Research Team  

Dr. Sanjeev Soni

Group Leader & Scientist-G

Dr. Sanjeev Soni holds a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Madras and a Ph.D. (Engineering) from IIT Ropar. His research focuses on thermoplasmonics, microneedle-based therapeutics and diagnostics, nanobiophotonics, light–tissue interactions, biological heat transfer, and optical properties of nanoparticles for biomedical applications.

Email: ssoni.csio@csir.res.in | snjvsoni3@gmail.com

CSIO Profile: https://icsio.csio.res.in/csio.ems/eprofile.aspx

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sanjeev-Soni-3

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=Bfvt9tUAAAAJ&hl=en

LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/in/sanjeev-soni-73ba4018

Dr. Rizul Gautam

ICMR Fellow (2020-2023)

Dr. Rizul Gautam completed her Ph.D. (Engineering) from AcSIR-CSIO, Chandigarh, under the supervision of Dr. Sanjeev Soni. Her doctoral research focused on "Injectable Hydrogels for Photothermally Modulated Drug Release". She earned her B.Tech in Biotechnology from DCRUST, Murthal, Haryana, and M.E. (Biotechnology) from UIET, Panjab University, Chandigarh, where she was awarded the Gold Medal for securing the first position in the university.

She has qualified GATE (Biotechnology) and the Himachal Pradesh State Eligibility Test (SET).

Email: rizulgautam.s@gmail.com | rizul.csio19a@acsir.res.in

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rizul-gautam-11a05467/

ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3747-8513

Dinesh Kumar

Ph.D. Scholar (CSIR-NET JRF Fellow)

Email: dineshthakur10322@gmail.com

Dinesh Kumar is a Ph.D. scholar at the Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-CSIO, Chandigarh, since August 2022. He completed his B.Tech in Biotechnology from Arni University, Himachal Pradesh.

He qualified the CSIR-NET JRF (AIR 109) in 2022 and also qualified GATE Biotechnology in 2021 and 2022, securing AIR 1520 and AIR 2000, respectively. Additionally, he qualified the DBT-JRF examination in 2022.

His research focuses on the fabrication of polymer- and hydrogel-based microneedle patches for transdermal theranostics, integrating therapeutic delivery and real-time diagnostics. His work aims to develop minimally invasive microneedle platforms for drug delivery, biosensing, disease monitoring, and personalized healthcare applications.

Aishani Wadhawan

Ph.D. Scholar

Aishani is pursuing her Ph.D. in Engineering at the Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR) – CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO), Chandigarh, since August 2024. Her research focuses on the development of wearable biosensors, particularly strain sensors and microneedle-based sensors for non-invasive physiological monitoring.

She holds a B.Tech in Biotechnology from Punjab Technical University and an M.E. in Biotechnology from the University Institute of Engineering & Technology (UIET), Panjab University, Chandigarh.

Prior to joining CSIR-CSIO, she worked as a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, where she contributed to a randomized controlled clinical study investigating the therapeutic potential of growth hormone in alcoholic hepatitis patients. This experience provided her with a strong foundation in clinical and translational research, complementing her current interdisciplinary work in biomedical sensing technologies.

Email: aishani74@gmail.com | aishani.csio24a@acsir.res.in

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/aishani-wadhawan

ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3444-3438

Mary Edna Janumala

Ph.D. Scholar (Integrated Dual Degree Program - IDDP)

Mary Edna Janumala is pursuing her Ph.D. in Engineering through the Integrated Dual Degree Program (IDDP) at the Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR) – CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO), Chandigarh. Her research focuses on the development of hydrogel-based microneedle platforms for the detection of cardiac biomarkers, particularly troponins, for non-invasive and point-of-care monitoring aimed at the early prognosis of cardiac events.

She holds a B.Tech in Biotechnology from Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation (KLEF), Vaddeswaram, Andhra Pradesh. Currently in the M.Tech phase of the IDDP, she is actively preparing for national-level examinations including DBT-BET JRF, GATE XL, and GATE Biotechnology to further strengthen her research expertise.

Her interdisciplinary research interests span biosensors, microneedle technologies, biomaterials, molecular diagnostics, wearable healthcare devices, and translational biomedical engineering. She is passionate about developing affordable diagnostic technologies and translating innovative research into impactful healthcare solutions.

Email: maryedna661@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/in/mary-edna-janumala-158a491a5

Ruhani Saluja

Ph.D. Scholar (Integrated Dual Degree Program - IDDP)

Ruhani Saluja is pursuing her Ph.D. (Engineering) through the Integrated Dual Degree Program (IDDP) at the Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR) – CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO), Chandigarh, since August 2024. Her research focuses on the development of microneedle-based diagnostic systems for biomedical applications.

She completed her B.Tech in Biotechnology from the University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET), Kurukshetra University, India. During her internship at ICAR–National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal, she gained hands-on experience in microbiological and molecular biology techniques. She also completed an internship at CSIR-CSIO, where she worked on the development and characterization of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and contributed to the characterization of food materials for spray-drying applications using techniques such as rheometry and surface tensiometry.

Her research interests include microneedle technologies, biosensors, biomaterials, nanomaterials, diagnostic devices, and translational healthcare technologies.

Email: ruhanisaluja008@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruhani-saluja-a6486422a

Ramandeep Kaur

Ph.D. Scholar (Industry-Sponsored Fellow)

Ramandeep Kaur joined the Ph.D. program in January 2026 in the Department of Biomedical Instrumentation at AcSIR–CSIR-CSIO, Chandigarh, under the supervision of Dr. Sanjeev Soni. Her research focuses on the development of microneedle-based diagnostic platforms for point-of-care biomedical applications. She is currently supported through an industry-sponsored fellowship.

She holds an M.Sc. in Human Genomics from Panjab University, Chandigarh (2023) and a B.Sc. in Microbiology & Food Technology from MCM DAV College, Chandigarh (2021). Prior to joining CSIR-CSIO, she worked as a Junior Research Fellow in the Department of Endocrinology at PGIMER, Chandigarh. She also served as an Assistant Project Manager and Research Intern at the ICMR–Center for Innovation and Bio Design, where she gained extensive experience in translational research, healthcare innovation, and biomedical product development.

Ramandeep is an inventor on two Indian patents, including technologies focused on assistive healthcare and intelligent patient care systems. She has also participated in several international innovation competitions, securing Second Place in the Harvard University–IIT Ropar Hackathon (2025) for the development of the Pharmacy Health Analytics & Resource Optimization System (PHAROS) and Fifth Place in the HackFrom International Hackathon organized by the University of California, Berkeley (2021).

Her research interests include microneedle technologies, point-of-care diagnostics, biosensors, biomedical device development, translational healthcare, and healthcare innovation.

Email: ramandeep.csio26j@acsir.res.in

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramandeep-kaur-sandhu-003628208

Ashutosh Sharma

Ph.D. Scholar (UGC-CSIR NET JRF Fellow)

Ashutosh Sharma is a Ph.D. scholar at CSIR–Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO), Chandigarh. He qualified the CSIR-UGC NET JRF Examination in June 2025 with an outstanding All India Rank (AIR) of 45.

He completed both his B.Tech and M.Tech in Biotechnology from Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak, Haryana.

His research interests are centered on the development and biomedical applications of nanoparticles and nanomaterials. He is committed to advancing innovative research in the biomedical field with a focus on improving patient care, developing next-generation diagnostic technologies, and contributing to translational healthcare solutions.

His broader scientific interests include nanobiotechnology, biomaterials, drug delivery systems, biosensors, and biomedical diagnostics.

Email: ats902525@gmail.com

Dr. Dheeraj Pratap

Assistant Professor
Optics and Photonics Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi)

Dr. Dheeraj Pratap obtained his Ph.D. in Physics from IIT Kanpur and M.Sc. in Physics from IIT Delhi. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor at the Optics and Photonics Centre, IIT Delhi.

From 2019 to 2022, he worked as a CSIR-Nehru Postdoctoral Fellow at CSIR–Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO), Chandigarh, where he conducted research in the field of plasmonic photothermal phenomena. His work focused on investigating the optical properties of nanoparticle aggregates and clusters for applications in plasmonic photothermal therapeutics.His research interests include metamaterials, plasmonics, photothermal phenomena, nanophotonics, nanoscale heat transfer, and light–matter interactions at the nanoscale.

Email: dpratap@iitd.res.in ! ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dheeraj-Pratap

Dr. Vikas

Postdoctoral Research Associate
University of Glasgow, United Kingdom

Dr. Vikas earned his Ph.D. (Engineering) from AcSIR–CSIR-CSIO, Chandigarh, under the supervision of Dr. Sanjeev Soni. He is a Gold Medalist in both M.Tech (Optical Engineering) and B.Tech (Electronics & Communication Engineering) from GJUS&T, Hisar. His Ph.D. research, titled "Investigation of Optical Interaction in Plasmonic Photothermal Therapeutics" (2018–2023), focused on light–tissue interactions and optical characterization of tumor tissues for photothermal therapy. During his doctoral studies, he worked as a DBT-JRF and ICMR-SRF at CSIR-CSIO.

Currently, he is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Glasgow, working on singlet oxygen dosimetry and advanced optical detection systems for photodynamic therapy.

Email: vikas5293@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/dr-vikas-bb98b3a1

Dr. Sarabjot Kaur

Dr. Sarabjot Kaur earned her Ph.D. (Engineering) and M.Tech (Advanced Instrumentation) from AcSIR–CSIR-CSIO, Chandigarh, under the supervision of Dr. Sanjeev Soni. She completed her B.Tech in Biotechnology from UIET, Panjab University, Chandigarh.

Her Ph.D. research, titled "Photothermal Assisted Antimicrobial Activity of Plasmonic Nanoparticles" (2018–2024), focused on the development and application of plasmonic nanomaterials for antimicrobial and sterilization purposes.

Research Interests: Nanoparticle synthesis, antimicrobial and sterilization technologies, plasmonic photothermal phenomena, and biomedical applications of nanomaterials.

Email: sjksaini19@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarabjot-kaur-194b88206/

Dr. Amit Kumar Shaw

Dr. Amit Kumar Shaw earned his Ph.D. (Engineering) from AcSIR–CSIR-CSIO, Chandigarh, under the supervision of Dr. Sanjeev Soni. He holds an M.Tech in Mechatronics from IIEST Shibpur and a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from MAKAUT, West Bengal.

He carried out his M.Tech thesis, worked as a DBT Project-JRF/SRF, and completed his Ph.D. at CSIR-CSIO. His doctoral research, titled "Photothermal Transport Phenomenon within a Biological Tissue in Presence of Photothermal Agent" (2017–2025), focused on heat transfer and thermal transport mechanisms in biological tissues for cancer thermal therapeutics.

Email: aks.amitkrshaw@gmail.com | amitk.csio19j@acsir.res.in
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amit-shaw-8238a796/

Dr. Gourav Sharma

Dr. Gourav Sharma earned his Ph.D. (Chemistry) from AcSIR–CSIR-CSIO, Chandigarh, under the supervision of Dr. Sanjeev Soni. He holds an M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Chemistry from Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak. He qualified the CSIR-NET/JRF in Chemical Sciences with an outstanding All India Rank (AIR) of 3.

His Ph.D. research, titled "Graphene-Based Nanomaterials for Heat Transfer Applications" (2019–2025), focused on the development of advanced nanomaterials for thermal management and energy applications. During his doctoral studies, he also served as a Chemistry Instructor at the Indo-Swiss Training Centre (ISTC), CSIR-CSIO, Chandigarh, for three years.

Currently, he is an Assistant Professor at Khalsa College for Women, Ludhiana.

Research Interests: Nanofluids, heat transfer, energy storage, thermochromic phase-change materials, and graphene-based nanomaterials.

Email: gouravcsir@gmail.com | gourav.csio19j@acsir.res.in
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gourav-sharma-62421614b/

Dr. Divya Khurana

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellow (Netherlands)

Dr. Divya Khurana earned her Ph.D. (Engineering) from AcSIR–CSIR-CSIO, Chandigarh, and is a Gold Medalist in B.Tech (Biotechnology) from UIET, Panjab University, Chandigarh.

She completed her Ph.D. under the supervision of Dr. Sanjeev Soni. Her doctoral research, titled "Plasmonic Photothermal Based Multimodal Therapeutics for Cancer Treatment" (2017–2023), focused on developing advanced nanomaterial-based strategies for cancer therapy. She was also awarded the DST WISE Postdoctoral Fellowship at CSIR-CSIO in 2025.

Research Interests: Nanoparticle synthesis, photothermal therapeutics, multimodal cancer therapy, and cancer nanomedicine.

Email: divyakhurana219@gmail.com