Areas of Interest/Speciation:

Microbiology, Microbial Ecology and Plant Pathology.

Experience:

PG teaching: 34years; Research/Guiding: 34 years

Awards :

• Fellow of Indian Mycological Society (FIMS), February 20, 2014

Ph.D. awarded/Supervised:

20 awarded. Currently, three research students are working under my supervision.

Administrative responsibilities undertaken (if any):

1. Completed my tenure as a Head, Department of Botany (2008-2011)
2. Worked as a Deputy Coordinator, UGC-Centre for Advanced Studies in Botany
3. Looking after the different duties assigned by the Department from time to time.        

Academic affiliations:         

1. Member of several academic bodies and societies
2. NEHU representative of governing bodies of several undergraduate colleges
3. Member of NEHU inspection team visiting different colleges
4. Member of selection committees of different colleges and within the Department of Botany
5. Associated with structuring and updating of PG and UG syllabi of Botany and Microbiology.
6. Chaired Board of Studies in Botany; Moderation Board of UG and PG in Botany and Microbiology
7. Involved in organizing National and International symposia organized by the Department of Botany, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong in the capacity of Convener, Organizing Secretary, Treasurer 
8. Involved in organizing Refresher courses, Short term courses, summer as well as Autumn Schools organized by the Department of Botany in the capacity of Course coordinator and Programme coordinator
9. Conducted study tours for M.Sc. students
10. Involved in preparation of academic reports of the department
11. Reviewed research articles

Research Projects

Completed several major research projects supported by different funding agencies (UGC, DBT).

Publications

Publication/Books:  90 published

Edited Book:

• One book “New Trends in Microbial Ecology”   (Eds. Bharat Rai and M.S.Dkhar)

Book Chapter: Six

1. Ranee, L and Dkhar, M.S. (1998). Comparative study on the fungal population of soil, casts and gut contents of earthworm. “New Trends in Microbial Ecology”   (Eds. Bharat Rai and M.S. Dkhar) pp 158-169.
2. Dkhar, D.N. and Dkhar, M.S. (1998). Earthworms population and enzymes activities of two pine forest stands. In: Ibid,pp. 150-157.
3. Dkhar, M.S., Kayang, H. and Dkhar, M. (2007). Microbial Diversity: A Review (Eds.P.Tandon, Y.P Abrol & S. Kumaria), I. K. International Publishers, New Delhi, Pp 192 - 203.
4. Laldinthar, R. and Dkhar, M. S. (2014). Leaf litter breakdown by two different earthworm species- Eisenia foetida (exotic) and Perionyx xcavates (indigenous) under laboratory condition. In Microbial Diversity and Biotechnology in Food Scarcity. R. N. Kharwar and R. Upadhyay, N. Dubey, R. Raghuwanshi, (Eds.).  Springer. pp. 581- 588.
5. Kharkongor P.S., Dkhar M.S. and Chuzho K. (june, 2021). Documentation and preliminary study of wood inhabiting fungi from two forest stands of Ri-Bhoi district, Meghalaya. In Biological pectrum of Northeast India:Annual Bioscience Communication Vol. 1.
6. Chuzho K. and Dkhar M.S. (2021).Wood-rotting fungi of Nagaland. In: Recent Advancements of Science and Technology by Nongsaing D., Paul D. and Marak J.C.P. Sara Publication, Ahmadabad, Gujrat, India, pp. 86-115.

Papers presented in Conferences/Seminars:

Delivered several invited talks in National Seminars /Symposia/Workshops. Prof. M. S. Dkhar and her group has participated and presented over 40 research papers in National/International Symposia/Seminars/Workshops

Collaboration/Consultancy:

Completed two Twinning project entitled,

• “Survey of endophytic fungi associated with some aromatic plants of North Eastern region and assessment of their effect on chemical profile and biological activity as antimicrobial, aflatoxin inhibitors and antioxidant” in collaboration with Prof. N. K. Dubey (PI) and Dr. Richa Raghuwanshi (Co-I) Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, sponsored by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India (2017-2020).
• “Fungal and mycotoxin contamination of stored maize (Zea mays Linn) samples in Meghalaya and anti-microbial and mycotoxin inhibitory efficacy of some biocontrol agents and essential oils of traditionally used medicinal plants of the region” under DBT’s program for the NE’in collaboration with Prof. N. K. Dubey (PI) and Dr. Bhanu Prakash (Co-I), Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi sponsored by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India (2014-2017).

 Any other:

Currently, the research interests include endophytes and essential oils of some medicinally important aromatic plants of north eastern region as antimicrobial agents against phytopathogens, and documentation and biodiversity of wood rotting fungi of different forest stands of north eastern region. Prof. Dkhar and her research group have reported nine wood rotting fungi for the first time from India. The species reported were  Microporus quarrie (Dawki, Jaintia Hills), Cyclomyces fuscus, Humphreya coffeatum and Heterobasidion perplexa, a rare species â?? new to India (Mawphlang Sacred Grove, Meghalaya), Coltriciella dependens (NEHU Campus, Shillong), Favolaschia calocera (Phusachodu community forest, Nagaland), Pholiota polychroa (Rusoma community forest, Nagaland) and Jackrogersella minutela and Porodisculus orientalis (also a new to India, Puliebadze reserved forest, Nagaland). The research work on wood -rotting fungi with special emphasis on edible fungi in different forest stands of Manipur is also in progress