Saritha V.K., a Ph.D. scholar in Environmental Sciences at Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU), has been awarded the prestigious Italian Government MAECI Research Grant.
As part of this grant, she will collaborate with the Department of Biotechnology at the University of Verona, Italy, under the guidance of Dr. Silvia Lampis for six months. Her research project, “Isolation of PFAS-Degrading Bacteria from the Sedimentary Environment of Tropical and Polar Regions,” aims to develop biological solutions for breaking down hazardous pollutants, addressing a critical environmental challenge.
Saritha was also a participant in the Indian Arctic Expedition 2023-24, where she gained valuable field experience in extreme climate research. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. under the guidance of Dr. Mahesh Mohan, Associate Professor and Director of the School of Environmental Sciences at MGU. Her research focuses on the fate and transport of perfluorinated compounds (PFAS) in environmental matrices, particularly in the Arctic region.
