About the Contributors



About the Contributors

Shivom SinghjoinedtheDepartmentofEnvironmentalScience,ITMUniversity,Gwalior,India in2012,wherehecurrentlyistheAssistantProfessorofEnvironmentalSciences.Healsoworkedas GuestFacultyintheDepartmentofEnvironmentalSciences,atG.B.PantUniversityofAgricultureand Technology,Pantnagar.FollowingaPostdoctoralFellowshipattheDepartmentofBiologicalScience, G.B.PantUniversityofAgricultureandTechnology,Pantnagar,where,withDr.AnilKumarSharma hefiledIndianpatent,Govt.ofIndia.Dr.ShivomSinghreceivedtwoPh.D.degreesfirstinBotanyfrom MJPRohilkhandUniversity,BareillyandthesecondinEnvironmentalSciencesfromGurukulKangri University,Haridwar.HispostgraduatedegreeisfromtheGurukulKangriUniverisity,Haridwar,India in2003.HeisaFellowofActionforSustainable,EfficaciousDevelopmentandAwareness(FASEA) andholdsthemembershipofmanynationalandinternationalprofessionalbodies.Dr.Singhresearches onEnvironmentalmonitoringofdifferentaspectsofpollutionsandtheirbiologicalmanagementsand rhizospherebiology.Hiscurrentworkisaimedonbiofertilizerandbiopesticides.Hehaswrittenmore thanthirtyfiveresearchandreviewarticlesinreputednationalandinternationaljournals. Kajal SrivastavaisaPostDoctoralFellowattheG.B.PantUniversityofAgricultureandTechnol-ogy,Pantnagar,India.From2007-2009shewasaguestfacultymemberattheDepartmentofBotany,at BareillyCollege,Bareilly.ShereceivedherdoctoraldegreeinBotany,fromMJPRohilkhandUniversity, Bareilly,IndiaandhadstudiedpostgraduationinIndustrialBiotechnologyfromCh.CharanSinghUni-versity,Meerut,India.Dr.Srivastavaistheauthorofover35peer-reviewedpublicationsinnationaland internationaljournalsandalsoholdsmembershipofmanyprofessionalbodies.Herresearchspecifically focusesonbryomonitoring,plantbiochemistryandenvironmentalbiotechnology. *** Nagia AliisworkingasprofessoratTextileresearchdivision,DyeingandPrintingDepartment,at theNationalResearchCenter,Cairo,Egypt.Shehas42researcharticlespublishedindifferentnational andinternationaljournals.Currentlysheisrunningaprojectentitled“Greenstrategytoproductionsmart fibrestobeusedinpigmenthandloomsbyeconomicmethods.”

Feroz Ahmad AhangersoonaftercompletinghisB.ScfromDegreeCollegePulwama(2005-2007). MrFerozjoinedtheJiwajiUniversity,GwaliorforpostgraduatestudiesinEnvironmentalSciences.After finishinghispostgraduation(2008-2009)theauthorjoiindtheM.Philprogrammeinthesameuniversity (2010-2011)andcompleteditandhaspublishedfewofresearchpapersinnationalandinternational repute.DuringthesameyearhequalifiedUGC-JRFandnationaleligibilitytestinEnvironmentSciences

conductedbyUGC.Currently,heispursuingaPh.DprogrammeintheDepartmentofEnvironment Sciences,UniversityofKashmirandisworkingontheAirpollutionofMulberryontheBombyx Mori withfocusontheimpactofthepollutiononsilkproducingabilityofBombyx moriandthemicrobial diseasesusceptibilitytosilkworm.

Sajad Ahmad BhataftercompletingB.ScfromDegreeCollegePulwama(2006-2008)joinedtheDepart-mentofZoologyforPostGraduation.AftercompletingM.SCinZoology(2009-2011),theauthorqualified tojointUGC-CSIR.JRFandtheNationalEligibilityTestinLifeSciencesconductedbyCSIRIndiain 2012.Mr.SajadjoinedtheMicrobiologyandPathologylaboratoryatCentreofResearchforDevelopment, UniversityofKashmirSrinagarforhisPh.DprogrammeandisworkingonActinomycetesfromthelocal geographicalregionwiththetargetoftheresearchas,novelbioactivecompounds.Thestudyinvolvesthe isolationofactinomycetesbacteriafromsoilsamplesfromKashmirwithmolecularidentificationofthe isolatedsamples.Thefocusofthestudyistolookforsomenewnovelactinomycetespeciesandculture oftheisolatedbacteriaunderdifferentgrowthconditionstoobservetheactivityoftheextractsandsearch fornewnovelantimicrobial,antioxidantandantidiabeticcompounds.Theauthorhasalsoattendedmany conferencesandworkshopsandhaspublishedmanynationalandinternationalresearchpapers. Deepesh Bhattcompletedhisdoctoratedegreein2013inthefieldofPlantBiotechnologyandis currentlyworkingasanAssistantProfessorinBiotechnologyDepartmentatShreeRamkrishnaInstitute ofComputerEducationandAppliedSciences,Surat,Gujarat.PriortothishewasworkingasanAssoci-ateResearchScientistatresearchanddevelopmentunitofaleadinghybridseedcompanyMaharashtra HybridSeedsCompany(MAHYCO).HealsoworkedasaResearchAssociateattheNationalResearch CenteronPlantBiotechnology,PUSAcampus,NewDelhi.Dr.Bhattalsohasstrongresearchexperience inplantgenomicsandmolecularbiology,microarrayanalysis,subtractivehybridization,ricetransforma-tion,handlingcallus,suspensionandhairyrootculturewithgoodlistofpublications. Megha D. BhatthascompletedadoctoratedegreeinMicrobiologyfromG.BPantUniversityofAg-riculture&Technology,Pantnagarin2013andiscurrentlyworkingasaDeputyManager(Agribusiness) atGujaratstatefertilizersandchemicallimited,Vadodara,Gujarat.Shehasgoodresearchpublication inpeerreviewedjournals.Dr.Bhattalsoassessedsoilhealth,culturableandnon-culturablebacterial diversityusingDGGEinorganicandconventionalfarmingunderIndoSwissCollaborationproject. Arpita Bhattacharya,CSIRJRF,workingatCSIRNBRIasaPhDscholar.Hehasdonemygradu-ationfromCalcuttaUniversityandpostgraduationfromB.H.U,varanasi.Atpresentsheisworkingon microbesandtheirabilitytoinducedefensemodulatingstrengthinplantsagainstvariousbioticstresses existingintheenvironment.Herresearchareaofinterestinvolvesstudyingvariousplantmicrobeinter-actionsandunderstandingthevariousmetabolicpathwaysinvolvedinit.

Puneet Singh ChauhanobtainedhisPhDfromJiwajiUniversity,GwaliorinBiochemistry.After graduation,hedidhispostdoctoralresearch(2009–2011)atCollegeofAgriculturalChemistry,Chun-gbukNationalUniversity,CheongjuSouthKoreaafterthathehasworkedatCSIRNationalBotanical ResearchInstitute,Lucknow,IndiaasSeniorScientistFellowduring2011–2013.Atpresentheisworking asSeniorScientistatCSIRNationalBotanicalResearchInstitute,Lucknow,Indiaintheareaofplant microbeinteractions,stressbiology,microbialecologyandsoilmetagenomics.

Arezoo DadrasniaisaPostDoctoralResearchFellowinMolecularBacteriologyandToxicology laboratory,atInstituteofBiologicalSciences,Facultyofscience,UniversityofMalaya(UM).Dr. ArezooDadrasniareceivedherB.ScandM.ScdegreesinSoilsciences(chemistryandfertilizer)from GuilanUniversity,Iranin2004and2007,respectivelyandPh.DdegreeinEnvironmentalbiotechnology/ ToxicologyfromUniversityofMalaya,Malaysiain2013.Herareasofresearchinterestsaresoilsci-ence,remediationofsoilandwaterresources,solidwastemanagement,microbialdegradation,leachate treatment,enhancedoilrecovery,environmentalpollutiontreatment,isotopemonitoringremediation, andhazardouswastemanagementresearches. Anil DharhasvastexperienceinthefieldofMulberryresearchinNorthWestIndia.Asprincipal scientist,Dr.Dharhasdevelopedanumberoftechnologieswhichhaveresultedinsignificantimpacton sericultureindustryinnorth.ThemajortechnologiesincludePackageofPracticesformulberryBushand Treecultivation,Prunning-Shootharvestingformulberrytrees,andMulberrySaplingraisingtechnology forsubtropics.CentralSilkBoardandDirectorateofSericulture,J&KGovt.havejointlyhonouredDr DharwiththeAwardinrecognitionofDevelopmentofsuitableTechnologiesformulberryfarmingfor theNorthIndianStates(2009).HeistheonlyscientistbestowedwiththisawardsofarunderCSR&TI, Pampore.HeiscurrentlyworkingatRegionalSericulturalResearchStation,Jammu,India. Monika DhotehasdoneherM.ScandPh.DinBiotechnology.HerPh.D,(2013)entitled“Studies onpolycyclicaromatichydrocarboncompoundsinoilsludge”andhaspublishedthreeresearchpapers andonereviewpaperinInternationalJournals.Shehassevenyearsofresearchexperienceinthefieldof EnvironmentalMicrobiologyandBiotechnology.ShehasbeenawardedwithSeniorResearchFellowship fromCSIRforherPh.Dwork.Shehasreceivedthebestperformanceawardforanoralpaperpresentation attheNationalsymposiumorganisedbytheNationalAcademyofSciences,atKeralaUniversity.Cur-rentlysheisworkingasaResearchAssociateatCSIR-NCL,Puneandfocusingonstudiesonmolecular toolsofbioremediationofpetroleumhydrocarboncompounds,especiallyPAHs. Chijioke EmenikeisaPostDoctoralResearchFellowattheCentreforResearchinWasteManage-ment,UniversityofMalaya(UM).DrEmenikeobtainedhisB.Scdegree(Microbiology/Biochemistry) fromUniversityofNigeria,M.Tech(EnvironmentalManagement)andPhD(EnvironmentalToxicology &Bioremediation)degreesfromUM.HehasservedUMinvariousresearchprojectsforaperiodof fouryears.Hehasexperienceinenvironmentaltoxicology,remediationtechnologies,wastemanagement andriskassessment.Heisversatilewithsystemswhicharepivotaltobiostimulation,bioaugmentation andbioconversionsasrequiredinremedyingpollutedsitesandwastegenerationsystems.Hisrolesin teaching,coursedevelopmentandmentoringhavebeenoverwhelminglypositive.DrEmenikehaswrit-tenandpublishedanumberofscientificarticlesininternationaljournalsandpapersinproceedings,and contributedchapterstobookseditedbyothers. C. GhanshyamreceivedhisM.TechdegreeinInstrumentation&ControlEngineeringfromJawa-harlalNehruTechnologyUniversity,Kakinada,AndhraPradesh,anddidhisPhDintheareaofgas sensorsfromGNDUniversity,Amritsar.HewasaDAADFellowfrom1988-1990andworkedatthe InstituteofTechnicalPhysics,UniversityofKassel,Germany.HewasanUNDPFellowfromOctober 1991toDecember1991andworkedatTampereUniversity,Finland.HeisanHonoraryAdjunctPro-fessoratBESU,Shibpur,WestBengal.HeisalsoanhonoraryProfessorattheAcademyofScientific

andInnovativeResearch(AcSIR),CSIR-CSIO,Chandigarh.Forthepast35years,hehasbeenactively involvedinR&Dinthefieldofelectronandionbeaminstrumentation.CurrentlyheisworkingasChief Scientist,andHeadoftheAgrionicsDivisionatCSIR-CSIO,Chandigarh.Hisresearchincludesthin filminstrumentation,gassensors,electrostaticallyvapourdeposition,molecularbeamEpitaxyforIII–V compoundsemiconductors,pulsedelectricfieldtechniqueforpreservationofliquidfoodsetc.Hehas wideexperienceinthedesignanddevelopmentofsensorstructureandapplications.Hehaspublished morethan180papersinjournalsandproceedings.HewasaProjectInvestigatorforseveralnational projects.HeisaFellow&LifememberofInstituteofElectronics&TelecommunicationEngineers, NewDelhi,FellowofInstituteofEngineers,Kolkata(W.B). Krishna GiriisScientistBattheRainForestResearchInstituteinJorhat,Assam(IndianCouncilof ForestryResearchandEducation,Dehradun,MinistryofEnvironment,Forests&ClimateChange,GoI, India)andhasacquiredM.Sc.andPh.D.degreesinEnvironmentalSciencesfromG.B.PantUniversity ofAgricultureandTechnology,Pantnagarintheyear2010and2013respectively.Hehaspublishedabout 10researchpapersinpeerreviewedscientificjournalsofNationalandInternationalreputeandalso contributedpaperstoNationalandInternationalseminars,symposiumsandworkshops.Heisactively engagedinteachingandresearchactivitiesinthefieldofcarbonsequestrationandshiftingcultivation inNortheastIndia. Mansee GovilhascompletedherM.Sc.inAgriculturefromGovindBallabhPantUniversityof AgricultureandTechnology,Pantnagar,Uttarakahnd.Mrs.Govilisexperiencedintheapplicationof biofertilizers,floricultureandlandscapingandalsohavingexposureofmolecularbreedingonGroundnut attheInternationalCropsResearchInstituteofSemi-AridTropicsatHyderabad. Md. Anwar HossainistheleaderoftheMicrobialGeneticsandBioinformaticsLaboratory.He obtainedhisPhDin1991fromtheDepartmentofPharmaceuticalAnalyticalChemistry,Universityof Tokyo,JapanandcompletedhisPost-doctoralresearchfromSUNBOR,JapanandtheUniversityof MedicineandDentistry-RobertWoodJohnsonMedicalSchool,NewJersey,USA.Dr.Hossainbecame ProfessorinMarch1997andwastheformerchairmanofDepartmentofMicrobiology,Universityof Dhaka.Hehasbeenservingindifferentadministrativepositionsindifferentpublicandprivateuniver-sitiesandpost-graduatecolleges.Heisthefounderco-chair&currentlytheVice-presidentofAsian FoodSafetyandSecurityAssociation(AFSSA).HeisthenationalexpertmemberoftheNationalTask ForceonBiotechnologyforBangladesh.Dr.Hossainisontheboardofgovernorsandservesasacouncil memberintheBangladeshCouncilforScientificandIndustrialResearch(BCSIR).Hehasreceived theBestResearcherAwardin2011fromUniversityGrantCommissions,Bangladesh.Dr.Hossainhas beenworkingasadedicatedresearcherandiscurrentlyleadingseveralprojectssuchas–(i)FMDVin Bangladesh:GenomeanalysisandVaccinedevelopment’;(ii)EnvironmentalAntibioticsandResistant GenePoolPollutions:ItsImpactondisseminationofDrugResistance,and(iii)FoodHygieneand FoodbornePathogensinBangladesh.Heissupervisingastheco-principalinvestigatoroftheproject “ArsenicMicrobiomeandits’applicationinBioremediationofAs-Pollution”.

Salmah Binti IsmailwasborninKualaLumpur,MalaysiainNovember1964.Shegraduatedfrom UniversityofMalaya,MalaysiawithaB.Sc.(Hons)inMicrobiology(1985-1989),followedbyMSc.In Bacteriology(1994-1997)andPh.D.inMolecularBacteriology(1998-2000)fromthesameuniversity.

SheiscurrentlyaLecturerintheBiohealthDepartment,InstituteofBiologicalSciences,FacultyofSci-ence,andUniversityofMalaya,Malaysia.Herresearchinterestsincludetheapplicationofbiofertilizer, plantgrowthpromotingbacteria,biosufactant,biocontrolofagriculturaldiseasesandpests,remedia-tiontechnologies,vaccineproductionformycobacteriumtuberculosisandplasturellamultocida,wound healing,andmolecularbacteriology. Mamta K.isaPhDstudentintheDepartmentofEnvironmentalScience(IGAEERE)JiwajiUniver-sity,Gwalior,MadhyaPradeshIndia.SheobtainedherMaster’sdegreefromJiwajiUniversity,Gwalior, India.SheisanInspireFellowoftheDepartmentofScienceandTechnology.Herareasofinterest includeenvironmentalpollutionandsolidwastemanagement.Shehaspublishedresearchpapersin variousjournalsandistheauthorofthreebooksonenvironmentalscience. K. NarasimhuluhasbeenworkingatNITWarangalsince17-01-2008asanAsst.Professorinthe BiotechnologyDepartment.HehasworkedinthefieldofEnvironmentalBiotechnologyandpublished 20researchpapers.HehasconductedtwonationallevelworkshopsintheDepartmentofBiotechnology sponsoredbyTEQIP-II.HehasundergoneR&DtrainingatRiceUniversityforonemonth,sponsored byTEQIP-II.HehasguidedtwentyundergraduateprojectsintheareaofEnvironmentalBiotechnology andhasbeensanctionedaresearchproject(underFasttrack)onBioethanolproductionforthreeyears (2014-2017).HehasdesignedanddevelopedacourseonDownstreamProcessinginBiotechnologyas apartofdevelopingsuitablepedagogicalmethodsforvariousclasses,intellectualcalibersandresearch ine-learningunderNationalMissionprojectoneducationthroughICTanddevelopinganothercourse onNovelSeparations. Anil KumarobtainedhismastersanddoctoraldegreesinbiochemistryfromLucknowUniversity in1973and1983,respectively.HeworkedasLecturerinBiochemistryattheLucknowUniversityfor about08years.In1985,hejoinedProf.JackPreisslabattheMichiganStateUniversity,EastLansing, USA.There,heworkedonDNAsequencingandsitedirectedmutagenesis.HeisworkingasProfessor &HeadoftheSchoolofBiotechnology,DeviAhilyaUniversity,Indore,IndiasinceJune,1991.Hehas alsoworkedinmanyAdministrativepositionsfortheUniversity.HehasalsoworkedasActingVice-ChancelloroftheUniversitymanytimes.HeisafoundingmemberoftheSchoolofBiotechnologyatthe DeviAhilyaUniversity.Hehaspublishednearly120fulllengthresearchpapersinvariousInternational andNationaljournalsofhighreputeandauthorednearlyadozenbooksincludingAdvancedtopicsin MolecularBiology(HorizonScientificPress,UK),GeneticEngineering(NovaSciencePublishers,USA), BiochemicalTests(VivaBooksPvtLtd,Delhi),Enzymes&EnzymeTechnology(MVLearning,London &NewDelhi),andguidedmorethan25Ph.D.students.Healsoauthorednumberofchaptersformany booksincludingEncyclopediaofMolecularCellBiology&MolecularMedicine.Hewasinvitedtohost &chairasymposiumatthe4th_{WorldCongressofCellular&MolecularBiologyheldatPoitiers,France} in2005.Hehostedandorganizedthe5th_{WorldCongressofCellular&MolecularBiology(November} 02-06,2009)&wastheCongressPresident.HeisafellowofmanySocietiesincludingWorldSociety ofCellular&MolecularBiology,Francewhere21NobelLaureatesarealsothefellows.In2012,his chapteronRegulationofGeneExpressionhasbeenpublishedinEpigeneticRegulationandEpigenom-ics(WileyVCH).In2014,hisupdatedchapteronRegulationofGeneExpressionhasbeenpublishedin RNARegulationandagaininSyntheticBiology-AdvancesinMolecularBiologyandMedicine.

Ashish KumardidhisM.Sc.(Ag.)andPh.D.inPlantPathologyfromG.B.PantUniversityofAgri-culture&Technology,Pantnagar.HedidhisPostDoctoratefromInternationalCropsResearchInstitute forthesemi-aridtropics,Hyderabad.HisspecificareasofresearchareMolecularbreedingforbiotic andabioticstressinplants,functionalgenomicsofcropplants,pathogenpopulationcharacterization andpopulationgenetics,biologicalcontrolofbioticandabioticstressesandplantdiseasemanage-ment.PriortohisappointmentasScientist,PlantPathology,Dr.Kumarhasbeenawardedwiththe DepartmentofBiotechnologyfundedResearchassociateshipatICRISAT,Hyderabad.Onaccountof hisprofessionalachievements,Dr.Kumarhasreceivedseveralprestigiousawardsandhonourssuchas Prof.M.J.NarasinhanacademicmeritawardofIndianPhytopathologicalSociety(IPS)atZonallevel, DBT-ResearchassociateshipawardbyDepartmentofBiotechnologyandYoungScientistawardby professionalsocieties.HehasservedasPrincipalInvestigatorofanationalprojectfundedbyMPCST. Hehassofarguided3M.Sc.studentsinPlantPathology.Dr.Kumarhaspublishedaboutmorethan 30researchpapers/reviewsinnational/internationaljournalsofrepute.Hehaspreparedseveralbook chapterspublishedbyinternationalandnationalpublishers.HehasdonepioneeringresearchonMap kinasebfromTrichoderma virens.

Madhuree Kumari, CSIR-SRF working at CSRI-NBRI, lucknow. She has completed masters inbiotechnologyfromBanasthaliVidyapeeth.AtpresentherresearchworkisBiosynthesisofsilver nanoparticlesanditsroleininhibitingthegrowthofpathogenicfungus.Alongwithsilvernanoparticles, shealsoworkedongoldnanoparticlesbiosynthesisandit’sapplicationincatalysisdegradationofwater pollutants. Aradhana MishraobtainedherPhDfromR.D.University,Jabalpurin2007.Afterwardsshejoined CSIR-NBRIasWomenScientistFellowunderWomenScientistScholarshipSchemeofDepartment ofScienceandTechnology,GovernmentofIndia.SheisatpresentSeniorScientistintheDivisionof PlantMicrobeInteractions,CSIR-NBRI.Herresearchinterestsincludeworkonunderstandingofsoil microbialdiversityandmicrobialefficiencyofdieselcontaminatedsoiltopredictthefateofpossible dieselbiodegradationunderfieldconditions;developmentofnovelplantgrowthpromotingTrichoderma protoplastfusants,andelucidatingeffectofgreenhousegasesonplants,utilisingtranscriptome,pro-teomic,andmetabolomics.Recentlysheisworkingonbiosynthesisofnanoparticlesanditsapplication inbioremediationofpollutantsalongwithitsbeneficialroleinagriculture. Gaurav MishrahascompletedhisM.Sc.andPh.DdegreeinSoilSciencefromG.B.PantUni-versityofAgricultureandTechnology,PantnagarPresentlyheisworkingasascientistBattheRain ForestResearchInstitute,Jorhat,Assam.Hehaspublishedmorethan10researchpapersinNational andInternationalreputedjournals. Shashank MishraisworkingatCSIR-NBRI,asaPhDscholar.Hehascompletedhisgraduationfrom V.B.SPurvanchalUniversity,JaunpurandmastersfromA.P.SUniversity,Rewa.Hisresearchareaof interestinagriculturalmicrobiology,agriculturebiotechnology,proteomicsstudyduringbioticandabiotic stresscondition,formulationofbiofertilizersforimprovingthecropproductivityandfertilityofsoil.

Yugal Kishore Mohanta,PassedM.Sc.Biotechnologyin2010(Firstclassfirst).Currentlyheisa PhDstudentinDept.ofBotany,NorthOrissaUniversity,Orissa,India.Hepossessessomeexcellent scientificcreditintermsofscientificpublicationinhighlyreputedjournalslikeBMCPlantBiologyetc.

Tapan Kumar Mohanta, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, RepublicofKorea.Hecompletedtwoyears(2012-2014)ofpostdoctoralresearchassociateresearch, NationalInstituteofPlantGenomeResearch(JNUCampus),NewDelhi.HewasawardedaPhDin EnvironmentalandBiosensorsScience,Dept.ofPlantBiology,UniversityofTurin.HepassedMSin Bioinformaticsin2007,UniversityofTurin,Italy.HepassedM.Sc.inBiotechnologyin2006(First classfirst),NorthOrissaUniversity,OrissaIndia.Dr.Mohantahaveseveralexcellentscientificcredit intermsofscientificpublicationinhighlyreputedscientificjournalslikeBMCGenomics,PLoSOne, BMCPlantBiologyetc. Nibedita Mohanta,PassedM.Sc.Biotechnologyin2007.Shehastwoyears(2008-2010)ofresearch experienceasaResearchFellow,Dept.diBiologiaVegetale,UniversityofTurin,Italy.Sheposses someexcellentscientificcreditintermsofscientificpublicationinhighlyreputedjournalslikeBMC Genomics,BMCPlantBiologyetc. Chandrika M. NanayakkaraisaSeniorLecturerattachedtotheDepartmentofPlantSciences, UniversityofColombo,SriLanka.SheearnedherbasicdegreeinBotanyfromUniversityofColombo, M.Sc.inAppliedMicrobiologyfromUniversityofKelaniya,SriLankaandPh.D.inEnvironmental MicrobiologyfromUniversityofAberdeen,UK.SheisthefounderofthetwonewacademicPro-grammes:M.Sc.inAgriculturalMicrobiologyandDiplomainMicrobiologicalTechniques,conducted byDepartmentofPlantSciences,UniversityofColombo.ChandrikaholdsvariouspositionsattheSri LankaCouncilforAgricultureResearchPolicyandSriLankaAccreditationBoardforConformityAs-sessment.Sheauthoredmorethan40publicationsincludingbooks,chaptersinbooks,journalarticles andshortcommunications.Shealsocontributedtothepublicationsonnationalinterestbycoauthoring NationalAgricultureResearchPolicyofSriLanka2012-2016.Shehasresearchinterestsinbioremedia-tion,biofertilizersandantimicrobialcompoundsofnaturalorigin. Ruqeya Nazir,completedherPh.D.inMicrobiology(2004-2009)fromtheDepartmentofMicrobiology, FacultyofMedicalSciences,UniversityofDelhi,Delhi,andhaspursuedherpostgraduationinMedical Elementology&Toxicology(2001-2003)fromtheDepartmentofMedicalElementology&Toxicology, FacultyofScience,JamiaHamdard,NewDelhi,andBachelor’sinBiologicalScience(1998-2000)from UniversityofKashmir.ShehasworkedasaresearchscientistatDivisionofVeterinaryMicrobiologyand immunology,SKAUST–Kashmir.Asaresearchstudentfromtheverybeginningofhercarrier,shehas workedextensivelyinvariousaspectsofToxicology,virologyandmicrobiology.WorkedasaSeniorRe-searchFellow,(2006–2009)andjuniorResearchFellow(2003–2006)intheDepartmentofRespiratory Virology,VPChestInstitute,UniversityofDelhi.Shehadalsopursuedherpostgraduationdissertation fromDepartmentofHematology,AllIndiaInstituteofMedicalSciences,AnsariNagar,NewDelhi.She hasqualifiedGraduateAptitudeTestinEngineering(GATE),ConductedbyIIT,Chennai,Indiain2003. AndhasreceivedbestposterAwardinICAAICON,41stannualconferenceoftheIndianCollegeofAllergy, AsthmaandImmunologyheldon9-12,Dec,2007attheGoldenJubileePaintalMemorialauditorium, V.P.ChestInstitute,Delhi.ShehasbeenalsoawardedwithInternationalMeritTravelAwardtoattend

IVthOrthomyxovirusResearchConference2007,atMarineBiologicalLaboratoriesinWoodsHole,MA, September2007,atUniversityofWisconsin-Madison,USA.AfterbeingappointedasAssistantProfes-sorattheCentreofResearchforDevelopmentUniversityofKashmir,shehaspublishedmanyresearch papersinjournalsofnationalandinternationalreputeandispresentlyguidingmanyM.PhilandPh.D researchscholars.SheteachestoxicologyandMicrobiologytothePostGraduatestudentsofDepartment ofEnvironmentalScience,UniversityofKashmir.Shehasorganizedconferencesatthenationalleveland haspresentedherresearchworkinanumberofnationalandinternationalconferences. Rashmi PaliwalhasacquiredM.Sc.degree(EnvironmentalScience)fromGurukulKangriVish-wavidyalaya,Haridwar,Ph.D.degree(EnvironmentalScience)fromG.B.PantUniversityofAgriculture andTechnology,PantnagarandavailedUGC-NETandARS-NET.Sheisanactivememberof“Associa-tionofMicrobiologyofIndia”and“TheIndianScienceCongressAssociation”.Shepossesses6years ofresearchexperienceinthefieldsofbioremediationandbiodegradationofrecalcitrantcompounds. Shehaspublishedresearchpapersinleadinginternationalresearchjournalsandhasalsocontributed papersinNationalandInternationalseminar,symposiumandworkshop. Shailesh PandeyisworkingasaScientistatRainForestResearchInstitute,Jorhat,Assam.Hedid hisMastersandPh.DinPlantpathologyfromG.B.P.U.A&T.Pantnagar.Heisactivelyengagedin teaching,researchandextensionactivitiesinthefieldofplantpathology.Dr.Pandeyhasover15sci-entificpublicationstohiscreditinnationalandinternationaljournalsofrepute.Hisareaofinterestis populationbiologyofplantpathogens,biologicalcontrolandplantdisease)management. Shipra Pandey,PhDscholar,worksatCSIR-NBRI,Lucknow.PandeyhasgraduatedfromAllahabad UniversityandreceivedamastersinMicrobiologyfromBarkatullahUniversity.Herareasofresearch workisplantmicrobeinteractions,biosynthesisofnanoparticles,howmicrobesbiosynthesizemetal nanoparticlesandthemechanismbywhichthesenanoparticlesinhibitthegrowthofphytopathogenand theirapplicationinagriculture.

Manoj Kumar PatelreceivedhisB.TechdegreeinElectronics&CommunicationEngineeringfrom NationalInstituteofTechnology(NIT),Jamshedpur,IndiaandcompletedhisM.TechinAdvancedIn-strumentationEngineeringfromAcademyofScientificandInnovativeResearch(AcSIR),NewDelhi, India.Atpresent,heisworkingasascientistintheAgrionicsDivision,CSIR-CentralScientificInstru-mentsOrganisation,Chandigarh.HeisalsoanhonoraryAssistantProfessorinAcademyofScientificand InnovativeResearch(AcSIR),CSIR-CSIO,Chandigarh.HeisarecipientofthePostgraduateResearch PrograminEngineering(PGRPE)Fellowship-CouncilofScientificandIndustrialResearch,Government ofIndia.Hisresearchinterestsincludeadvancedagri-instrumentation,automation&mechanizationin agriculture,electrostaticprocessesappliedtoagriculture,electrostaticdepositionofantimicrobialliquids forsurfacedecontamination,airbornechargedparticulatetechnologyforair-pollutionabatementand instrumentation&controlforperishablefoodproducts.Heisanactivereviewerofmanynationaland internationalSCIjournals. J. P.N. Rai,SeniorProfessor&HeadDepartmentofEnvironmentalScience,G.B.PantUniversity ofAgricultureandTechnology,Pantnagar,Uttarkhand,India,hasacquiredM.Sc.andPh.D.degrees (EnvironmentalScience)fromNorthEasternHillUniversity,Shillong,India,has25yearsUGandPG

teachingexperienceinthefieldofenvironmentalbiotechnologyandwasteutilizationand28yearsresearch experienceinthefieldofplantenvironmentinteractionleadingtobioremediationandbiodegradation ofrecalcitrantcompounds.Hehassuccessfullycompletedadozenresearchprojectsfundedbynational andinternationalagencies.Hehassupervised24Ph.Dand36M.Sc.studentsandhaspublishedover 85researchpapersinscientificreputedjournals,besidescontributingseveralpopulararticles.Hehas availedresearchassociate-shipofCouncilofScientificandIndustrialResearch,GovernmentofIndia, baggednationalawardofcommissiononscientificdictionaryfromMinistryofHumanResourceDe-velopment,Indiaandhaslifemembershipofseveralacademicnationalandinternationalsocieties.Dr. Raihasalsobeenrecognizedandapprovedasfunctionalareaexpertonbiodiversityandsolidwaste managementbyMinistryOfEnvironmentandForests,GOI,India. R.J. RaoisaRectoratJiwajiUniversity,GwaliorandProfessorinSchoolofStudiesinZoology JiwajiUniversity,Gwalior,MadhyaPradesh,India.Hehas27yearsofresearchexperience.Hehascom-pletedhisMScandPhDinZoologyfromBhopalUniversity,India.Heisamemberofvarioussocieties andcommunitiesandhascompleted11researchprojects.Hehaspublishedresearchpapersinvarious nationalandinternationaljournals.

Santonu Kumar SanyalhasaspecialinterestinResearchsuchasMicrobialBio-remediationof arseniccontaminatedwateranddevelopaneco-friendlysustainabletechnologyforarsenicfreewater. Sanyalisalsoworkingonaproject“prevalenceofWhiteSpotSyndromevirusinthecoastalbeltshrimp firmsofBangladesh’. Y. Pydi SettyhascompletedB.TechinChemicalEngineeringatAndhraUniversity,Visakhapat-nam,Indiain1976andM.TechandPh.DinChemicalEngineeringatIndianInstituteofTechnology, Madras,Indiain1978and1984respectively.AfterwardsProf.Y.PydiSettyhasbeenveryactivein AcademicsandResearchwork.Hehasmorethan30yearsofexperienceinTeachingandResearch.He hasguidedseveralstudentsforM.TechandPh.D.HehasbeenworkingintheareasofFluidization Engineering,WastewaterTreatment,FluidizedBedDrying,CirculatingFluidizedBeds,andModeling, SimulationandOptimizationofChemicalProcesses.Hehaspublishedmorethan35papersinNational andInternationalJournalsandpresentedmorethan20papersatnationalandinternationalconferences. Hehasreceivedthreeawardsforbestpaperpublication.

Fayaz Ahmad ShahcompletedB.ScfromAmarSinghCollegeSrinagarduring2006-2008,the authorjoinedtheDepartmentofZoologyattheUniversityofKashmirforhispostGraduatestudies (2009-2011).AftercompletingM.ScinfirstdivisiontheauthorqualifiedjointUGC-CSIR-JRFcon-ductedbyCSIRIndiain2012.TheauthoriscurrentlypursuinghisPh.DatMicrobiologyandpathology LaboratoryCentreofResearchforDevelopment,UniversityofKashmirandisworkingonthebioef-ficacyofindigenousmedicinalplantsagainstaflatoxinproducingAspergillsfungiandaflatoxins.The authorisworkingonthemajorAspergillusspeciesdamagingstoredfooditemsandisalsoworkingon theanalysisoftheaflatoxinproducingabilityofdifferentAspergillusspecies.Furtherthefocusisthe quantificationofaflatoxinsamongdiversestoredfooditems.Theauthorhasalsoattendedmanyconfer-encesandworkshopsandhaspublishedmanynationalandinternationalresearchpapers.

Krishna Kumar SharmadidhisM.Sc.(Ag.)andPh.D.inPlantPathologyfromG.B.PantUniversity ofAgriculture&Technology,Pantnagar.HedidhisPostDoctoratefromVivekanandParvartiyaKrishi AnusandhanShala,Almora(Uttarakhand).Hisspecificareasofresearcharebiologicalcontrolofbiotic andabioticstressesandplantdiseasemanagement.PriortohisappointmentasanAssistantProfessor ofAgriculture,Dr.SharmawasservingasaResearchAssociateatVivekanandParvartiyaKrishiAnu-sandhanShala,Almora.Onaccountofhisprofessionalachievements,Dr.Sharmahaspublishedmore than15researchpapers/reviewsinnational/internationaljournalsofrepute.Hehaspreparedseveral bookchapterspublishedbyinternationalandnationalpublishers. Tarlan SheikhavandiisathirdyearPhDstudentinsoilscienceandplantnutritiondepartmentin Çukurovauniversity-Turkey.Herresearchinterestissoilcontaminationwithheavymetalsandbioreme-diation,morespecifically,phytoremediationofheavymetalcontaminatedland.AfterherB.Sc.onsoil scienceatStateUniversityofTabriz-Iran,shestudiedsoilclassificationandevaluationattheStateUni-versityofTabriz,wherehermainareaofstudywassoilmicromorphology.Later,herdissertationbecame basedonusageoforganicandsyntheticconditionerseffectsonsoilmicro-morphologicalproperties.A relatedpaper,EffectofbiologicalsludgeandPolyacrylamideonimprovementoftopsoilaggregation, waspublished.ShecontinuedherstudiesinAnkara,TurkeyonsoilgenesisatAnkaraUniversityfora secondmaster’sdegree,whileparticipatinginaprojectonsoilsurveyandmapping(GIS-based).Her secondmaster’sdissertationwasapresentedprojectonworld’ssoilandvegetationclassificationmethods. Mohini SinghisanAssistantProfessorinDepartmentofEnvironmentalSciences,CentralUniver-sityofHaryana,Mahendergarh,IndiawithspecializationinWastewaterTreatmentandEnvironmental Management.ShehasmorethantwoyearsofteachingexperiencetoUndergraduateandPostGraduate students.ShewashonoredbyUttarakhandCounsilofScienceandTechnology,India(UCOST)as‘Young Scientist’in4thUttarakhandStateScienceandTechnologyCongressinyear2009.Shewastherecipient ofINSPIREFellowshipbyDepartmentofScienceandTechnology(DST),GovernmentofIndia,New Delhi,Indiaforpursuingdoctoralresearch.Shehaspublishedherresearchworksatnationalandinter-nationaljournalsofrepute.SheisthememberofInternationalSocietyofEnvironmentalBotanist,Indian WaterResourcesSocietyandAsia-PacificChemical,Biological&EnvironmentalEngineeringSociety.

Satyendra Pratap SinghworkingasaPh.D.scholaratCSIR-NationalBotanicalResearchInstitute, Lucknow.HedidhismastersfromAllahabadAgriculturalUniversity,AllahabadinMicrobiology.Now adaysheisacticilyparticipatedinthefieldofagriculturalmicrobiology.Hisresearchareaofinterestis inthemicrobialdiversityidentificationandcontrolofdiseaseorganisms,oftenworkingareaisinallied sectorssuchasfoodtechnologyandenvironmentalmanagement.

Saurabh Kumar SinghisholdingthepositionofTechnicalAssistantinAICRIPonRiceatJNKVV, CollegeofAgriculture,Rewa.Dr.SinghisPhDinLifeScience.Dr.SinghishavingisexpertiseinRice agronomy.Dr.Singhishavingmorethan15internationalandnationalpaperstohiscredit. Vikram SinghdidhisdoctoratedegreeattheGovindBallabPantUniversityofAgricultureand Technology,Pantnagar,Uttarakhand,IndiainBiochemistrydiscipline.Thereafter,hejoinedtheCentral ResearchInstituteforDrylandAgriculture(ICAR),Hyderabad,AndhraPradesh,IndiaasaResearch Associateundertheproject‘NationalInitiativeonClimateResilientAgriculture(NICRA)’sanctioned

byICAR,NewDelhi,India.Inthisjob,heexploredthefunctionalandstructuralaspectrelatedtomi-tochondrialelectrontransportchaincomplexesproteinatheatstressconditioninMaize(Zeamays). Presently,heisworkingasavisitingscientistattheAgriculturalResearchOrganization,Israel.Asa researcherinAROheisinvestigatingthemolecularmechanismandcrosslinkofethylenebiosynthesis andROSgenerationpathways.HeexploredtheroleofmajorgenesresponsibleforROSgeneration, ethylenebiosynthesisandsignaling,includinginvolvedtranscriptionfactors.Hehaspublishedmany researchpapersinreputedjournals,co-authoredpublishedbooks,andbeenaneditorialboardmember ofmanyreputedjournalswiththemembershipofvariousscientificsocieties. Munawar SultanaisayoungMicrobiologistinBangladeshwhoiscurrentlyservingasanAs-sistantProfessorintheDepartmentofMicrobiology,UniversityofDhaka,Bangladesh.Dr.Sultana hascompletedherSecondaryandHighersecondarySchoolcertificateExaminationfromtheDhaka Boardin1995and1997,respectively.SheobtainedB.Sc.(withhonours)inacademicsession2001and M.S.in2002fromtheDepartmentofMicrobiology,UniversityofDhaka,Bangladesh.ShegotDAAD (GermanAcademyExchangeService)fellowshipforconductingaPh.D.inGermanyandin2010;she completedherdoctoralstudywithaverygoodgrade(Magna-cum-LaudeinGerman)fromtheInstitute ofBioscience,FacultyofChemistryandPhysicsofTUBergakademieFreiberg,Germany.In2014,she wasselectedasaFulbrightvisitingfellowtoconductresearchatUniversityofCalifornia,SantaCruz, USA.Dr.Sultanaacquiredconsiderableexperienceinwritingscientificprotocols,conceptpapersand researcharticlesandalsocontributedsubstantiallytotheprogressofresearchinherinstitution.Sheis associatedwiththeresearchgroupattheMicrobialgenomicsandbioinformatics(www.microbialgen. du.ac.bd)laboratoryoftheDepartment.Sheiscurrentlyinvolvedinvariousnationalandinternational projectsandisactivelyinvolvedingrantwriting,trainingandguidingofM.S.andPh.D.studenttheses. Atpresentshehasmorethan17researcharticlespublishedinpeerreviewedimpactedinternational journals.Dr.Sultanahasconsistentlyshownhighscientificexcellenceandresearchcapability,which, isduetoherintellectualcapacityandarduousperseverance.Heroverallcontributioninteachingand researchintheDepartmentofMicrobiology,UniversityofDhakaishighlypraiseworthyandwillbe beneficialtoimproveandenhancethecapacityoftheUniversityofDhaka,Bangladesh.

Deep Chandra Suyalisactivelyworkinginmicrobialdiversityandecologyorientedresearchwork since2010.HecompletedhisB.Sc.degreein2008fromS.S.J.Campus,Almora(KumaunUniversity, Nainital).Next,hesuccessfullycompletedhisM.Sc.andPh.D.degreesinMicrobiologyfromGovind BallabhPantUniversityofAgricultureandTechnology,Pantnagar,in2010and2014,respectively.At present,heisengagedinIndo-EuropeanInternationalcollaborativeproject“SAHYOG”. R. K. TiwariistheSeniorScientistinAICRIPonRiceatJNKVV,CollegeofAgriculture,Rewa. Dr.Tiwari’sspecialtyisinRiceAgronomy.PriortohisassignmentasSeniorScientist,Dr.Tiwariheld positionsasSMSandProgrammeCoordinatoratKrishiVigyanKendra,Rewa.Dr.Tiwarihasmore than50Nationalandinternationalpublicationstohiscredit. A.N. TripathihasbeenservingasaScientist(PlantPathology)fortheIndianCouncilofAgricultural ResearchattheCentralResearchInstituteforJute&AlliedFibres,Barrackpore,Kolkata(W.B.)since 2011.WithadoctoratedegreeinPlantPathology,minoringinMolecularbiologyandBiotechnology withspecializationinMolecularFungalpathologyandbiologicalcontrolfromG.B.PantUniversity

ofAgriculture&Technology,Pantnagar(U.K.),IndiaincollaborationwithICAR,theNationalBureau ofPlantGeneticResources,NewDelhi,India.Dr.TripathididhisM.Sc.Ag.(PlantPathology)with specializationinPlantBacteriologyatCSK,HimachalPradeshKrishiVishvaVidyalaya,Palampur (H.P.)andaB.Sc.(Ag.)fromJawaharLalNehruKrishiVishwaVidyalay,Jabalpur(M.P.).Hehas receivedtheICAR-JuniorResearchFellowship(PlantSciences)inPlantPathology-2002;JointCSIR-UGC,JRF&NET(LifeSciences)2004andICAR-NET,2006,2008,2009&2010.Hehasauthored morethan10researchpapers,contributedseveralchapterstobooks,populararticles,farmerstechnical leafletsandeditedbookchaptersandresearcharticles,fornationalandinternationalpublishers.Hehas beenbestowedwiththeCertificateofMerit-94thFOCARS-2012fromNAARM,Hyderabadandbest posterawardin2013fromtheIndianPhytopathologicalSociety(EasternZone).Dr.Tripathiworkedas anAsst.ProfessorofPlantpathologyandMicrobiology,intheDivisionofCropProtection,oftheCol-legeofHorticultureandForestry,attheCentralAgriculturalUniversity,Pasighat,ArunachalPradesh in2010-11.HestartedhisprofessionalcareerasaResearchAssociateattheCentralRainfedUpland RiceResearchStation(CRURRS),CRRI,Hazaribag,Jharkhandfrom2008-2009&furtherjoinedthe ProjectImplementationUnit,ICAR-KrishiAnusandhanBhavan–II,PusaNewDelhifrom2009-2010. HeisthelifememberofTheIndianNaturalFibreSociety. S. K. TripathihasheldthepositionofProfessorandHeadoftheDepartmentofPlantPathology, JNKVV,CollegeofAgriculture,Rewa.Dr.Tripathiisactivelyassociatedinteaching,research,andex-tensionforthelast30years.Hehasvastexperienceinthefieldofplantpathologyandhasguidedmore than40studentsinPh.D.andpostgraduatestudies.Hehashadmorethan100publicationsinNational andinternationalrefereedjournals.HehasbeenawardedseveralnationalawardsliketheKPVMenon Award,theCropResearchAward,theBestResearchPaperAwardandtheBiovedFellowshipAward.

Praveen Kumar VermareceivedhisPh.DfromtheUniversityofLucknowonthetopic‘Studies intheHepaticaeofNilgiriHillswithspecialreferencetoEpiphytictaxa’andalsoworkedasaJRF andaSRFintheAICOPTAXprojectfundedbyMoEF,Govt.ofIndia.Presently,heisworkingatthe ForestResearchInstitute,Dehradun.Hehaspublishedmorethan40researchpapersinnationaland internationallyreputedjournals.Hisareaofinterestisthetaxonomyofliverworts,conservationand useraspect,specificallythecharacterizationofthemossgeneraSphagnum.Currently,heisengaged invariousresearchprojectssuchasthe‘UtilizationPotentialofSphagnum’andthe‘Ecologyofan InvasiveSpeciesMimosa.’

Khursheed Ahmad WaniisanAssistantProfessorintheDepartmentofEnvironmentalScience, ITMUniversity,Gwalior,MadhyaPradesh(India).HecompletedhisM.Sc.andPh.D.inEnvironmental ScienceatJiwajiUniversity,Gwalior,India.Hehasmorethanfiveyearsofteachingandresearchexpe- rience.Hisareasofinterestincludevermicomposting,environmentalimpactassessmentsandoccupa-tionalhealth.Hehaspublishedresearchpapersinvariousnationalandinternationaljournalsandisthe authorofthreebooksonenvironmentalscience.Heisthememberofvariousnationalandinternational organizationsandisintheeditorialboardofvariousjournals.Hehasorganizedvariousprogrammeson environmentalawarenessandhascompletedaresearchprojectsponsoredbyMadhyaPradeshcouncil ofScienceandTechnology,Bhopal(India).

Ayoma WitharanaisasciencegraduatewithaB.Sc.degreeinForestryandEnvironmentalSciences. ShecompletedtheMasterofScienceprogrammeinEnvironmentalSciencewiththespecializationin EnvironmentalScienceandTechnologyatUNESCO-IHE,theNetherlands.Theresearchcomponentwas basedon‘Metalleachingduringanaerobicacidificationofsewagesludgeandpotatopealwaste.’During theaboveprogramme,shehadtheopportunitytofollowtaughtcourses,assignmentsandresearchwork whichmostlyfocusedontechnologiesthataddresscurrentenvironmentalproblems.Shealsoearned aresearch-basedMaster’sDegreeinthefieldofEnvironmentalManagementfromtheUniversityof Moratuwa,SriLanka.Theresearchwasfocusedon‘InvestigationofZincRemovalCapacitiesofDiffer-entSorbentMaterialstobeusedinConstructedWetlands.’Atpresent,sheisworkingtowardsaPh.D. degreeatUniversityofMoratuwa,SriLanka.