Manas Sarkar, PhD, FRES

Experience

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  Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

  Dec 2004 - Apr 2010

  Research Fellow & Research Scientist

  # Performed research on biodefense, vector surveillance, bio-toxicity, molecular biology, genomics, insecticide resistance, biological and chemical insecticides molecules; biochemical analysis, detoxifying enzyme profiling to understand the mechanisms of metabolic resistance# Scope of research: Molecular biology of insecticide resistance and the understanding of the target site-mediated resistance mechanism such as the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms like knockdown resistance (KDR) in developing resistance phenotype# Developed a novel Real-Time PCR assay based on Melting Curve Analysis using a single-labelled probe for high-throughput genotyping of mutations # Developed the three-dimensional model of insecticide binding domain of mosquito's voltage-gated sodium channel and studied the insecticide interaction through structure-function modelling# Worked on the fatty acid profiling and molecular taxonomy and phylogeny of bio-diesel potential microalgae using GC-MS and rRNA secondary structure along with Compensatory Base Change (CBC) analysis respectively Show less

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  National Centre for Disease Control

  May 2010 - Jun 2012

  Deputy Assistant Director

  # Drove research on Medical Entomology, Public Health, Ento-epidemiology, Vector-Borne Disease Biology and Pest Control# Rendered services as a member of the team for disease outbreak investigation constituted by central government time-to-time from 2010-2012# Functioned as Principal Investigator of the many projects on Pest control, vector-borne diseases, and control, disease surveillance, entomological measures of risk, assess the role of different pests in the transmission of diseases using classical, immunological, and molecular tools, devising new pest control techniques and measures etc.# Performed fieldwork related responsibilities include conducting, supervising experiments to reduce malaria transmission, designing and implementing trials of vector control tools in remote areas# Taught medical entomology and national training programs on medical entomology as Faculty for National Master of Public Health (MPH) courses# In-charge of insecticide laboratories to conduct the evaluation of new molecules and also commercial household and public health insecticide products before their registration to CIB & RC (India) Show less

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  Entogenex Industries Sdn Bhd

  Jul 2012 - Mar 2014

  General Manager (Technology)

  # Lead Bio-pesticide technology development, Manufacturing troubleshooting, Product evaluation in different countries (Malaysia, Ghana, Nigeria, Philippines, Myanmar, Sri Lanka etc.) and handled country-specific registration of biological/biochemical/natural pesticides using cutting-edge technologies (TMOF/Mousticide etc.) for Public health market # Formulated country-specific large scale projects and successfully defended them to respective authorities in Malaysia (MOSTI), Nigeria (NAFDAC), and Myanmar (Health Ministry)# Developed mathematical predictive models of mosquito breeding capacity, dengue outbreak prediction etc. # Played a global leadership role in managing technology acquisition, product, and technology improvement in collaboration with institutes and universities worldwide Show less

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  Godrej Consumer Products Limited

  Apr 2014 - Jul 2019

  # Steering Global NPDs and innovations projects, nurturing new technologies and translate them into products, improving processes in Household Insecticide (Good Knight, HIT and other global brands), Air Care, and Fabric care (innovative technology development)# Experience working with different active molecules, delivery formats, manufacturing process, packaging systems, QA/QC processes, protocol development for product evaluation, regulatory, data analysis, benchmarking etc.# Managing projects for different geographical locations through intense cross-functional collaboration with marketing, supply chain, manufacturing, export and QA/QC teams Show less # Leading Bio-Efficacy Cell and product evaluation# Leading Entomology research and research projects, like, insecticide resistance mapping, mosquito modelling, spatial repellency and other non-contact bioassays etc.# Established GCPL Bio-efficacy Cell for Entomology research and product evaluation and lead to ISO (NABL) accreditation # Developed collaboration with Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (UK), Innovative Vector Control Consortium (UK) and University of Glasgow (UK) from scratch resulted into multiple collaborative projects, student exchange program and technology sourcing Show less

  • Senior Research Scientist (R&D), Household Insecticides & Home Care, Product Innovation and NPDs

    Jun 2017 - Jul 2019

  • Senior Research Scientist (R&D), Entomology, Bioefficacy & New Tech Development Platform

    May 2015 - Jun 2017

  • Deputy General Manager (R&D), Advance Technology and Innovation

    Apr 2014 - May 2015
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  Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

  Oct 2016 - Feb 2019

  Co-PrincipaI Investigator (MRC_UK CiC Project)

  Collaborative project with LSTM

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  University of Glasgow

  Jan 2017 - Aug 2017

  Research Collaborator and Co-PI (UG International Knowledge Exchange)

  Collaborative project with UG

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  KIIT - Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology

  Feb 2017 - Jul 2019

  Adjunct Professor

  This is an honorary position to teach Industrial Technology and guide PhD students

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  ISCA lnc.

  Jul 2019 - Jul 2020

  Head Of Product Development (India)

  # Building up a new generation R&D team and infrastructure to cater to the need for next-generation pest management technologies/products. # Leading entire Product Development R&D operations including product development, new technology, regulatory/registration, analytical development and bioefficacy work# Leading a team of 15+ scientists/technicians from diverse background and culture in the ISCA Inc. network companies in India (ATGC Biotech Pvt Ltd./ Pheromone Biotech LLP).# Established the NextGeneration Insect Control Research facility, recruitment of resources, project planning, idea generation, assignments and executions.# Set up R&D SOPs, process and systems for high quality, agile team for global requirements.# Streamlined the pheromone (active & formulation) registration processes, trained new team for regulatory work, coordinate with regulatory authorities (CIBRC, US EPA etc.) for registration. Show less

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  Reckitt

  Aug 2020 - now

  Dual hatting position - heading the Science Platform and heading global Entomology COE. Science Platform: making the mid and long term strategy of the category globally and leading the development of innovative and disruptive technology and convert technology into products considering Drivers of Liking of consumers.Entomology CoE: leading global pest product evaluation, generating innovative claims, support product registration and conducting research to bridge the efficacy gap between lab and consumer home. Show less

  • Science Platform and Mortein Advanced Research Lab (Entomology Centre of Excellence) [Global R&D]

    Jun 2022 - now

  • Science Platform (Global R&D - Pest)

    Aug 2020 - now