DR. jaya sravanthi mokkapati
EDUCATION
2021 - PhD in Exact and Biological Sciences, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland
2010 – MS in Biotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology, India
WORK EXPERIENCE
2019 to 2020 – Erasmus+ trainee in the Wright lab, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, UK
2013 to 2017 - Research Associate in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Laila Nutraceuticals, India
2011 to 2013 - Junior Scientist in Molecular Plant Biology lab, Tulasi Seeds Private Limited, India
RESEARCH INTERESTS
My research centers around Pollinator Ecology and Evolution. At present, we are working on understanding mutualism in plant-pollinator systems - Are they friends with benefits? To address this, we are using an interdisciplinary approach that combines innovative computer vision methods with plant quantitative genetics and pollinator behavioral ecology. The primary goal is to gain a better understanding of (1) how different generalist pollinator bees can meet their nutritional needs by visiting the same plant species, and (2) how do they optimise their search for nutrients when many competitors are present? Besides, I am also very much interested in relating the physiology and genomics of bees to their lifestyle and foraging behaviour in natural habitat. In other words, what is it about bees that allows them to become a specialist or generalist forager?
During my PhD, I studied the effects of pesticides and landscape structure in beneficial organisms, for which we have developed population dynamics models for the carabid beetle, Bembidion lampros and the solitary bee pollinator, Osmia bicornis. Exclusively in O. bicornis, I designed and conducted various lab-based studies for the effects of pesticides:
o through different routes of exposure,
o on bee development from larvae, pupae to their F1 emergence and survival,
o toxicokinetics of insecticides and their metabolites, and
o physiological and biochemical markers.
In field studies, we observed the pesticide effects on biodiversity, bee pollen preferences and foraging using ArcGIS modelling. I also shortly worked on taste perception (and floral visitation) behaviour of bumble bees for different ozone regimes. I basically started my research career by working on metal pollution in the aquatic environment which inspired me for environmental studies, and later towards BEES;)
PUBLICATIONS
1. Mokkapati, J.S., Bednarska, A.J., Laskowski, R., 2021. Physiological and biochemical response of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis exposed to three insecticide-based agrochemicals. Ecotoxicol Environ Safety 230, 113095. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.113095
2. Mokkapati, J.S., Bednarska, A.J., Choczyński, M., Laskowski, R., 2021. Toxicokinetics of three insecticides in the female adult solitary bee Osmia bicornis. Environ Pollut 118610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118610
3. Bednarska, A.J., Mokkapati, J.S., Laskowski, R., et al., 2021. Effects of agricultural landscape structure, insecticide residues, and pollen diversity on the life-history traits of the red mason bee Osmia bicornis. Sci Total Environ 151142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151142
4. Mokkapati, J.S., Bednarska, A.J., Laskowski, R., 2021. The development of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis is affected by some insecticide agrochemicals at environmentally relevant concentrations. Sci Total Environ 775, 145588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145588
5. Mokkapati, J.S., Wnęk, A., Bednarska, A.J., Laskowski, R., 2021. Acute Oral and Contact Toxicity of Three Plant Protection Products to Adult Solitary Bees Osmia bicornis. Pol J Environ Stud 30, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.15244/pjoes/130516
6. Mokkapati, R.P., Mokkapati, J.S., Ratnakaram, V.R., 2019. Mass Transfer, Kinetic, Equilibrium, and Thermodynamic Study on Removal of Divalent Lead from Aqueous Solutions Using Agrowaste Biomaterials, Musa acuminata, Casuarina equisetifolia L., and Sorghum bicolor. Theor Found Chem Eng 53, 578 590. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0040579519040249
7. Mokkapati, R.P., Mokkapati, J.S., Ratnakaram, V.R., 2018. Utilization of agro-waste for removal of toxic hexavalent chromium: surface interaction and mass transfer studies. Int J Environ Sci Technol 15, 875 886. http://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-017-1443-7
8. Mokkapati, R.P., Mokkapati, J.S., Ratnakaram, V.R., 2016. Kinetic, thermodynamic and equilibrium studies on removal of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solutions using agro-waste biomaterials, casuarina equisetifolia L. and sorghum bicolor. Korean J Chem Eng 33, 2374–2383. http://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-016-0078-6
9. Mokkapati, R.P., Mokkapati, J.S., Ratnakaram, V.R., 2016. Kinetic, isotherm and thermodynamics investigation on adsorption of divalent copper using agro-waste biomaterials, Musa acuminata, Casuarina equisetifolia L. and Sorghum bicolor. Pol J Chem Technol 18, 68-77. http://doi.org/10.1515/pjct-2016-0031
10. Mokkapati, R.P., Mokkapati, J.S., Dulla, B.J., Ratnakaram, V.R., 2015. Chemical oxygen demand reduction from coffee processing waste water – A comparative study on usage of biosorbents prepared from agricultural wastes. Global NEST J 17, 291- 300. https://doi.org/10.30955/gnj.001492
11. Swathi, J., Mokkapati, J.S., Satya, A.K., et al., 2014. Identification and assessment of frequency distribution in fungi isolated from coastal Andhra Pradesh. Malay J Microbio 10, 215-218. https://doi.org/10.21161/MJM.56513
AWARDS
2022 – HFSP postdoctoral Fellowship
2020 – Erasmus+ traineeship fellow
2019 – SETAC training award for the Environmental Exposure Assessment
2018 – SETAC training award during the 28th annual meeting Europe.
2017 – National Science Centre Poland Graduate Research Award
2017 – Jagiellonian University Poland Scholarship Award
2012 – Fellow of DBT Biotech Industrial Training Program, Govt. of India