Deputy Director

Dr. Ram Kulkarni has been associated with SSBS since 2014 and has taken up the role of Deputy Director in 2022. Dr. Ram obtained a master’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Pune and carried out doctoral work at CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory to understand the biochemistry of mango flavor. During this time, he also worked at the Max Planck Institute of Chemical Ecology, Germany, for a few months to complete his studies. Later he obtained postdoctoral experience at IISER Pune.

Dr. Kulkarni has the following current research interest under the broad theme of Food Biotechnology.

• Assessing genotype-phenotype associations in probiotic and technical properties of lactic acid bacteria
• Improving indigenous lactic acid bacterial isolates through adaptive laboratory evolution
• Development and multi-omic assessment of novel fermented foods
• Mango phytochemistry

Dr. Kulkarni has published several papers in the core international peer-reviewed journals in the above areas, along with attracting several research grants. He has also served as a Research Ambassador of DAAD, Germany. Dr. Kulkarni has broad administrative experience and has primarily handled portfolios including purchase, infrastructure, admission, etc. He has also been serving as QIC (previously IQAC) Coordinator for the last few years.