Dr. Meera C. Das passed B.Sc from Lady Keane Girls’ College, Shillong, securing 1st class 2nd in the year 1995. She did her M.Sc from NEHU also securing 1st class 3rd position in the year 1998. She qualified NET (CSIR, fellowship) in the year 2002. She obtained her Ph.D degree from NEHU on the topic “In vitro propagation of Cymbidium devonianum and Dendrobium lituiflorum, rare and threatened epiphytic orchids of North East India” in the year 2007.

As a research scholar, she participated in poster and oral presentations, symposiums and seminars conducted by the orchid society of India.

She joined Mizoram University as lecturer in the Department of Biotechnology from January-March 2007 and joined NEHU as a lecturer in Botany Department on 29th March, 2007. At present she is teaching Plant Development and reproduction and Plant Anatomy in M.Sc. level. She has one International publication and authored one chapter in a book Her current interest include tissue culture, cryopreservation and establishment of cryo-genebank for some threatened and endangered plants of North East India particularly Meghalaya.

Areas of Interest/Specialization:

Plant Tissue Culture; Cryopreservation; Cryobanking; Identification and characterization of viruses in commercially important plants of North East India; Virus elimination, Cryotheraphy

Experience

15 years of teaching in PG and 20 years of Research experience in Plant tissue culture and Cryopreservation.

Award:

Overseas associateship for NE teachers.  Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi, India

Ph.Ds awarded/ Supervised/Jt. Supervised:

• Dr.  Ladaplin Kharwanlang (2017) Mass Propagation of Panax species of North-East India through Somatic Embryogenesis.
• Dr.   Reema Vareen Diengdoh (2019) Asymbiotic seed germination and cryopreservation of Paphiopedilum insigne Wall.ex Lindl. And P. villosum Lindl
• Dr. Seram Devika devi (2020) Cryopreservation Strategies and invitro propagation Aquillaria malaccensis Lam.

Research Scholars currently Pursuing Ph.D:

• Ms.Alvareen Nongsiang.  Production of virus-free Cymbidium spp. Using biotechnological approaches.
• Ms. Evanroy Sungoh Production of virus-free citrus reticulata Blanco using cryotheraphy approach.
• Mr. M. Wanlambok Sanglyne. Cryopreservation and recovery strategies of selected citrus species of North-east India 

Administrative responsibilities undertaken:

• Warden of Lasubon Girls hostel #1w.e. f.  2009 till date.
• Warden-in-charge of Nohsngithiang hostel #2w.e. f. 2016 till date.
• Member of Anti-Ragging committee. Jan. 2021-Jan 2023
• Member of the central Committee on Residence. March 2019-March 2021
• Member of visiting team to Nongstoin College.

Academic affiliations:

• Life Member, The Orchid Society of India
• Member International society of Cryobiology
• Member of the Selection committee for posts of different projects, ICAR NEH Region. Umiam. 12^th March 2019.
• Life member of Indian Society for training and Development, Shillong Chapter

Research Projects

• Prof. S.K. Barik (PI) Prof. N. Venugopal (Co-PI) Dr. M.C. Das (Co-PI). Preventing extinction and improving conservation status of threatened plants through application of biotechnological tools (Sub-Project 1A). Sponsored by Ministry of Science & Technology, Department of Biotechnology. New Delhi, India. Sanctioned on 23rd March, 2012 and completed on 31st March, 2018.
• Prof. S. Kumaria (PI), Dr. M. C. Das (Co-PI), Dr. Hiranjit Choudhury (Co-PI); Collaborators: Dr. Sunita Shailajan Herbal Lab., Mumbai. Molecular characterization and chemoprofiling of two pharmacologically relevant species of Dendrobium found in Northeast India. Sponsored by Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology Government of India (under DBT’s Twinning programme for the NE. Sanctioned on 27th Jan. 2014 and completed on 26th April, 2017.
• Dr. M. C.  Das (PI), Prof. Suman Kumaria (Co-PI). Conservation of some Paphiopedilum species (Orchid) of North East India through asymbiotic seed germination and cryopreservation. Sponsored by University Grant Commission, New Delhi. Sanctioned on 01.04.2013 and completed on 31.03.2017.
• Prof. Suman Kumaria (PI) Dr. Meera C. Das (Co-I). Collaborators: Prof. Manu Agarwal University of Delhi, North Campus. Exploration of genomic-wide polymorphism, imprintomes, and methylomes to unfold the genetic, epigenetic and evolutionaries mysteries of basal angiosperms with emphasis on Nymphaea L. Sponsored by Department of Biotechnology’s program for the North East India. Sanctioned on 09.11.2016 and completed on 09.11.2019.
• Prof. S. R Rao (PI), Prof. S. Kumaria (PI) and Dr. M.C. Das (PI). Micropropagation of Lakadong Turmeric under Mission Lakadong. Sponsored by Government of Meghalaya. Sanctioned on 03.10. 2018.
• Network Programme for Enrichment and Update of Database on Genome Related Information for Indian Spermatophyta and Archegoniatae Taxa Phase II Department of Biotechnology, India BT/PR34491/BID/7/958/2020. PI Prof. Rama Rao (Principal Investigator), NEHU, Shillong, Co-PI. Dr M.C. Das (Co-Principal Investigator)

Publications

Publication/Books

• Diengdoh, R.V, M.C. Das, A. Nongsiang and S. Kumaria (2022). Recent In Vitro Propagation: Advances in Genus Paphiopedilum: Lady Slipper Orchids In: Commercial Scale Tissue Culture for Horticulture and Plantation Crops.  Eds. Editors S. Gupta and P. Chaturvedi. ISBN No. 978-981-19-0055-6.  Springer pp 317-335.
• DAS M.C*, S. D. DEVI, S. KUMARIA AND B. M. REED (2021).  Looking for a way forward for the cryopreservation of orchid diversity. Cryobiology https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cryobiol.2021.05.004.
• DIENGDOH R.V, S.  KUMARIA, AND M.C. DAS * (2020).In vitro seed storage of Paphiopedilum villosum Lind., an endangered lady’s slipper orchid. The NEHU Journal, Vol. XVIII, pp. 21-31.
• DIENGDOH R.V, S.  KUMARIA, AND M.C. DAS * (2019). Antioxidants and improved regrowth procedure facilitated cryoconservation of Paphiopedilum insigne Wall. Ex. Lindl. - An Endangered Slipper Orchid. Cryobiology. 87; 60–67.
• DEVI S.D, S. KUMARIA AND M. C. DAS* (2019). Development of Cryopreservation Protocol for Aquilaria malaccensis lam., a recalcitrant seeded tropical tree species CryoLetters. 40 (1); 18-27.
• DEVI S.D, B.  KHARSAHNOH, S. KUMARIA AND M. C. DAS* (2018). Artificial seed for short-term storage: using nodal buds in Aquilaria malaccensis Lam. Current Science.  115 (11); 2103-2109.
• DIENGDOH R.V, S.  KUMARIA, P. TANDON AND M.C. DAS* (2017). Asymbiotic germination and seed storage of Paphiopedilum insigne, an endangered lady's slipper orchid. South African Journal of Botany. 112; 215–224.
• DEVI S.D, S. BUI, S. KUMARIA AND M. C. DAS* (2017). In vitro rhizome induction of Hedychium coronarium Koenig., a rhizomatous medicinal and aromatic plant. Bioscience Discovery. 8(3); 432-437.
• KHARWANLANG L, M. C. DAS*, S. KUMARIA AND P. TANDON (2016). High frequency somatic embryos induction from the rhizome explant of Panax pseudoginseng wall. using thin cell layer section. International J. of Applied Biology and Pharmaceutical Technology. 7 (3); 32-40.
• KHARWANLANG L, M. C. DAS*, S. KUMARIA AND P. TANDON (2016) Histological and SEM studies on somatic embryogenesis in rhizome- derived callus of Panax assamicus. Ban. The Pharma Innovation. 5(4); 93-99.
• Das M. C (2015). In vitro propagation and Conservation of Cymbidium devonianum Paxt and Dendrobium lituiflorum Lindl. Rare and Threatened Epiphytic Orchids of North-East India. Biotechnological Approaches in Ex Situ Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources of Northeast India. In S. Kumaria, H Choudhury and M.C Das eds. Excel India Publishers. ISBN: 978-93-84869-79-3.  PP, 1-231.
• MOHANTY, P., P. NONGKLING, M. C. DAS*, S. KUMARIA and P. TANDON (2013) Short-term storage of alginate-encapsulated protocorm-like bodies of Dendrobium nobile Lindl.: an endangered medicinal orchid from North-east India. 3 Biotech 3(3); 235-239.
• Mohanty, P, M.C. Das*, S. Kumaria and P.  Tandon (2013). Cryopreservation of pharmaceutically Important Orchid Dendrobium chrysanthum Wall ex. Lindl. using vitrification-based method. Acta Physiol. Plant. 35; 1373-1379.
• MOHANTY P, S. PAUL, M. C. DAS*, S. KUMARIA AND P. TANDON (2012) A simple and efficient protocol for the mass propagation of Cymbidium mastersii: an ornamental orchid of Northeast India.  AoB Plants. 109; 297-305.
• Mohanty, P, M.C. Das*, S. Kumaria and P.  Tandon. (2012).  High-efficiency cryopreservation of the medicinal orchid Dendrobium nobile Lindl. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Culture. 109; 297-305.
• TANDON, P., S. Kumaria and M.C. DAS, (2012).Plant Resources of India: Potentials for Future Development Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. 82(S2); 283-289.
• DAS, M.C*., S. KUMARIA, and P. TANDON. (2011). Storage and high conversion frequency of encapsulated protocorm-like bodies of Cymbidium devonianum (Orchid). Journal of Horticultural Science & Biotechnology. 86 (6); 611-615.
• DAS, M.C., S. KUMARIA, and P. TANDON. (2008). propagation and conservation of Dendrobium lituiflorum Lindl through protocorm-like bodies.J. Plant Biochemistry & Biotechnology. 17 (2); 177-180.
• DOHLING, S., M.C. DAS, S. KUMARIA AND P. TANDON. (2007). Conservation of Splendid Orchids of North-East India. Biodiversity and its Significance in. P. Tandon, Y.P. Abrol and S. Kumaria eds). I.K. International publishers, New Delhi. ISSN/ISBN No. 81-88237-81-7. PP, 262-273.
• DAS, M.C., S. KUMARIA, and P. TANDON. (2007). Protocorm Regeneration, Multiple Shoot induction and exvitro Establishment of Cymbidium devonianum Paxt. Asian Journal of Plant Sciences 6 (2); 349-353.

(*Corresponding author)

Papers presented in Conferences/Seminars:

• National Conference on Biodiversity: Changing Patterns and Conservation Strategies hostel. Department of Botany, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur.Nov. 26-28, 2011
• National Symposium on Impact of Plant Tissue Culture on Advances in Plant Biology and XXXIII PTCA (1) Annual Meet.  St. Xavier’s College and Loyola Centre for research & Development, Ahmedabad. Jan. 19-21st January, 2012.
• 2nd International Symposium on Plant cryopreservation.   National centre for Genetic Resource preservation. Fort Collin, Colorado, USA, August 11-14, 2013
•   56th Annual meeting of the Society for Cryobiology.  Society for Cryobiology in association with ISBER, Organ Preservation Alliance. San Diego, USA, July 22-25, 2019.
• National seminar on “Himalayan Plants for medicine and Health: The way forward Department of Botany, Sikkim University. 29th March, 2019

Invited Lectures Delivered (A glimpse)

• National seminar organized by Sikkim University on “Himalayan Plants for medicine and Health: The way forward on the topic “Plant Tissue Culture: Application in Conservation to Some Medicinal Plants” 29^th March, 2019.
• Summer school organised by UGC MHRDC, NEHU on the topic "In Vitro Conservation of Some Medicinal Plants of Meghalaya" 8th July, 2019.
•  National Conference Cum Workshop (Hybrid Mode) on "Interdisciplinary Approaches to Taxonomy, Conservation and Economic Utilization of Floriculturally and Medicinally Important Orchids" and Orchid Show Organised by TOSI and BSI jointly with NEHU at BSI Eastern Regional Centre, Shillong Meghalaya, on March 5-7, 2021 On the Topic.” Cryopreservation: An approach for Long- term storage of Phyto-Diversity of Orchids of North- East India”.