Connecticut State The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

Anuja Bharadwaj

 

Department of Analytical Chemistry
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
123 Huntington Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Voice: (203) 974-8457 | Fax: (203) 974-8502
E-mail: Anuja.Bharadwaj@ct.gov

 

Education:

Ph.D. in Biology, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India, 2004.
M.Sc. Agrochemicals and Pest Management, University of Delhi, India, 1995. 
B.Ed. in Science and Mathematics, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, India, 2004. 

B.Sc. University of Delhi, India, 1993.

 

Expertise:

Anuja has extensive experience in chemistry, botany, microbiology, entomology, and forensic toxicology.

 

Certifications:

  • Certificate Courses in Forensic Science, Continuing and Professional Education Program, West Virginia University, 2013-2014
  • Borkenstein Alcohol Course 2021 and Borkenstein Drug Course August 2021, CFSRE and Indiana University

State Career:

- Assistant Scientist II, CAES, November 2021 - present
- Forensic Science Examiner 1, Division of Scientific Services, Dept. of Emergency Services and Public Protection, November 2012 - November 2021
- Chemist 1, Division of Scientific Services, Dept. of Emergency Services and Public Protection, February 2012 - November 2012
- Post-Doctoral Scientist, CAES, July 2004 - February 2012


Past Research: 

After her master’s studies, Anuja entered the industry as a chemical and microbiological analyst. She conducted chemical, toxicological, and microbiological analyses of various samples such as pesticides, soil, water, cosmetics, food, etc. Coming back to academia, Anuja researched the use of mycorrhiza as a biocontrol agent and biofertilizer. Her post-doctoral work at CAES continued in biocontrol, researching the role of entomopathogenic fungi in the control of black-legged tick, the causal agent of Lyme Disease. Subsequently pursued a career in forensic science. She joined the Toxicology Unit of the Chemical Analysis Section of the Forensic Lab of the State as Chemist. Her work involved qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses to determine the identity and concentration of drugs, controlled substances, and alcohol in biological samples such as blood, urine, and other residue samples submitted by law enforcement and the Office of Medical Examiner’s office. She developed expertise in the area of analytical chemistry working on GC-MS, GC-FID, GC-FID-MS, EMIT, ELISA, and LCMS/MS and drug chemistry.

 

Current Research:

The legalization of marijuana in CT has opened many opportunities in this new field of study so she decided to come home to CAES to develop and validate methods for the analysis of medical and adult-use marijuana products. Currently, her focus area is method development for HPLC-UV for the analysis of cannabinoids.

 

Selected publications available from the author, Anuja.Bharadwaj@ct.gov

  • Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles and Book Chapters

     

    • Karmous, I., Vaidya, S., Dimkpa, C., da Silva, W., Alves-Barroso, K., Milagres, J., Zuverza-Mena, N., Bharadwaj, A., Abdelraheem, W., White, J. C., and Elmer, W. H. (2022). Use of Cannabis sativa L. in the synthesis of zinc oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles and evidence of their antifungal efficiency against Fusarium virguliforme in soybean. (In press).

       

    • Bharadwaj, A., Hayes, L. E., and Stafford, K. C. III. (2015). Effectiveness of Garlic for the Control of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) on Residential Properties in Western Connecticut. Journal of Medical Entomology, 52(4), 722-725.

       

    • Stafford, K. C. III, Williams, S. C., Magnarelli, L. A.,Bharadwaj, A., Nelson, R. S., and Ertel, S.-H. (2014). Expansion of zoonotic babesiosis and reported human cases, Connecticut, 2001-2010. Journal of Medical Entomology, 50(1), 245-252.

       

    • Bharadwaj, A., Stafford, K. C. III, and Behle, R. W. (2012). Efficacy and environmental persistence of nootkatone for the control of blacklegged tick (Acari: Ixodidae) in residential landscapes. Journal of Medical Entomology, 49(5), 1035-1044.

       

    • Bharadwaj, A. and Stafford, K. C. III. (2012). Susceptibility of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) to Metarhizium brunneum F52 (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) using three exposure assays in the laboratory. Journal of Economic Entomology, 105(1), 222-231.

       

    • Bharadwaj, A. and Stafford, K. C. III. (2011). Potential of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) as a bioassay probe for Metarhizium brunneum (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) activity against Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae). Journal of Economic Entomology, 104(6), 2095-2098.

       

    • Behle, R. W., Flor-Weiler, L. B., Bharadwaj, A., and Stafford, K. C. III. (2011). A Formulation to Encapsulate Nootkatone for Tick Control. Journal of Medical Entomology, 48(6), 1120-1127.

       

    • Bharadwaj, A. and Stafford, K. C. III. (2010). Evaluation of Metarhizium anisopliae Strain F52 (Hypocreales: Nectriaceae) for control of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae). Journal of Medical Entomology, 47(5), 862-867.

       

    • Bharadwaj, A. and Sharma, S. (2007). Effect of some plant extracts on the hatch of Meloidogyne incognita eggs. International Journal of Botany, 3(3), 312-316.

       

    • Bharadwaj, A., Sharma, S., and Makhaik, M. (2006). Toxic effect of hot water extracts of some botanicals on termites. International Pest Control, 48(6), 306-309.

       

    • Bharadwaj, A. and Sharma, S. (2006). Reducing phosphorous requirement using AM fungi in mulberry grown under alkaline conditions. Journal of Agronomy, 5(3), 471-477.

       

    • Bharadwaj, A. and Sharma, S. (2006). Role of arbuscular mycorrhizae in pest management. International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 32, 193-205.

       

    • Bharadwaj, A. and Sharma, S. (2006). Biocontrol of Meloidogyne incognita in Lycopersicon esculentum with AM fungi and oil cakes. Plant Pathology Journal, 5(2), 166-172.

       

    • Sharma, S. and Bharadwaj, A. (2005). Suppression of Meloidogyne incognita in Lycopersicon esculentum with AM fungi and plant extracts. Acta Horticulturae (ISHS), 695, 379-388. http://www.actahort.org/books/695/695_47.htm

       

    • Bharadwaj, A. and Sharma, S. (2005). Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in reducing phosphorous requirement in mulberry grown under alkaline conditions in Sustainable Agriculture. In Bandhopadhyay, A., Sundaram, K. V., Moni, M., Kundu, P. S. and Jha, M. M. (Eds.). Northern Book Centre, New Delhi, India, pp. 103-111.

       

    • Bharadwaj, A., Sharma, S., and Vasudevan, P. (2001). Potential of mycorrhizae as a biocontrol agent in Land Resource Management for Food, Employment and Environmental Security, published by Soil Conservation Society of India, New Delhi, India, pp. 311-320.