Sujan Khadka
About
My name is Sujan Khadka. Currently, I am a PhD candidate under the supervision of Prof. Ingrid Bakke and Prof. Olav Vadstein. Our research focuses on bacterial management in land-based rearing systems, specifically Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) and Flow-through Systems (FTS). The species under investigation are Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua).
I accomplished a Master of Science (MS) in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Central China Normal University, China. During this program, I had the opportunity to learn about aquatic microorganisms and their roles in biodegrading environmental pollutants, and also affecting the water quality in aquaculture systems. After MS, I worked as a research student at the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), where we studied the microbial quality of wastewater from river and aquaculture systems. In addition, I got the opportunity to work as a one-year research student at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. We studied how bacteria harbouring antibiotic-resistant genes spread in environments such as rivers and aquaculture systems.
Hobbies
Beyond my academic endeavours, I enjoy and relax from sports and hiking. Cricket and football rank among my favourite sports. I have a passion for cooking and find great fulfilment in engaging with people and learning from their experiences.
Research
Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) hold promise in meeting global fish demands and have been increasingly utilized in Norway to produce Atlantic salmon smolts. RAS constitutes a complex bacterial ecosystem, often dominated by fast-growing opportunistic heterotrophs. These heterotrophs can adversely affect fish health, welfare, and survival, compromising sustainable fish production. Effective system design and operational management can enhance fish welfare by mitigating the persistence and proliferation of heterotrophs. However, our understanding of bacterial management in RAS remains limited. To improve the knowledge in bacterial management of RAS, my PhD research aims to:
- Investigate the qualitative and quantitative assessment of bacterial origins and their impacts on various rearing systems for marine fish larvae.
- Examine the role of biofilter-biofilm microbiota in structuring the microbiota of Atlantic salmon and rearing water in RAS.
- Analyze the effects of smoltification and increasing salinity on the intestinal, skin, and gill microbiomes of Atlantic salmon in RAS under varying particle loads.
- Explore the comparative effects of cork and commercial feed on structuring water, biofilm carriers, and gut microbiota of Atlantic salmon.
RASOPTA (Safeguarding future production of fish in aquaculture systems with water recirculation)
Analysis and Control of Microbial Systems (ACMS) Group
Knowledge Transfer
2023
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Academic lectureFernando, Fernando; Kristine, Hofstad; Khadka, Sujan; Vadstein, Olav; Bakke, Ingrid. (2023) Biofilter disinfection increases the colonization success of opportunistic bacteria in the recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). Technical University of Denmark & University of Tromsø NordicRAS 2023 , Tromsø 2023-10-03 - 2023-10-04