Gopal Bera

Experience

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  Florida Department of Environmental Protection

  Jan 2013 - Feb 2016

  Chemist

  - Chemist for an organic contaminant laboratory and was involved in method development (GCMS) for new contaminants. Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectroscopy (GC/MS) Development methods for gaseous pesticides (fumigants). - Basic training for liquid chromatographt MS (LC/MS). Trained in chemical warfare agent analyses (e.g. Sarin).

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  Texas A&M University

  Feb 2016 - Dec 2022

  Collaborating with Woods-Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) and others to response to RV Pearl X-Press 1700-ton plastic spill & fire in Sri Lanka (May 2021). Responsible for PAHs apportionment in pyro-plastic. Datasets help to better response and risk assessment efforts (ongoing). Leading TGLO funded project (as Principal Investigator) to investigate background oil concentrations along the Texas Coasts (ongoing project); managing field and laboratory plans, personnel, resources and data. Investigating background oil concentrations along Texas coast to help mitigate the future oil spill in Texas coasts. Planned and executed Soil/sediment sampling along the Texas coasts and analyzed samples for fluorescence, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and biomarkers. Data were used for distribution and source identification.  Datasets create maps to indicate presence of oil in Texas coastal area and critical for the future oil spill’s environmental impact assessment.Managed a severely under-budgeted and under-performed lab to turn it around.  Brought more than $400,000/year in contracts (projects) from Texas Department of Health, Fish & Wildlife, Department of Environmental Protection and other external clients. Measured PCBs, Pesticides, Dioxins, OCs. Made sure projects are meeting quality standards and deadlines. Hired new personnel. Show less Contributed to NIH Superfund research project “Comprehensive tools and models for addressing exposure to mixtures during environmental emergency-related contamination events”. Responsible for designing experiments to “Experimentally determine transformation of properties of contaminated sediments transported to land by simulating conditions under extreme environmental condition scenarios” Researched for historical presence of legacy contaminants in and around Houston Ship Channel (HSC). Planned and executed sampling for sediments in contaminated “Superfund” areas. Analyzed samples for various legacy contaminants e.g., Dioxin/Furan, PCBs, PBDEs, PAHs and metals.  Data from the study were used in sediment transport model to understand distribution of contaminants induced by natural disasters (Hurricanes).Spearheaded the American Petroleum Institute (API) funded project to investigate deep-sea microbial responses to oil and dispersant.  Tested toxicity of dispersant on the oil degrading microbes to resolve obstacles in using dispersant during an oil spill. Data from the study were used by National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to build future response and mitigation plan for the oil spill. Show less Played very active role in Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) funded oil spill research projects: Deep-sea Toxicology (DETOX) and Aggregation Degradation of Dispersant and Oil through Microbial Exopolymeric Substances (ADDOMEx).  Investigated impact of Deep-water horizon (DWH) oil spill on deep-sea ecosystems especially on the vertically migrating shrimps which are absolutely crucial for commercial fish e.g. Tuna. Designed and developed unbiased oil toxicity test procedure.  Validated PETROTOX model (in collaboration with ExxonMobil) and used for toxicity prediction. Designed experiments to understand response of microbes to dispersed oil vs dissolved oil in collaboration with ADDOMEx group. These studies helped to better understand impacts of oil spill on the marine ecosystems and was highlighted in National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to build future response and mitigation plan for the oil spill. Show less

  • Associate Research Scientist

    Aug 2020 - Dec 2022

  • Assistant Research Scientist

    Oct 2017 - Aug 2020

  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow

    Feb 2016 - Oct 2017
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  Thermo Fisher Scientific

  Dec 2022 - now

  Staff Scientist

  Chemical Devices GroupPFAS method developementLCMSMSNew Product DevelopementSample prepration techniquesIon chromatography