Background and activities

I am pursuing an Industrial PhD in collaboration with Krüger Kaldnes (Veolia Water Technologies, Norway), Nofima AS, and NTNU. My project is a part of CtrlAQUA SFI; an international project to develop technological and biological solutions for closed-containment systems for Atlantic salmon farming. 

About me: I completed my B.Tech degree in Chemical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. Thereafter, I moved to the USA to get my M.Sc. in Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, where I studied water chemistry and water treatment. After my studies, I joined Veolia Water Technologies (VWT) USA where I worked for three years on industrial wastewater treatment, before moving to VWT Norway. Here, I was offered the opportunity to do an Industry PhD on the water treatment challenges faced in land-based farming of Atlantic salmon.    

My research goal is to develop strategies for managing the biological water treatment system in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). In particular, I focus on the nitrification process in biofilms under varying salinities, from freshwater to seawater. I am also studying the impact of salinity on biofilm microbial communities and how microbial strategies may be utilized to improve bioreactor design and management. With every new day of research, I am falling deeper in love with these fascinating creatures. 

You can find out more about what I do in these videos:

How fast can one switch from freshwater to seawater?

Improving salmon production with better water quality – the eco-way | Sharada Navada

 

Education & Work Experience

2015-present  Process engineer, Krüger Kaldnes AS (Veolia Water Technologies), Norway

2013-2015  Process specialist, Veolia Water Technologies, Pittsburgh PA, USA

2012-2013  M.Sc., Environmental Engg., Carnegie Mellon University, USA

2008-2012  B.Tech, Chemical Engg. (Honors) with Minor in Computer Science, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India

 

Internships

Summer 2011 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA

Summer 2010 Suzlon Energy Ltd., India

 

Scientific, academic and artistic work

Displaying a selection of activities. See all publications in the database

Journal publications

Others

  • Navada, Sharada; Gaumet, Frederic; Vadstein, Olav; Spanu, Claudia; Mikkelsen, Øyvind; Kolarevic, Jelena. (2019) Improving salinity adaptation in nitrifying bioreactors by seawater priming. AE2019 . European Aquaculture Society; Berlin. 2019-10-08 - 2019-10-10.
  • Navada, Sharada; Sebastianpillai, Marianna; Gaumet, Frederic; Vadstein, Olav; Fossmark, Ragnhild Olsen; Mikkelsen, Øyvind; Kolarevic, Jelena. (2019) Salinity change strategies for biofilters in RAS for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). NordicRAS ; Berlin. 2019-10-07 - 2019-10-08.
  • Navada, Sharada; Vadstein, Olav; Gaumet, Frederic; Tveten, Ann-Kristin; Spanu, Claudia; Mikkelsen, Øyvind; Kolarevic, Jelena. (2019) Improving salinity adaptation of nitrifying biofilms with seawater priming. 8th IWA Microbial Ecology & Water Engineering Specialist Conference (MEWE) ; Hiroshima. 2019-11-17 - 2019-11-20.
  • Navada, Sharada; Vadstein, Olav; Tveten, Ann-Kristin; Terjesen, Bendik Fyhn; Mota, Vasco C.; Gaumet, Frederic; Mikkelsen, Øyvind; Kamstra, Andries. (2019) Influence of rate of salinity increase on nitrifying biofilms. 8th IWA Microbial Ecology & Water Engineering Specialist Conference (MEWE) ; Hiroshima. 2019-11-17 - 2019-11-20.
  • Navada, Sharada. (2018) Effect of change in water salinity on nitrification in moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBR). Presentation at Smolt production in the future – 5th Conference on Recirculating Aquaculture . Nofima AS; Sunndalsøra. 2018-10-23 - 2018-10-24.
  • Navada, Sharada; Verstege, Gerhardus C.; Terjesen, Bendik Fyhn; Mikkelsen, Øyvind; Gaumet, Frederic; Mota, Vasco C.; Kamstra, Andries. (2018) Biofilter salinity change strategies for Atlantic salmon post-smolt production in RAS. AQUA 2018 . World Aquaculture Society, European Aquaculture Society; Montpellier. 2018-08-25 - 2018-08-29.
  • Navada, Sharada. (2017) Improving salmon production with better water quality - The Eco-Way. Oslo Innovation Week ; Oslo. 2017-08-30 - 2017-08-30.
  • Navada, Sharada. (2017) Lower energy need with better biofilter. AQUA NOR ; Trondheim. 2017-08-15 - 2017-08-18.
  • Navada, Sharada. (2017) Secrets of a biofilter - Why microscopic things matter. AQUA NOR ; Trondheim. 2017-08-15 - 2017-08-18.