Riten Chand Gosai

Biosecurity Authority of Fiji

Module 3, Level 3, FNPF Plaza 1,

33 Ellery Street, Suva, Fiji

Phone: (679) 3312512; Fax: (679) 3305043

Cell: (679) 8939774, 9702106, 7679291

Email: rgosai@baf.com.fj; ritechand.game@gmail.com

Personal website: www.gosai8.wix.com/nasauan

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Updated 12/12/2018

 

EDUCATION

2014 – 2016      MSc. Tropical Plant Pathology – University of Hawaii at Manoa

2008 – 2010      Bachelor of Agriculture – University of the South Pacific – Apia, Samoa

 

 

PROFESSIONAL (WORK) EXPERIENCE

November, 2018 – Present     Senior Plant Protection Officer, Biosecurity Authority of Fiji, Headquarters, Suva, Fiji

January, 2017 – Oct., 2018      Plant Pathologist, Biosecurity Authority of Fiji, Headquarters, Suva, Fiji

October, 2011 – July, 2014      MIS Officer Western Division/Biosecurity Officer (Imports/Parcel Post), Biosecurity Authority of Fiji, Cargo Section, Nadi                                                      International Airport, Fiji

June, 2011 – Sept., 2011         Biosecurity/Quarantine Officer (Arrivals Concourse), Biosecurity Authority of Fiji, Border Section, Nadi International                                                             Airport, Fiji

February, 2011 – May, 2011   Attaché, Biosecurity Authority of Fiji, Cargo Section, Nadi International Airport, Fiji

 

 

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

2014 – 2016      Graduate Degree Research, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Genetic Diversity Study, Development of Improved Diagnostic Assays and                              Investigation of the Vector for the Taro Vein Chlorosis Virus (TaVCV) in Hawaii

 

2010                  Undergraduate Degree Research, University of the South Pacific, Apia, Samoa. Study on the Effects of Climate (Temperature,                                             Humidity and Rainfall variations) on Egg Production at USP – School of Agriculture and Food Technology’s Alafua Poultry Farm

 

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Oct, 2015          Teaching Assistant (1 semester, 2016 University of Hawaii at Manoa), PEPS 630: Molecular detection of plant viruses

Feb, 2015          Guest Speaker (TPSS 300 class): delivered a lecture on the newly discovered Taro vein chlorosis virus (TaVCV) in Hawaii

July, 2009          Trainee Teacher, Mulomulo Secondary School, Nadi, Fiji; instructed Agricultural Science classes for Forms 2–7/ Grades 8–13 for partial                             fulfilment of requirements for the Bachelor of Agriculture degree programme

 

 

PUBLICATIONS

2018     Ram, J. A., Gosai, R. C. and Ratumaitavuki, E. (2018). Population dynamics of three species of Bactrocera in Rotuma Islands and implications                  on management. 10th International Symposium on Fruit Flies of Economic Importance, Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico (April 23-27, 2018).

2018     Atibalentja N., Fiafia S. T., Gosai R. C. and Melzer M. (2018). First Report of Taro vein chlorosis virus on Taro (Colocasia esculenta) in the U.S.                    Territory of American Samoa. Plant Disease 102(4): pp 828.

2011     Gosai, R. C. (2011). To be or not to be. Indian Weekender. Published July 22, 2011. Also used at the FANRPAN Annual High Level Regional                        Food Security Policy Dialogue; Advocating for the Active Engagement of the Youth in the Agricultural Value Chain 19 – 23 September, 2011 –                  Ezulwini, Swaziland

 

 

HONOURS AND AWARDS

2016     Golden Key International Honour Society – Honorary mention and graduation attire, Fall 2016 graduation program, University of Hawaii

2016     Distinction for Outstanding Academic Achievement – College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii                       

2014     Department of State funded United States-South Pacific Graduate Degree Scholarship by the East West Center tenured at the University of                    Hawaii – Manoa

2012     Best Performer Award for the 1st Half Year, 2012 – Border, Nadi – Biosecurity Authority of Fiji

2011     Gold Medal and Ricoh Business Centre Prize for the Most Outstanding Bachelor of Agriculture Graduate, University of the South Pacific

2010     Gold Medal and the Minister of Agriculture Prize for the Most Outstanding Bachelor of Agriculture Graduate

2010     Most Outstanding results in Animal Husbandry, Telefoni Retzlaff Memorial Award, University of the South Pacific, Apia, Samoa

2010     Most Outstanding results in Agricultural Economics, Extension and Education, The Chan Mow Award, University of the South Pacific, Apia

2010     Pacific Regional Winner, Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation (CTA)/ Agriculture and Rural Development Youths in the                        Information Society (ARDYIS) Essay Contest, Johannesburg, South Africa

2008     Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) Undergraduate Degree Scholarship, University of the South Pacific, Apia, Samoa

2007     College Dux, Mulomulo Secondary School, Nadi, Fiji

2006     College Dux, Mulomulo Secondary School, Nadi, Fiji

2006     College Student of the Year, Mulomulo Secondary School, Nadi, Fiji

2006     Bronze Medal, National Titration Competition – Senior Category, USP, Suva, Fiji

 

 

PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENTS

2017     Fresh Ginger Export Pathway review to resolve the quarantine status of the burrowing nematode (Radopholous similis) – part of the BAF                        Scientific Committee and nominated expert to oversee final stages of the experiment

 

2016     Potato Seed Certification and Targeted Pathogen Diagnostics Program – assisted with Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for                          several potato viruses. January – February, 2016. Agrosecurity Lab – Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences [College of                  Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR), University of Hawaii – Manoa]; in collaboration with several State agricultural                                    departments.

 

2014/2015 Potato Seed Certification and Targeted Pathogen Diagnostics Program – assisted with Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)                           for Potato Virus-Y. December 2014 – January 2015. Agrosecurity Lab – PEPS (CTAHR, UHM); in collaboration with several State agricultural                       departments.

 

 

PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS

2018     Southeast Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on the Development of Regulations for the Security of Radioactive Sources. October 23 – 25, 2018                Bangkok, Thailand

2018     Third International Conference on Biofertilizers and Biopesticides: Novel Industry Techniques, Market Trends, and International Cooperation.                August 07 – 10, 2018 Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

2018     Eighth Annual Chapman University Phytosanitary Irradiation Forum. June 13 – 15, 2018 Bangkok, Thailand

2018     Tenth International Symposium on Fruit Flies of Economic Importance. April 23 – 27, 2018 Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico

2018     Sixth Asia-Pacific Regional Review Meeting on Radiological Source Security. March 06 – 09, 2018. Colombo, Sri Lanka

2017     Regional IPPC Workshop on draft ISPMs and National Reporting Obligation (NRO). August 07 – 11 Nadi, Fiji

2017     Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Organization (APPPC) Plant Health Surveillance Planning and Coordination Workshop. July 17 – 21, 2017                        Chiang Rai, Thailand

2017     Twenty-third session of the Codex Committee on food import and export inspection and certification systems (CCFICS). May 01 – 05, 2017                    Mexico City, Mexico

 

 

PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS

2018     NZAID Project between New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries and Biosecurity Authority of Fiji. Trainings and workshops under seven                  different components – Plant Pathology, Entomology, Quality Management System, Plant Pest/Disease Surveillance, Remote Microscopy,                      Incursion Investigation and Response and Biosecurity Border Control/Inspection (2017 – 2019)

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2018     International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Regional Cooperation Agreement (RCA)/Innovative Technology Centre for Radiation Safety (iTRS)                  Radiation Safety Training Course. August 20 – 24, 208 Seoul, South Korea

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2018     Plant mutation breeding and supportive biotechnologies for Pacific Island Crops and Trees. May 14 – 25, 2018 Vienna, Austria (under the                      International Atomic Energy Agency technical corporation regional project RAS5079: Improving Crop Resilience to Climate Change through                    Mutation Breeding in Pacific Islands)

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2017     Developing Capacity for National Border Control of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) in Small Island Developing States in the Pacific. March                27 – 29, 2017 Suva, Fiji. Successfully completed course on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety for Customs Border Officials

 

2015     Private Applicator of Restricted Use Pesticide; certification by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture - Pesticides Branch. Effective April 7, 2015

 

2014/2016 Biosafety Principles and Practices Training. November 24, 2014. Conducted by the Office of Research Compliance – Biosafety Training                     Program. Successfully completed refresher training on June 02, 2016

 

2014     Laboratory Safety Training (UH Manoa Chemical Hygiene Plan). September 8, 2014. Basic requirements for laboratory safety in compliance                    with University of Hawaii - Manoa, OSHA and Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health regulations

 

 

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & ACTIVITIES

Memberships

-Member of the Golden Key International Honour Society (since October 2015)

-Member of the Agriculture and Rural Development Youths in the Information Society (ARDYIS) program since 2010 – initiative of the Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation (CTA)

 

Activities

2013     Social Reporter; CTA ICT4Ag Digital Springboard to Inclusive Agriculture conference, Kigali, Rwanda

2012     CTA Youth Strategic Stakeholder Workshop Pacific representative; Finalization and Implementation of the CTA Youth Strategy, Amsterdam,                    Netherlands

2011     CTA/ARDYIS Web 2.0 – Tools for Development Workshop Pacific representative, Accra, Ghana. Together with other participants, developed “A                Call for Stronger Support for Youth Involvement in Agriculture and ICT” Communiqué

2010     CTA/ARDYIS Essay Contest Finalist – Pacific Regional Winner; CTA Week, Johannesburg, South Africa

 

 

LEADERSHIP

2017     Successfully completed Pacific Leadership Programme (PLP)

2015     Vice-President – Pan Pacific Association – University of Hawaii - Manoa

2014     Sustainability Coordinator - East West Center Participants Association - University of Hawaii - Manoa

2010     President of the Duavata Community, University of the South Pacific, Alafua Campus, Apia, Samoa

2009     Secretary of the Fiji Students Association, University of the South Pacific, Alafua Campus, Apia, Samoa

2007     Head Boy, Mulomulo Secondary School, Nadi, Fiji

2006     Head Boy, Mulomulo Secondary School, Nadi, Fiji

 

 

COMMUNITY WORK

2011 – 2014     Secretary and Life Member of Shree Sanatan Dharam Nawaka Prem Sathsang Ramayan Kirtan Faag Bhajan Mandali – Cultural Organization

 

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​INTERESTS

2013 – Present     Freelance writer and sports analyst for Sportsone website (www.sportsone.ca)

2013 – Present     Sports Commentator and Radio Jockey for Radio S1 Dhamaka

 

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REFEREES

Dr. Michael Melzer,

Agrosecurity Lab – Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences,

College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources,

University of Hawaii – Manoa,

3190 Maile Way, Saint John Plant Science Building – Room 205,

Honolulu, Hawaii 96822

PH: +1 (808) 956-7887, +1 (808) 436-9169, Email: melzer@hawaii.edu

 

Dr. John S. Hu,

Plant Virology Lab – Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences,

College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources,

University of Hawaii – Manoa,

3190 Maile Way, Saint John Plant Science Building – Room 310,

Honolulu, Hawaii 96822

PH: +1 (808) 956-7281, Email: johnhu@hawaii.edu

 

Mr. Mohammed Umar,

Acting Head of School of

Agriculture and Food Technology,

Director of IRETA,

University of the South Pacific,

Alafua Campus, Samoa.

PH: (+685) 21671 Ext 204

Email: umar_m@samoa.usp.ac.fj

 

Mr. Falaniko Amosa,

Lecturer, Department of Crop Science,

School of Agriculture and Food Technology,

University of the South Pacific,

Alafua Campus, Samoa.

PH: (+685) 21671 Ext 288

Email: falaniko_a@samoa.usp.ac.fj

 

Mr. Dhirendra Nath,

Assistant Supervisor - Border,

Biosecurity Authority of Fiji,

Nadi Airport,

Fiji.

PH: (+679) 6720803 Ext 1009   Cell: (+679) 9957162

Email: dnath@biosecurityfiji.com