Role at ANSTO

Debashish leads the Aquatic Ecosystems and Food Provenance projects at ANSTO, where he uses isotopic and nuclear techniques to advance fisheries, aquaculture and wetlands research into the 21st century, providing contemporary solutions to a number of issues facing Australian industries and environments. His research offers insight into the structure, function and health of aquatic ecosystems, which may be used to improve the sustainability of our environment. Debashish is also at the forefront of food fraud research, using nuclear techniques to provide traceability and quality authentication to protect Australian industries and consumers

Expertise

Stable isotopes ecology; trophic linkages; food web connectivity; trophic pathways of energy and nutrient in aquatic ecosystems; mixing model; anthropogenic pollutant in aquatic ecosystems; blue carbon sequestrations by wetlands and fish; tracing carbon connectivity between groundwater and surface water food webs; isotope and elemental fingerprinting of biota; methods for food provenance and quality authentication; cost-effective and environmentally friendly aquaculture 

Qualifications & Achievements

• PhD (Saltmarsh and mangrove wetlands ecology), Australian Catholic University (ACU National)-2004
• MSc in Environmental Technology, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom-1998 
• Post-doctoral Research Fellow, ANSTO, 2004-2007
• Recipient of John Holliday Conservation Award from Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries) NSW, Australia for the most significant research contribution to the conservation of fisheries habitat in NSW-2002
• Wilcox Award, Outstanding Associate Editor contribution to the Wetlands (Springer International Journal)-2017
• Outreach and External Recognition Award, Environment Theme, ANSTO-2017
• Early- and Mid-Career Researcher (EMCR) representative of ANSTO for Australian Academic of science, 2019-2022
• Honorary Principal Fellow with the Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, 2019-present
• Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW, 2017-present
• Honorary Fellow, Department of Environmental Science, Macquarie University, Australia, 2015-present

Committee Memberships and Affiliations

• Associate Editor: Wetlands (Springer International Journal)
• Member: Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) 
• Member World Aquaculture Society

Publication records and impacts

Citation impact: H-index = 14; i10-index = 24 (using ‘Google scholar’) See https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?hl=en&user=NtS2cG0AAAAJ for full list.

Outreach

Science meets Business:Seafood provenance
Using ocean water to understand feeding habits of Humpback Whales
Improving aquaculture in Papua New Guinea
PNG Fisheries expresses great satisfaction progress of aquaculture initiative
A lift for fish at Tallowa dam: Study on Dietary impacts