Tanvi Govil
Tanvi Govil
She/Her
BioWRAP Team
Meet Tanvi Govil
Assistant Professor
Coming from Chandigarh, a city picturesquely located at the foothills of Shivalik’s in northwest India, I, with a background in microbiology, cannot imagine myself doing anything else than exploring the world of bacteria and writing about them. I completed my Ph.D. in May 2022 as a Chemical and Biological Engineer with the South Dakota School of Mines. My Ph.D. research focused on bioprospecting extremophiles for executing a single-pot consolidated fermentation process for synthesizing Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics from locally sourced Agri-materials without prior pretreatments and characterizing chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties of biopolymers. Besides, my Ph.D. endowed me with desirable knowledge and skills to perform genome editing of thermophiles and execute systems biology (transcriptomics, metabolomics, and epigenetics) to identify valuable enzymes, proteins/metabolites, and pathways. As part of the postdoctoral role in the NSF RII T2 BioWrap project, I am keen to develop methods to functionalize PHA with lectins and other signaling molecules, preserve the activity of biomolecules, and study their release kinetics as the film degrades. I am also excited to work on decoding the metabolic networks (genetic pathways and key signaling quorum sensing responses) and Rules on Life that regulate nitrogen fixation in soybean fields.
Website: Tanvi Govil – Microbiologist with proficiency in Molecular Biology
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
We understand there are many questions you may have in regards to BioWRAP. Here are some answers to some frequently asked questions that we receive.
The long-term goal is to create a locally-sourced, customizable, spray-on biopolymer-based films to serve as soil cover that can be synchronized to crop growth cycles under differing climatic conditions and applied using precision agricultural equipment. The system would also support socioeconomic resiliency, positive bioeconomic cycles, biotechnology adoption, sustainable crop production, and soil health in EPSCoR states.
Transforming biopolymers into a local material will equitably distribute the costs and benefits of biotechnology adoption by crop producers and support rural workforce development. Creating a protective, but permeable spray-on biopolymer cover will provide physical weed suppression, enable crop producers to reduce herbicide use, protect soil ecosystem diversity, effectively manage field edges, help conserve natural resources, buffer waterways from agrochemical runoff, enhance land productivity, and increase crop production resiliency.
We hypothesize that adoption of BioWRAP technology will vary by region and producer characteristics, climate conditions, soil type, and underlying preferences will lead to differential adoption across regions and cropping systems. Our team plans to assess the potential market for BioWRAP using structured group discussions in locations where producers and purchasers/retailers to gain the most accurate assessment of the market potential of biodegradable biofilm technology.
Initial testing will include corn and soybeans. Application of the product may include autonomous spray platforms as well as field scale commercial sprayers.
