Stephen Ramnarine 520.jpg

 

Contact Information

Department of Life Sciences
The University of the West Indies
St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

 

Location

Professor Peter Bacon Postgraduate Lab or Rm 120
Natural Science Building 
Tel: 1(868) 662-2002
Ext. 83084
Ext. 82238

 

 

 

Education

  • Ph. D. Candidate in Microbiology. The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine (2015-Present)
  • B. Sc. (Hons) Biochemistry, Minor: Biology, GPA- 3.66. The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.  (2011-2014)

     

Project Details

Thesis Title: Molecular characterization of copper resistance in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago.

Summary: Investigating the distribution of copLAB copper resistance genes in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc). Inference of copLAB gene origin in local Xcc isolates and extent of horizontal transfer among diverse gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Incorporation of RNA-seq and bacterial WGS to study gene and pathway interactions of copper resistance genetic determinants with virulence and pathogenicity phenotypes.

Supervisors: Dr. Adesh Ramsubhag, Professor Jayaraj Jayaraman 

 

Research Interests

  • Copper resistance in Phytopathogens
  • Resistance to Agrochemicals in phytopathogens and associated linkage of multiple resistance traits
  • Anthropogenic enrichment of bacterial resistance in local soil populations
  • Virulence mechanisms of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris
  • copLAB gene diversity and function

 

Work Experience

  • Teaching Assistant (Microbiology and Biotechnology) - Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.  (2019-2020 Academic Year)   
  • Organizational committee- International Conference on Integrated Disease Management in Tropical Vegetables. Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. (June 2016)            
  • Demonstrator (Microbiology and Biotechnology) – Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.  (2015-2019)
  • Research assistant – ACP/EU Project, Plant-Microbe Lab Rm 120, Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. (May 2014-August 2015)

 

Awards

  • UWI PG scholarship. The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. (2015-2020)
  • UWI CRP Research and Training Grant. The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. (2019)
  • UWI CRP Research Grant. The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. (2017)

 

Academic Presentations

  • “The 4th Annual Research Day, Faculty of Science and Technology. Department of Life Sciences”. University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.  (2014)
    • Title (Poster): Evaluation of Copper Resistance and the Genes Responsible in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Black Rot in Crucifers)   March 2016
 
  • M. Phil. proposal seminar. The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.  (2016)
    • Title (Oral): Molecular characterization of copper resistance in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris strains indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago                 
                      
  •  “The 6th Annual Research Day, Faculty of Science and Technology Department of Life Sciences”. The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine  (2016)
    • Title (Poster): Molecular characterization of copper resistance in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris strains indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago                
 
  • “International Conference on Integrated Disease Management in Tropical Vegetables”. The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. (2016)   
    • Title (Oral): Characterisation of copper resistance and genetic diversity of copA genes in environmental bacteria exposed to copper pesticides at agricultural sites in Trinidad  
    • Title (Poster): Molecular characterization of copper resistance in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris strains indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago               
 
  • M. Phil. departmental seminar. The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.  
    • Title (Oral): Molecular characterization of copper resistance in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris strains indigenous to Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. (2017)           
 
  • Ph. D. Upgrade seminar. The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.                                         
    • Title (Oral): Molecular characterization of copper resistance in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris strains indigenous to Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. (2019)
 
  • “Plant Health 2020”. American Phytopathological Society. Denver, Co, USA. (Accepted) (2020)
    • Title (Poster): Divergent copLAB genes of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris from Trinidad
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