Karuna Gokarn

Prof. Dr. Karuna Gokarn is the Principal from the Department of Microbiology, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, India. She is passionate about any academic task for students and faculty. She is also interested in research and is a consultant and PhD guide at Sir Hurkisondas Nurrotumdas Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai.

She has 15 publications and has received 6 government and non-government grants. She has been guiding MSc and Ph.D. Research projects. She has 7 years of administrative experience and has organized many workshops, seminars, and conferences for students, teaching, and non-teaching staff.

• Use of IAA-producing plant growth-promoting bacteria for the amelioration of salt and drought stress in wheat. (2024) International Journal of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, https://ijans.org/index.php/ijans/article/view/910
• CRISPR-Cas system: A tool to eliminate drug-resistant Gram-negative Bacteria Pharmaceuticals 2022, 15(12), 1498; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15121498
• Comparative sequence analysis of PE5 proteins in Mycobacterium species – A computational study (2022) Xplore – The Xavier’s Research Journal
• Repurposing Over-the-Counter Drugs and an Iron-Chelator as antibacterial agents Vol. 19 (04) 1051-1063 (2022) Biosciences Biotechnology Research Asia http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/3055
• Effect of mutations on the structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis KatG protein and interactions with Isoniazid - An in-silico study Page No: 66-73; Vol. 17 (9) September (2022) Research Journal of Biotechnology https://doi.org/10.5303/1709rjbt66073
• Repurposing Siderophores as Antitubercular Agents. Emerging Trends in Disease and Health Research Vol. 9 Book Chapter BP International Publishers
• A student-centric approach for developing scientific communication skills in undergraduate microbiology students Jan 2020 Proceedings - epiSTEME 8: Eighth International Conference to Review Research on Science, Technology and Mathematics Education, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Mumbai.
• Activity of siderophores against drug-resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria 11: 61—75, 2018 Infection and Drug Resistance Dove Medical Press, Albany, New Zealand, Auckland
• Effect of microbial siderophores on mammalian non-malignant and malignant cell lines 17:145-156 BMC Complementary Alternative Medicine 17:145-156 BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies Biomed Central Ltd, London, England. Springer Nature publishers
• Preliminary evaluation of anti-tuberculosis potential of siderophores against drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis by mycobacteria 17:161-168, 2017 BMC Complementary Alternative Medicine BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies Biomed Central Ltd, London, England. Springer Nature publishers
• Cloning of Mycobacterium smegmatis Exochelin MS genes fxbA, fxbC and exiT in Escherichia coli, 5(4), 2016, 176-180. doi:10.4172/2168-9547.1000176
• Ethanol extraction method for DNA isolation from Mycobacterium smegmatis8(9), 39013-39015, 2016 International Journal of Current Research
• Isolation and characterization of a free-living nitrogen fixing bacterium with multiple plant growth promoting characteristics XPLORE, Xavier’s Research Journal St. Xaviers College Mumbai Vol 5 issue 1, 2014
• Siderophores and Pathogenicity of Microorganisms, 1(3), 127-134, 2010 Journal of BioScience and Technology
• Biosorption of Industrial Dyes Using Dead Fungal Biomass XPLORE, Xavier’s Research Journal Volume 1 Issue, 2010

• Co-ordinated Emlyon business school educational intervention program for ten French students from 24 Feb – 14 March 2020
• Departments of Microbiology and Life Science jointly organized two workshops on “Problem-solving & process skills in Genetics using Geneticus Investigatio” which was held on 1st and 8th August in collaboration with IITB and sponsored by DBT STAR for 100 UG students.
• Organized a faculty workshop on “Integrating Applied Bioinformatics in Undergraduate Life Science Education” under the DBT-Star scheme conducted by PG Department of Biotechnology St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Mumbai in collaboration with Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, TIFR partly sponsored by DBT-STAR scheme.
• Organized University-level student Workshop on “Essentials of Academic Writing” in Collaboration with Cactus Communications, Mumbai for PG-I- Bioscience students.
• Resource person for a Three-Day Workshop on “Techniques in Cell and Molecular Biology” for College Teachers, sponsored by The Lady Tata Memorial Trust
• Organized workshops on awareness of infectious diseases for the non-teaching staff and HACCP principles conducted for the canteen staff of SXC.
• Organized Commemoration 75th Year of India’s Independence Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav Webinar on “Peaceful Applications of Radiation Technology in Agriculture & Food Preservation” Jointly Organised by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai & St. Xavier's College (Autonomous), Mumbai (Sponsored by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India on 4th August.
• Organized Commemoration 75th Year of India’s Independence Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav by National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi & St. Xavier's College (Autonomous), Mumbai jointly organized a Science Setu talk on “Development of Immunological Memory: Lessons from Multi-Omics” on 23rd September.
• Organized a 6-day Faculty development program on “Reigniting the research-spark – Reigniting the Research-Spark: Exploring new methodologies and perspectives” from the 15th to 20th March 2021, under the aegis of RUSA (IQAC initiative) Two parallel sessions for Science and Arts/Science
• Organized one-day webinar on ‘Exploring the Scientific Curiosité’: An Omics Approach’ 13 March 2021
• Organized International Webinar on ‘Roadmap: To a Post CoVID 19 Era’ 23rd & 24th May 2020
• Organized COVID-19: PAN(ACA)DEMIC - A multi-disciplinary approach to the coronavirus April 30th, May 1st & 2nd, 2020
• Member of the organizing committee - DISHA 2020: International Conference on Evolving Trends in Higher Education held on 12-13 March 2020.
• The Biotechnology Department held an interactive seminar for PG students and Faculty - Bio-science departments ‘Next Generation Sequencing’ with Dr. Amit Dutt, Principal Investigator, ACTREC – Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai, was the Guest Speaker. 5th October
• 12th October - The Biotechnology Department held an interactive seminar for PG students and Faculty - Bio-science departments ‘Proteomics’ with Dr. Rukmini Govekar, and X-ray crystallography with Dr. Ashok Varma, ACTREC – Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai, was the Guest Speakers.
• The Department of Biotechnology in association with Scigenom Research Foundation conducted a Pre-Conference (NGBT) Symposium. The talks were delivered by eminent national and international speakers on NextGen Genomics, Biology, Bioinformatics, and Technologies. About 175 students attended the presentations by eminent National and International speakers on Sequence to Drugs. 100 students attended were from eleven colleges all over Mumbai. 28th September
• Organized Faculty seminar on “Inculcating a culture of Pedagogic Research Informed Teaching Practice” in collaboration with IQAC, St. Xavier’s College on 20th February 2019
• International conference on “Advances in Pharmaceutical Microbiology” by Dept. of Microbiology in collaboration with Mumbai University as part of Sesquicentennial Celebrations of the Mumbai University
• “Infectious diseases–staying ahead” by Depts. of Microbiology and Biotechnology.
• Served as a member of the college end-semester examination committee for over seven years
• Intercollegiate Student seminar on ‘Advances in Microbiology: Food and Health Care Industries and Workshop on 3M food safety products, 3M India Ltd, Bangalore.
• An outreach program of the Indian Association of Cancer Research – IACR, a series of talks on ‘Cancer Biology Research: The Indian Scenario’
• Conducted Seminar on 'Biosafety Issues in Research' Star College, DBT funding.

• “Boost to University Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Department for Education and Research (BUILDER)” (Jan 2021) DBT-BUILDER 2,82,89,200 Ongoing
• Knocking out the antioxidant response master regulator using CRISPR Cas9 technology and inducing ferroptosis in the knockout cancer cells (Nov 2022) Sir HNMRS 28,86,282 Ongoing
• Role of ppe4 gene of M. bovis in cellular ferroptosis (Feb 2023) Sir HNMRS 33,52,534 Ongoing
• ‘Repurposing of the over-the-counter drugs as antibacterial and anticancer agents’ Mumbai University research grant Rs. 35,000/- 2018-2019
• Cloning of genes involved in the biosynthesis of exochelin MS from Mycobacterium smegmatis UGC Minor Research Project Rs. 2,80,000/- 2015-2017
• Biosorption of Industrial dyes using dead fungal biomass Mumbai University research grant Rs. 30,000/- 2009-2010

• Co-Guided an MSc 2 Biotechnology student of SXC for her 4-month internship (Dec 2019-April2020) on “Impact of point Mutations on the structural stability of rpoB - A computational Approach”
• Guided a TYBSc Biotechnology student from Amity University, Noida for her one-month internship (1st March to 31st March 2019) on ‘Cloning of siderophore genes’.
• Guided an SYBSc Microbiology student from Fergusson College, Pune for her one-month internship (2nd May to 31st May 2019) on ‘Cloning of Exochelin MS genes’.
• Structural Predictions and Effect of Mutation on Tap (Rv1258c) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: An In-silico Approach was presented by DBI student (Saili Chabukswar; Norine D’Souza. Karuna Gokarn) at International Conference on Fundamental and Applied Sciences (ICFAS - 2021) organized by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s College, Chowpatty on 24-26 March 2021

• Presented an E-poster entitled “Repurposing Deferoxamine B drug against drug-resistant tubercle bacillus” at the 52nd World Conference of Lung Health The Union TB Science virtual event held on 19-22 October 2021.
• Organized a workshop on St. Xavier’s College: The Journey Ahead...” Crafting A Pragmatic, Strategic Plan, 2021 - 2025” for faculty of St. Xavier’s College on 27th Oct 2021
• Delivered a talk on “Promotion of Institutional Research Culture” at the National Webinar series on Strengthening Accreditation Concepts in HEI at Sangameshwar College, Solapur on 1st January 2022.
• Delivered a talk on "Institutionalizing Best Practices in HEIs” at National Symposium, Pillai College on 28th October 2021.
• Delivered a talk and interacted with IQAC members of Fergusson College (Autonomous), Pune on Guidance for SSR on 20th October 2021.
• Delivered a talk on the importance of NAAC/IQAC and how to fill in the Data Templates for AQAR at V.V. Dalvie College, Talere (Mentee College) on 30th September 2021.
• International Conference on Clinical and Pharmaceutical Microbiology to be held on October 18-20, 2017, in Rome, Italy.

• Convener of the DBT-CTEP sponsored event on Popularization of science – Science Fair This DBT-CTEP sponsored Science Fair “Popularization of Science” (An outreach to inspire young minds) on 29th November 2019, was curated by all the departments of Science for School students (Standards VIII-X) and Junior College students.
• Co-Convener of the RUSA sponsored Xynergy 2019 This exhibition, titled “Xynergy 2019” (A Spectrum of Opportunities) on 30th November 2019, was curated by the departments of Humanities and Sciences for School students (Standards VIII-X) and Junior College students.
• VC Nominee for CAS interview of an Assistant Prof. from CHM at Panvel CKT College
• Appointed as a member of the scientific board for the international conference on translational medicine to be held from 9th – 11th Jan 2019.
• Judged oral presentation competition at the international conference on Translational Medicine at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.
• Chaired a conference session on “Precision Medicine is closer than you think on Translational research in cancer at ACTREC, Navi Mumbai.
• Participated in A National Hands-on Training Workshop on Innovative Experiments in Biological Sciences for College Teachers at Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, TIFR, Mumbai from 29th August – 4th September 2018.
• Invited speaker at the International Conference on Clinical and Pharmaceutical Microbiology to be held on October 18-20, 2017, in Rome, Italy. Presented a paper on “Preliminary evaluation of anti-tuberculosis potential of siderophores against drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis by mycobacteria growth indicator tube-drug sensitivity test”.
• Escorted 12 students for a 3-week summer exposure program at the University of Bath, the UK in 2012 and Participated in Plenary Session ‘Approaches to Teaching and Learning – an Indian Perspective’ at the conference ‘Enhancing the International Student Learning Experience in the Biosciences’ organized by the Higher Education Academy STEM Biosciences and the Dept. of Biology & Biochemistry, University of Bath, UK.
• “Service-Learning – Intervention Strategies in Malaria and Water Borne Disease Awareness Programs in Low-Income Communities” At the ASM Conference for Undergraduate Educators (ASMCUE). 2009 at Colorado State University Colorado, USA: Dr. Ms. Vivien Amonkar and Karuna Gokarn.

• Jaihind College, Mumbai Microbiology Academic Council-VC nominee
• HR College, HSNC-VC nominee
• Nirmala College Academic Council external member (Academician)
• Wilson College, Mumbai Microbiology BoS MU-VC nominee
• St. Xavier’s Institute of Education, Mumbai - Academic Council Member
• Policy document team member - Integrated Teacher education program - ITEP (GoM DHE), UNI/ (136/22)/Vis hi-1/66CY (30.05.2023)