Dr Geetika Bhagwat-Russell
Research Associate
School of Engineering
Career Summary
Biography
Dr. Geetika is currently working as NHMRC-HEAL Research and Policy and Practice fellow at the Environmental Plastic and Innovation Cluster (EPIC) at the School of Engineering and teaching frequently at the School of Environmental and Life Sciences, the University of Newcastle.
Please see her NHMRC HEAL profile here.
In 2024, Geetika has acquired another research funding worth 15,000 AUD from an Australia organisation to analyse the environmental impacts of bio-based leather.
In 2023, Geetika received the Helmholtz HIDA Visiting Researcher Grant worth 20,000 AUD rom the Helmholtz Information and Data Science Academy to conduct independent work at one of the research centres under the Helmholtz Association the largest scientific organisation in Germany. It is a union of 18 scientific-technical and biological-medical research centers that focuses on complex systems which affect human life and the environment.
In 2022, Geetika successfully acquired a research funding worth more than $600,000 from the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) as a co-investigator that makes her one of the few postdoctoral researchers to achieve this within 6 month of their postdoctoral journey.
She has also worked at several prestigious research institutes in India and developed expertise in environmental risk assessment, plant molecular biology and environmental microbiology.
Geetika has extensive experience in multi-OMICS profiling, microbial ecology, polymer chemistry, plant molecular biology and pollutant monitoring.
Geetika been collaborating with research teams around the world including USA, South Africa, India, China, Fiji, Nigeria, Singapore, and Germany.
Geetika is also involved in the investigation of the following themes
1. Biodegradable and compostable plastic R&D
2. Water remediation technology
3. Algae biotechnology
She is also working as a STEM mentor for the Hunter Women’s network, a program that aims to increase women participation in STEM sectors.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Newcastle
Keywords
- Environmental microbiology
- Metagenomics
- Microscopy
- Pollutant monitoring
- Risk assessment
- microplastic research
Languages
- English (Fluent)
- Hindi (Fluent)
- Marathi (Mother)
Fields of Research
Code | Description | Percentage |
---|---|---|
310799 | Microbiology not elsewhere classified | 40 |
300102 | Agricultural marine biotechnology | 30 |
419999 | Other environmental sciences not elsewhere classified | 30 |
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
Title | Organisation / Department |
---|---|
Research Associate | University of Newcastle School of Engineering Australia |
Academic appointment
Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
---|---|---|
1/3/2021 - 1/6/2021 | Casual Research Assistant | School of Engineering, The University of Newcastle Australia |
Professional appointment
Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
---|---|---|
14/4/2015 - 17/12/2016 |
Research Fellow Molecular assessment of drought-resistant genes in tomato Investigation of introgressive hybridisation approach for the interspecies transfer of genetic information |
ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable research Division of Crop Improvement India |
3/9/2013 - 31/10/2014 |
Research fellow Investigating the symbiotic association of the genus Trichoderma with castor plant and identifying the molecular modifications responsible for inducing disease resistance |
University of Hyderabad Department of Plant Sciences India |
5/9/2011 - 30/11/2012 |
Research fellow Investigating the operative advantage given to the model plant by newly introduced high-altitude genes against drought and cold stress |
CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology India |
Teaching
Code | Course | Role | Duration |
---|---|---|---|
GEOS2060 |
Soil Properties and Processes Faculty of Science | University of Newcastle |
Lecturing | 10/10/2022 - 25/10/2022 |
ENVS1002 |
Physical and Chemical Environmental Systems NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY |
Demonstrator | 1/1/2021 - 31/12/2022 |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Journal article (13 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||||||
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2024 |
Zhang W, Bhagwat G, Palanisami T, Liang S, Wan W, Yang Y, 'Lacustrine plastisphere: Distinct succession and assembly processes of prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities and role of site, time, and polymer types', Water Research, 248 (2024) [C1] Microplastics as a carrier can promote microbial diffusion, potentially influencing the ecological functions of microbial communities in aquatic environments. However, our underst... [more] Microplastics as a carrier can promote microbial diffusion, potentially influencing the ecological functions of microbial communities in aquatic environments. However, our understanding of the assembly mechanism of microbial communities on different microplastic polymers in freshwater lakes during succession is still insufficient, especially for the eukaryotes. Here, the colonization time, site, and polymer types of microplastics were comprehensively considered to investigate the composition and assembly of prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities and their driving factors during the lacustrine plastisphere formation. Results showed that the particle-associated microorganisms in water were the main source of the plastisphere prokaryotes, while the free-living microorganisms in water mainly accounted for the plastisphere eukaryotes. The response of prokaryotic communities to different microplastic polymers was stronger than eukaryotic communities. The assembly of plastisphere prokaryotic communities was dominated by homogenizing processes (mainly homogenous selection), while the assembly of eukaryotic communities was dominated by differentiating processes (mainly dispersal limitation). Colonization time was an important factor affecting the composition of prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities during the formation of the plastisphere. The Chao1 richness of prokaryotic communities in the plastisphere increased with the increase of colonization time, whereas the opposite was true in eukaryotic communities. This differential response of species diversity and composition of prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities in the plastisphere during dynamic succession could lead to their distinct assembly processes. Overall, the results suggest that distinct assembly of microbial communities in the plastisphere may depend more on specific microbial sub-communities and colonization time than polymer types and colonization site.
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Nova | |||||||||
2023 |
Kuttykattil A, Raju S, Vanka KS, Bhagwat G, Carbery M, Vincent SGT, et al., 'Consuming microplastics? Investigation of commercial salts as a source of microplastics (MPs) in diet.', Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 30 930-942 (2023) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2023 |
Zhou Y, He G, Bhagwat G, Palanisami T, Yang Y, Liu W, Zhang Q, 'Nanoplastics alter ecosystem multifunctionality and may increase global warming potential.', Glob Chang Biol, 29 3895-3909 (2023) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2023 |
Tran TKA, Raju S, Singh A, Senathirajah K, Bhagwat-Russell G, Daggubati L, et al., 'Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in long-term biosolid-applied rehabilitation land: An overlooked pathway for microplastic entry into terrestrial ecosystems in Australia.', Environ Pollut, 336 122464 (2023) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2022 |
Zhang W, Jiang C, Chen L, Bhagwat G, Thava P, Yang Y, 'Spatial turnover of core and occasional bacterial taxa in the plastisphere from a plateau river, China.', Sci Total Environ, 838 156179 (2022) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2021 |
Bhagwat G, Tran TKA, Lamb D, Senathirajah K, Grainge I, O Connor W, et al., 'Biofilms Enhance the Adsorption of Toxic Contaminants on Plastic Microfibers under Environmentally Relevant Conditions', Environmental Science and Technology, 55 8877-8887 (2021) [C1] Microplastics (MPs) exposed to the natural environment provide an ideal surface for biofilm formation, which potentially acts as a reactive phase facilitating the sorption of haza... [more] Microplastics (MPs) exposed to the natural environment provide an ideal surface for biofilm formation, which potentially acts as a reactive phase facilitating the sorption of hazardous contaminants. Until now, changes in the contaminant sorption capacity of MPs due to biofilm formation have not been quantified. This is the first study that compared the capacity of naturally aged, biofilm-covered microplastic fibers (BMFs) to adsorb perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and lead (Pb) at environmentally relevant concentrations. Changes in the surface properties and morphology of aged microplastic fibers (MF) were studied by surface area analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Results revealed that aged MFs exhibited higher surface areas because of biomass accumulation compared to virgin samples and followed the order polypropylene>polyethylene>nylon>polyester. The concentrations of adsorbed Pb and PFOS were 4-25% and 20-85% higher in aged MFs and varied among the polymer types. The increased contaminant adsorption was linked with the altered surface area and the hydrophobic/hydrophilic characteristics of the samples. Overall, the present study demonstrates that biofilms play a decisive role in contaminant-plastic interactions and significantly enhance the vector potential of MFs for toxic environmental contaminants. We anticipate that knowledge generated from this study will help refine the planetary risk assessment of MPs.
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Nova | |||||||||
2021 |
Bhagwat G, Carbery M, Anh Tran TK, Grainge I, O'Connor W, Palanisami T, 'Fingerprinting Plastic-Associated Inorganic and Organic Matter on Plastic Aged in the Marine Environment for a Decade', Environmental Science and Technology, 55 7407-7417 (2021) [C1] The long-term aging of plastic leads to weathering and biofouling that can influence the behavior and fate of plastic in the marine environment. This is the first study to fingerp... [more] The long-term aging of plastic leads to weathering and biofouling that can influence the behavior and fate of plastic in the marine environment. This is the first study to fingerprint the contaminant profiles and bacterial communities present in plastic-associated inorganic and organic matter (PIOM) isolated from 10 year-aged plastic. Plastic sleeves were sampled from an oyster aquaculture farm and the PIOM was isolated from the intertidal, subtidal, and sediment-buried segments to investigate the levels of metal(loid)s, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and explore the microbial community composition. Results indicated that the PIOM present on long-term aged high-density polyethylene plastic harbored high concentrations of metal(loid)s, PAHs, and PFAS. Metagenomic analysis revealed that the bacterial composition in the PIOM differed by habitat type, which consisted of potentially pathogenic taxa including Vibrio, Shewanella, and Psychrobacter. This study provides new insights into PIOM as a potential sink for hazardous environmental contaminants and its role in enhancing the vector potential of plastic. Therefore, we recommend the inclusion of PIOM analysis in current biomonitoring regimes and that plastics be used with caution in aquaculture settings to safeguard valuable food resources, particularly in areas of point-source contamination.
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Nova | |||||||||
2021 |
Bhagwat G, O Connor W, Grainge I, Palanisami T, 'Understanding the Fundamental Basis for Biofilm Formation on Plastic Surfaces: Role of Conditioning Films', Frontiers in Microbiology, 12 (2021) [C1] Conditioning films (CFs) are surface coatings formed by the adsorption of biomolecules from the surrounding environment that can modify the material-specific surface properties an... [more] Conditioning films (CFs) are surface coatings formed by the adsorption of biomolecules from the surrounding environment that can modify the material-specific surface properties and precedes the attachment of microorganisms. Hence, CFs are a biologically relevant identity that could govern the behavior and fate of microplastics in the aquatic environment. In the present study, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polylactic acid (PLA) plastic cards were immersed in natural seawater to allow the formation of CFs. The changes in the surface roughness after 24 h were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the surface changes were visualized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The global elemental composition of the conditioned surface was investigated by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Results indicated that marine conditioning of PET and PLA samples for 24 h resulted in an increase of ~11 and 31% in the average surface roughness, respectively. SEM images revealed the attachment of coccoid-shaped bacterial cells on the conditioned surfaces, and the accumulation of salts of sodium and phosphate-containing precipitates was revealed through the EDS analysis. The results indicate that the increase in surface roughness due to conditioning is linked to a material¿s hydrophilicity leading to a rapid attachment of bacteria on the surfaces. Further investigations into the CFs can unfold crucial knowledge surrounding the plastic-microbe interaction that has implications for medical, industrial, and environmental research.
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Nova | |||||||||
2021 |
Senathirajah K, Attwood S, Bhagwat G, Carbery M, Wilson S, Palanisami T, 'Estimation of the mass of microplastics ingested A pivotal first step towards human health risk assessment', Journal of Hazardous Materials, 404 (2021) [C1] The ubiquitous presence of microplastics in the food web has been established. However, the mass of microplastics exposure to humans is not defined, impeding the human health risk... [more] The ubiquitous presence of microplastics in the food web has been established. However, the mass of microplastics exposure to humans is not defined, impeding the human health risk assessment. Our objectives were to extract the data from the available evidence on the number and mass of microplastics from various sources, to determine the uncertainties in the existing data, to set future research directions, and derive a global average rate of microplastic ingestion to assist in the development of human health risk assessments and effective management and policy options. To enable the comparison of microplastics exposure across a range of sources, data extraction and standardization was coupled with the adoption of conservative assumptions. Following the analysis of data from fifty-nine publications, an average mass for individual microplastics in the 0¿1 mm size range was calculated. Subsequently, we estimated that globally on average, humans may ingest 0.1¿5 g of microplastics weekly through various exposure pathways. This was the first attempt to transform microplastic counts into a mass value relevant to human toxicology. The determination of an ingestion rate is fundamental to assess the human health risks of microplastic ingestion. These findings will contribute to future human health risk assessment frameworks.
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Nova | |||||||||
2021 |
Bhagwat G, Zhu Q, O'Connor W, Subashchandrabose S, Grainge I, Knight R, Palanisami T, 'Exploring the Composition and Functions of Plastic Microbiome Using Whole-Genome Sequencing', Environmental Science and Technology, 55 4899-4913 (2021) [C1] Besides the ecotoxicological consequences of microplastics and associated chemicals, the association of microbes on plastics has greater environmental implications as microplastic... [more] Besides the ecotoxicological consequences of microplastics and associated chemicals, the association of microbes on plastics has greater environmental implications as microplastics may select for unique microbiome participating in environmentally significant functions. Despite this, the functional potential of the microbiome associated with different types of plastics is understudied. Here, we investigate the interaction between plastic and marine biofilm-forming microorganisms through a whole-genome sequencing approach on four types of microplastics incubated in the marine environment. Taxonomic analysis suggested that the microplastic surfaces exhibit unique microbial profiles and niche partitioning among the substrates. In particular, the abundance of Vibrio alginolyticus and Vibrio campbellii suggested that microplastic pollution may pose a potential risk to the marine food chain and negatively impact aquaculture industries. Microbial genera involved in xenobiotic compound degradation, carbon cycling, and genes associated with the type IV secretion system, conjugal transfer protein TraG, plant-pathogen interaction, CusA/CzcA family heavy metal efflux transfer proteins, and TolC family proteins were significantly enriched on all the substrates, indicating the variety of processes operated by the plastic-microbiome. The present study gives a detailed characterization of the rapidly altering microbial composition and gene pools on plastics and adds new knowledge surrounding the environmental ramifications of marine plastic pollution.
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2020 |
Bhagwat G, Gray K, Wilson SP, Muniyasamy S, Vincent SGT, Bush R, Palanisami T, 'Benchmarking Bioplastics: A Natural Step Towards a Sustainable Future', Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 28 3055-3075 (2020) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2020 |
Fred-Ahmadu OH, Bhagwat G, Oluyoye I, Benson NU, Ayejuyo OO, Palanisami T, 'Interaction of chemical contaminants with microplastics: Principles and perspectives', Science of the Total Environment, 706 (2020) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2013 |
Bhardwaj PK, Kapoor R, Mala D, Bhagwat G, Acharya V, Singh AK, et al., 'Braving the attitude of altitude:
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Show 10 more journal articles |
Grants and Funding
Summary
Number of grants | 4 |
---|---|
Total funding | $774,065 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20231 grants / $20,832
Helmholtz Visiting Researcher Grant$20,832
Funding body: Helmholtz Information and Data Science Academy
Funding body | Helmholtz Information and Data Science Academy |
---|---|
Project Team | Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ |
Scheme | Helmholtz Visiting Resercher Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2023 |
Funding Finish | 2023 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | External |
Category | EXTE |
UON | N |
20222 grants / $643,033
Closing the loop: textile waste composting for improved carbon footprint and sustainability$638,533
Funding body: Confidential
Funding body | Confidential |
---|---|
Project Team | Thava Palanisami |
Scheme | Compostable materials |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2022 |
Funding Finish | 2024 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | C1500 - Aust Competitive - Commonwealth Other |
Category | 1500 |
UON | N |
GICAN Early Career Research Award$4,500
Funding body: Global Innovative Centre for Advanced Nanomaterials, The University of Newcastle
Funding body | Global Innovative Centre for Advanced Nanomaterials, The University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Scheme | ECR Award |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2022 |
Funding Finish | 2023 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
20171 grants / $110,200
PhD Scholarship - Competitive$110,200
Funding body: Faculty of Science, The University of Newcastle
Funding body | Faculty of Science, The University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Scheme | Commonwealth HDR Scholarship and Tuition Fee |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2017 |
Funding Finish | 2021 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | C2120 - Aust Commonwealth - Other |
Category | 2120 |
UON | N |
Research Supervision
Number of supervisions
Current Supervision
Commenced | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | PhD | Toxicological implication microplastics and human health | PhD (Biological Sciences), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
2023 | PhD | Enzyme Mediated Synthesis of Nanocellulose, its Characterization, and Novel Applications | PhD (Materials Science & Eng), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
Past Supervision
Year | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | PhD | Microplastics and Associated Contaminants in the South Pacific, Fiji Islands: Sources, Fate and Possible Human Health Implications | PhD (Materials Science & Eng), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
2021 | Masters | Novel sustainable Green Remediation Treatment technology for Controlling algae Blooms | Environmental Engineering, Global Innovative Centre for Advanced Nanomaterials, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
Research Opportunities
Research internship- Bachelor and Master students
Topics in Environmental science, Chemistry, Microbiology
Internship
Engineering & Built Environment
15/1/2024 - 6/12/2024
Contact
Doctor Geetika Bhagwat-Russell
University of Newcastle
School of Engineering
geetika.bhagwat@newcastle.edu.au
Research Collaborations
The map is a representation of a researchers co-authorship with collaborators across the globe. The map displays the number of publications against a country, where there is at least one co-author based in that country. Data is sourced from the University of Newcastle research publication management system (NURO) and may not fully represent the authors complete body of work.
Country | Count of Publications | |
---|---|---|
Australia | 12 | |
India | 4 | |
China | 3 | |
Nigeria | 1 | |
Singapore | 1 | |
More... |
Dr Geetika Bhagwat-Russell
Position
Research Associate
School of Engineering
College of Engineering, Science and Environment
Contact Details
geetika.bhagwat@newcastle.edu.au | |
Links |
Research Networks Research Networks Research Networks Research Networks |
Office
Building | Advanced Technology Centre (ATC), Level 1 |
---|---|
Location | Callaghan University Drive Callaghan, NSW 2308 Australia |