R
Akshda Mehrotra
Doctoral Candidate
Halle,ST
Summary
Collaborative personal with dedication to partnering with coworkers to promote engaged, empowering work culture. Documented strengths in building and maintaining relationships with diverse range of stakeholders in dynamic, fast-paced settings. Aspiring Environmental Scientist with experience supporting technically-oriented projects. Organized, fast -learning and efficient individual to effectively prioritize work.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
7
7
years of post-secondary education
2
2
Languages
Work History
Master thesis student
Environmental Research, UFZ
Leipzig, saxony
05.2022 - 12.2022
- Successfully completed vast research study on pesticide biodegradation potential in agricultural land and assessed factors affecting phenomenon
- Implementation of good research practices (e.g., documentation and reporting) in field of soil science, soil microbiology, and pesticide( organo-chloro) degradation
- Organized and conducted 2 day field soil sampling and handling of soil samples for chemical, microbial, and molecular analysis
- Single handedly planning and implementation of laboratory experiments (e.g., soil microcosm experiments)
- Chemical extraction of pesticide from soil samples for GC-MS analysis, DNA extraction from soil samples, DNA quantification and quantitative real-time PCR
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Adaptable and proficient in learning new concepts quickly and efficiently.
Communications Intern
WWF India
Mumbai
11.2019 - 05.2020
- Organized 2 Beach cleanups in South mumbai area
- Was able to get on board 3 companies ( e.g. YES bank), 8 schools and 7 colleges to collaborate and implement projects like Single use plastic management and United nation's environmental education outreach project and Earth hour event .
Project Trainee
Antony Lara Enviro Solutions Pvt. Ltd
Mumbai
10.2019 - 09.2020
- Assisted in assembling project documentation, confirming inclusion of data and preliminary information for Municipal solid waste site(Mumbai region).
- Monitoring process parameters and trouble-shooting issues related to process of extraction of Gas from Land Fill site.
Manager
Reliance Industries Limited
jamnagar
09.2018 - 09.2019
- Complete takeover of new technology of delayed coking of Special economic zone (SEZ) unit in 1 month
- Published accurately unit monthly and daily report using LIMS , and other data management tools for continuous process monitoring
- Increased heater Run length performance from 78 days to 90 days
without compromising product quality, with cost saving of $0.58 million USD. - Assisted planning and budgeting (Capex and Opex) accurately to provide business with resources needed to operate smoothly.
Graduate Engineer Trainee
Reliance Industries Ltd
Jamnagar
07.2017 - 08.2018
- Field Operations Chemical Engineer: managed 4 employees in shift and safe execution of daily operations and long-term projects for Aromatics Complex in SEZ.
- Accurate updating of standard operating procedures(SOPs) , process instrumentation and flow diagrams (PIDs) and (PFDs) for sub-units in Aromatics complex
- Verified parts and materials through audit inspections and independent checks.
- Distributed control system (DCS) engineer : Changeover, startup, process monitoring and troubleshooting
- Collaborated with on-site directors, operation managers, on engineering projects.
- Managed records of all safety checklists and proactively updated safety (HSEF) documents (HITRA, HAZOP, cyclic PHA documents.)
- Shut down and start-up unit experience in fuels complex in Diesel hydro-de-Sulphurisation unit to inspect equipment like Stripper, Vacuum Dryer column and Cold Separator and assisted documentation of pre-startup safety review (PSSR).
- Implemented rich, interactive data visualizations using advanced excel.
Vocational trainee
Lupin Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd
Bhopal
06.2016 - 07.2016
- Identified and evaluated potential gap in existing process of the antibiotic preparation
- Preparation of Daily-weekly reports of Solvent recovery systems
- Experience chemical process of Effluent treatment plants (ETPs).
Scientific Assistant
Martin Luther University
Halle
10.2023 - 03.2025
- Contributed to grant writing efforts, securing funding for essential research initiatives.
- Soil sampling across 3 regions of Germany, sample analyses for testing effects of land use management on soil microbiome.
- Maintained accurate records of experimental data, ensuring timely communication of results to team members.
- Evaluated results from multiple sources to draw well-informed conclusions about experimental outcomes.
Doctoral candidate
Helmholtz center for environmental research
Halle
04.2025 - Current
- Investigating contribution of microbial necromass to soil carbon storage across varying land use intensity gradients in Germany
Education
Master of Science - Environmental Science
10.2020 - 08.2023
- Received Erasmus traineeship grant for Germany
- Nominated for Austrian FEM-tech scholarship
- Successfully completed a 4 months individual research project in 2 months
- Assisted a doctoral student for synthetically producing vivianite mineral in anoxic chamber and its analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD)
Bachelor of Technology - Chemical Engineering
07.2013 - 06.2017
- organized and hosted various events as a member of Rotaract Club (parent organization Rotary International)
- Industrial Project on Reducing Steam consumption by 28 % by mass & energy balance of the DCDA plant and Re-channeling of the pipe outlet within 5 months.
Skills
R software (data analysis and visualisation)PHREEQC (geochemical modelling)Aspen-Hysys softwareHTRI Xchanger Suite softwareKorf Hydraulics
Team Building
Past software
Adaptability
Analytical
Critical thinking
Calm under pressure
Dependable and responsible
MS office
Supervision and leadership
DNA extraction
Amplicon sequencing
Bioinformatics
Software
Python
Biorender
Interests
Sustainability reporting
GRI
Languages
English
Advanced (C1)
German
Elementary (A2)
Timeline
Doctoral candidate - Helmholtz center for environmental research
04.2025 - Current
Scientific Assistant - Martin Luther University
10.2023 - 03.2025
Master thesis student - Environmental Research, UFZ
05.2022 - 12.2022
University of Vienna - Master of Science, Environmental Science
10.2020 - 08.2023
Communications Intern - WWF India
11.2019 - 05.2020
Project Trainee - Antony Lara Enviro Solutions Pvt. Ltd
10.2019 - 09.2020
Manager - Reliance Industries Limited
09.2018 - 09.2019
Graduate Engineer Trainee - Reliance Industries Ltd
07.2017 - 08.2018
Vocational trainee - Lupin Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd
06.2016 - 07.2016
Nirma University - Bachelor of Technology, Chemical Engineering
07.2013 - 06.2017