Areas of Interest/Specialization:

Environmental Biotechnology, Microbial physiology, stress adaptation

Experience: 12 years 5months

From last 12 years My lab is focusing on some environmental issues and trying to find solutions in areas such as biofuel production, pesticide tolerance and mitigation and Bioprospection. For Microalgal biodiesel production, theeffect of different combination of abiotic stress factors on biomass, lipid content and FAME profiles of microalgae were investigated. Transcriptome of isolates analyzed under stress condition which provided the basic understanding of molecular mechanism in order to enhance the high neutral lipid production in microalgae. This may provide useful inputs for microalgal strain improvement to optimize their biofuel production.For the Characterization of pesticide-tolerant strains of microalgae, the diversity of microalgae at freshwater habitats of different districts of Meghalaya were studied with respect to their pesticide tolerance. The proteomic approaches applied in order to investigate the proteins involved in the pesticide tolerance. For Phycoremediation, we are using microalgae for the degradation of pesticide as a treatment option for the removal of pesticide residues from contaminated soil and wastewater at the laboratory scale. For Bioprospection (Antimicrobial, antioxidant, etc.) potential of microalgae, different local isolates of microalgae from Meghalaya were identified, now profiling of their PKS and NRPS genes are going on in order to search new targets for drug discovery.

Member of academic bodies

• Board of Studies, BTBI and School board Member SLS, NEHU, Shillong
• NEP-2020 for UG and PG syllabus framework of University and Dept.
• Life member of Academic bodies ISCA and BRSI

PhD Awarded/Supervised: Two students awarded, two students working

Administrative responsibilities undertaken: Warden of RS Hostel no. 8 since 2017

Publications

Publications: International: 16      National: 1

Book Chapters: 8 published by International publishers

Research Projects: 2 completed

Award / Scholarship

• Qualified Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) 2006 and SRF in 2009,
• Awarded first prize in Poster presentation in 7th Asia-Pacific conference on Algal Biotechnology December, 2009, New Delhi.
• Awarded DST fellowship (2011) for attending international conference SPPS Congress 2011, Stavanger, Norway

Seminar/workshop organized:

• 2014, Acted as Joint-organizing secretary at National Seminar on METABOLOMICS-A NEW FRONTIER IN NATURAL PRODUCTS RESEARCH held on 23-24 May 2014 organized by Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong-793022
• 2014, Acted as a Member in the organizing committee of National Workshop on "Hands on Training on Techniques in Biotechnological Research” held on February 24-March 08, 2014 organized by Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics and Department of Zoology under “DBT –NER Programme on strengthening of Infrastructure in Biotechnology teaching, training and research”.
• 2021, Acted as Organizing secretary at “National Seminar on Contemporary Research” In Biotechnology to be held on March 25th, 2021 organized under the aegis of UGC- SAP by Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong-793022
• 2022, Acted as a Member in the organizing committee of National Science Day on Feb 28th 2022 organized by School of Life sciences, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong-793022

Papers presented in Conferences/Seminars (After joining NEHU since 2010): 7

Any other:

• Given Invited lectures at ICAR, UGC-HRDC-NEHU
• Working as External examiner, PhD examiner, Papersetter
• Reviewer of international journals of repute such as Journal of phycology,etc.
• Incharge of Helix Club (2013-14), of BTBI Department to carry out extra-curricular activities such as debate, discussions, felicitations