Sugandha Shankar
Name
Sugandha Shankar
Position
Assistant Research Scientist
Section
Ecosystem Assessment and Restoration – Harmful Algal Blooms – Toxin Laboratory
Education
B.Sc. (Honors) Botany, University of Delhi, India
M.Sc. Marine Ecology, Madurai Kamaraj University, India
Ph.D. Marine Biology, University of Maine
Research Interests
Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) ecology and physiology, HAB dynamics, HAB toxins, biological oceanography
Current Activity
My primary research interests are harmful algal bloom (HAB) physiology and toxins. HABs are an ecologically complex problem that require an interdisciplinary approach to understand the various physical, chemical, and biological factors in play. My research focuses on understanding the effects of temperature, irradiance, and nutrients on growth and toxicity of HAB species. I am also interested in understanding how these toxic blooms can impact benthic filter feeders.
My bloom monitoring tasks focus on evaluating new methods and technologies for regulatory shellfish testing. I am involved in the state’s shellfish biotoxin testing program and I perform all phases of sample preparation for the detection of marine algal toxins in seafood, seawater, and other environmental matrices. My research incorporates the use of various analytical techniques like ELISA assays and HPLC. Along with that, I am also responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining QA/QC guidelines for analysis of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins and Domoic Acid in regulatory shellfish samples.