Professional Honors and Awards

April 2018

‘Bronze medal of the Faculty of Science’

Faculty of Science of P. J. Safarik University in Kosice, Slovakia


2016–present

‘Advisory Board Member’ (editorial board member)

Fitoterapia (Elsevier)

July 2015

‘2014 Arthur E. Schwarting Award’

American Society of Pharmacognosy (ASP) and Journal of Natural Products (ACS Pub.)

Sept 2014

‘Young Trainee Grant’ award

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology), European Union (EU)

  • For: EU COST FA1103 Training School 2014: “Isolation and characterization of fungal root endophytes”
  • Selection process: I was selected as one of only 12 Early Stage Researchers (ESR) from COST Countries and Near Neighbor Country (NNC) institutions, by open competition

June 2013–July 2013

‘Young Researcher’ at the 63rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (focus: Chemistry)

The Lindau Nobel Laureate Committee, Lindau, Germany

  • Selection process: I was selected in as one of only 625 young researchers from 78 countries, from a total of around 21000 nominations received from the whole world (that is, top 3% worldwide).
  • This selection was in the form of a multistage global competition post-nomination, and selection was made by the Nobel Laureates along with the Nobel committee.
  • I have had the opportunity to meet, listen to, and interact directly in person with 35 Nobel Laureates

Aug 2009–Sept 2009

‘Full Conference Grant’ award

ESF (European Science Foundation) and COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology), European Union (EU)

  • For: ESF-COST High-Level Research Conference-Natural Products Chemistry, Biology and Medicine II, Acquafredda di Maratea, Italy

July 2009

Awarded funding for International Summer School 2009 on HPLC application

DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), Germany

  • Under: The ‘Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe’ program

Oct 2008

Young Researcher Award 2008

KIIT School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Orissa, India

  • At: International Conference on “Emerging Trends in Biological Sciences”, KIIT
  • For: Best scientific contribution; discovery of anticancer drug camptothecin producing endophytic fungus, and microbiological, molecular and biosynthetic characterizations
  • Awarded by: Panel of judges headed by Prof. Dr. Richard R. Ernst (Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, 1991), chief guest of the conference

July 2007

Awarded funding for International Summer School 2007 on GC-MS application

DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), Germany

  • Under: The ‘Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe’ program

Aug 2003–Aug 2005

Bangalore University Scholarship

Bangalore University, Bangalore, India

  • For: Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Biotechnology

July 2000–July 2003

T. John Merit Scholarship for graduation

T. John College, Bangalore, India

  • For: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Biotechnology

2002–2004

Academic symposium and competition awards (Graduation / post-graduation)

Different colleges under the Bangalore University, Bangalore, India

  • Symposiums on ‘Bioinformatics’ at IISc, Bangalore organized by Edubiotech Pvt. Ltd., India (May 2004), on ‘Biotechnological Advances’ organized by CMRIMS, Bangalore, India (Feb 2004), and on ‘Cell & Molecular Biology’ organized by St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore, India (Sept 2001)
  • First Position in Extempore on ‘DNA Vaccines’ at CMRIMS Inter-college Fest, Bangalore, India (Feb 2004)
  • Second Position in Street Play (Stage Performance) on ‘Sociology’ at Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian College Inter-College Fest, Bangalore, India (Oct 2003)
  • First Position in Lecture on ‘Prions and Diseases’ at PES Institute of Applied Sciences Inter-College Fest, Bangalore, India (Dec 2002)
  • First Position in Debate on ‘Cloning of Humans-Ethical or Scientific?’ at Garden City College Inter-College Fest, Bangalore, India (Jan 2002)
  • Workshop on ‘Biotechnology Awareness’ at SSMRV College, Bangalore organized by Foundation For Biotechnology Awareness And Education, India (Dec 2001)