K, Allen B, Entwistle J, Head IM, Sanabria J, Curtis TP. Enrichment of Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria in a Nitrogen-Deficient Wastewater Treatment System. Environmental Science and Technology 2020, 54(6), 3539-3548.
- Acharya K, Blackburn A, Mohammed J, Haile AT, Hiruy AM, Werner D. Metagenomic water quality monitoring with a portable laboratory. Water Research 2020, 184, 116112.
- Ott A, Martin TJ, Acharya K, Lyon DY, Robinson N, Rowles B, Snape JR, Still I, Whale GF, Albright VC, Baverback P, Best N, Commander R, Eickhoff C, Finn S, Hidding B, Maischak H, Sowders KA, Taruki M, Walton HE, Wennberg AC, Davenport RJ. Multi-laboratory Validation of a New Marine Biodegradation Screening Test for Chemical Persistence Assessment. Environmental Science & Technology 2020, 54(7), 4210-4220.
- Acharya K, Khanal S, Pantha K, Amatya N, Davenport RJ, Werner D. A comparative assessment of conventional and molecular methods, including MinION nanopore sequencing, for surveying water quality. Scientific Reports 2019, 9, 15726.
- Acharya K, Werner D, Dolfing J, Barycki M, Meynet P, Mrozik W, Komolafe O, Puzyn T, Davenport RJ. A quantitative structure-biodegradation relationship (QSBR) approach to predict biodegradation rates of aromatic chemicals. Water Research 2019, 157, 181-190.
- Shamurad B, Gray N, Petropoulos E, Tabraiz S, Acharya K, Quintela-Baluja M, Sallis P. Co-digestion of organic and mineral wastes for enhanced biogas production: Reactor performance and evolution of microbial community and function. Waste Management 2019, 87, 313-325.
- Shamurad B, Gray N, Petropoulos E, Tabraiz S, Acharya K, Quintela-Baluja M, Sallis P. Data of metal and microbial analyses from anaerobic co-digestion of organic and mineral wastes. Data in Brief 2019, 24, 103934.
- Acharya K, Werner D, Dolfing J, Meynet P, Tabraiz S, Baluja M, Petropoulos E, Mrozik W, Davenport R. The experimental determination of reliable biodegradation rates for mono-aromatics towards evaluating QSBR models. Water Research 2019, 160, 278-287.
- Mrozik W, Vinitnantharat S, Thongsamer T, Pansuk N, Pattanachan P, Thayanukul P, Acharya K, Baluja MQ, Hazlerigg C, Robson AF, Davenport RJ, Werner D. The food-water quality nexus in periurban aquacultures downstream of Bangkok, Thailand. Science of The Total Environment 2019, 695, 133923.
- Tabraiz S, Hassan S, Abbas A, Nasreen S, Zeeshan M, Fida S, Shamurad BA, Acharya K, Petropoulos E. Effect of effluent and sludge recirculation ratios on integrated fixed films A2O system nutrients removal efficiency treating sewage. Desalination and Water Treatment 2018, 114, 120-127.
- Tabraiz S, Haydar S, Sallis P, Nasreen S, Mahmood Q, Awais M, Acharya K. Effect of cycle run time of backwash and relaxation on membrane fouling removal in submerged membrane bioreactor treating sewage at higher flux. Water Science & Technology 2017, 76(4), 963-975.
- Martin TJ, Snape JR, Bartram A, Robson A, Acharya K, Davenport RJ. Environmentally relevant inoculum concentrations improve the reliability of persistent assessments in biodegradation screening tests. Environmental Science and Technology 2017, 51(5), 3065-3073.
- Martin TJ, Goodhead AK, Acharya K, Head IM, Snape JR, Davenport RJ. High Throughput Biodegradation-Screening Test to Prioritize and Evaluate Chemical Biodegradability. Environmental Science and Technology 2017, 51(12), 7236-7244.