Professor of Biochemical Engineering
And Coordinator, Bioprocess Technology

Subjects Taught
Principles of Food Preservation and Food Engineering, Technology of Vegetable and Food Processing, Fermentation Technology, Transport Phenomena & Separation Processes - Theory and Laboratory, Advances in Food Technology and Engineering, Biochemical Engineering

Research Interests
Food Product / Process development, Novel Photo bioreactors, Micro algal Metabolites, Enzyme Production from Indigenous Strains, Biological Effluent Treatments

• Coordinator, Bioprocess Technology (Sept 2004 till date)
   
  
• Coordinator, UGC-DSA Center of Advanced Studies, Phase – I, 2008
   
  
• Professor of Food Technology (December 2000 to November 2001)
   
  
• Reader in Biochemical Engineering (1991 to November 2000)
   
  
• Lecturer in Chemical Engineering (1986 to 1991)
   
  

• Consultant to Alfa Laval (I) Ltd., Tetrapak Division, Pune (1995-1996)
   
  
• Project Coordinator, Deccan Mechanical and Chemical Ind. Ltd. Pune (1982-1984)
   
  
• Research Engineer, Hindustan Lever Ltd. (1977-1979)
   
  

• Elected as the Fellow of Maharashtra Academy of Sciences for her significant contributions to Food Engineering and Technology in Oct. 2006
   
  
• Received "Hari Om Ashram Prerit Shri. S.S.Bhatnagar Research Award - 2001", on Prevention of Water Pollution
   
  
• Received “Savitribai Phule-Outstanding Achievement Award-2004” (Research) given by Modern College, Rayat Shikshan Sanstha, Navi Mumbai.
   
  
• Received fellowship of Third World Organization for Women in Science (TWOWS), Italy, 1992 for presenting work on Airlift Bioreactor at Japan.

• Dipak S.Pisal was awarded the best paper prize (for paper entitled "Effect of various stress parameters on Carotenoid Production in Dunaliella salina") at International Conference on Emerging Frontiers at the Interface of Chemistry and Biology (ICB-2003), April 28-30,2003 Organized by Regional Research Laboratory, Trivendrum, India.
   
  
• Sameer K. Akolkar was awarded the Second Prize (for paper entitled "Exopolysachharide Production from Lactobacillus plantarum Isolated from Fermented Ragi (Eluisine coracona)") at the Prof. D.V.Tamhane Memorial Seminar on "Recent Trends in Food and Biotechnology Research" organized at UICT on December 20, 2003.

• Expert member, CAS in Marine Biotech., Goa University
• Member Research Recognition Committee for Biotechnology, University of Mumbai.
• Member, DBT/JRF - BET examination, Dept. of Biotech. Govt. of India.
• Member, Board of Studies in Food Sc. And Nutrition, S.N.D.T.University, Mumbai. (2005-2010).
• Member, Research Board of Advisors, The American Biographical Institute, USA since 2001.
• Member, Board of Experts on Alcohol Production related problems, Excise Dept., Govt. of Maharashtra 2001-2003.
• Member, Editorial Board, Journal of Food Science and Technology, Association of Food Scientists and Technologists, India (1993-2004).
• Vice President Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (India), Mumbai Chapter - 2002-2003.
• Active member and office bearer of Indian Women Scientists' Association, Editor IWSA News Letter (2001-2003, 2003- 2005) Joint Secretary, (1995-97). Member School Committee (1999-2001), Convener School Library / Committee (1984-88),
• Life member of a number of national and international professional bodies engaged in activities related to Science & Technology and Women Scientists.
• Life member, Biotech Research Society, India (BRSI)
• Created educational films in Marathi / English on ‘Science in Kitchen”, Nutrition, Food Adulteration under TEQIP- UICT Platinum Jubilee, free copies available for distribution.
• Coordinating National Science Day at the UICT for last 12 years.
• Member, DBT/JRF - BET examination, Dept. of Biotech. Govt. of India.
• Member Research Recognition Committee for Biotechnology, University of Mumbai.
• Member, Board of Studies in Food Sc. And Nutrition, S.N.D.T. University, Mumbai. (2005-2010).

• Visited IIT Chicago and Rutgers, NJ, USA for collaborative research programs with UICT.
   
  
• Visited IIT, Chicago, Purdue University, Rutgers, NJ. USA, during May 2005 as a member, Govt. of Maharshtra. for collaborative research programs with UICT. Attended the International Education Fair at Seattle, June 2005.
   
  
• Visited the National University of Singapore in December 2003 to attend the workshop organized by ABET, USA for Engineering Education Accreditation on Continuous Program Improvement.
   
  
• Visited Oklohoma Norman University, USA and also attended 12th World Congress on Food Sc. and Technology at Chicago, organized by IFT and presented a paper, July 2002.
   
  
• Visiting research scientists at University of Pittsburgh, USA, for one year 1998, visited Rutgers University for collaborative work.
   
  
• A fellowship of the Third world Organization for Women in Science, Italy and Indian National Science Academy was awarded. The work on 'Bioreactor Modeling' was presented at the Asia-Pacific Biochemical Eng. Conference'92 held in Japan (1992).
   
  

India tops among largest producers of fruits and vegetables in the world, as a processor we are perhaps in the bottom three countries. This has resulted in a huge national loss by way of 30 to 50 % post harvest losses of the fresh produce. At ICT, some work on vegetable waste utilization is already done in the Principal Investigator's group. Dehydration of fruits and vegetables, making soup mixes and selling ready to drink soup is not a new or high-tech project per say. However so far there is limited commercial success due to several reasons. Indian economics, consumer's psychology and complete utilization of raw material affect the overall commercial viability. This ambitious project aims at a holistic approach to tackle all the problems simultaneously in a techno-economically effective manner so that at the end of the day, everyone is a winner!
ICT, Mumbai propose to develop sustainable technology and marketing plan via sample market surveys. A small-scale production unit is proposed to set up at the site of a NGO, like Institute of Rural Pediatrics, Baramati. ICT mainly plays the role in generating the knowledge base with energy efficient designs. Industry partners will participate in taking the technology to sustainable commercial model. NGO will actually run the processing plant and participate in marketing via dealer distribution chain that will be set up by the facilitator and ICT. It is expected that after 2 to 3 years, the NGOs will independently continue to run the food processing plant and sell the products.
 
Objectives of the project:
Primary objective of the project is to set up the 200 kg/day demo plant for the dehydration of vegetables and preparation of various products like soup mixes such as palak and tomato soups to be made available through vending machines. The training programs for farmers and entrepreneurs will be conduced. Although traditionally fruits and vegetables are sun dried, the conditions are unhygienic. The processes lack good manufacturing practices and have poor quality control. Nutrition Science and food Engineering and Technology components of a variety of such products will be looked into under this broad project.