PROF. FELIX BAST, PhD, FLS
Professor | Expedition Scientist | Science Communicator
Email: felix.bast [at] gmail.com | Phone: +91 9872152694 Institution: Department of Botany, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, 151401, Punjab
PROFILE SUMMARY
Senior Professor and Expedition Scientist with extensive experience in plant taxonomy, molecular phylogenetics, and marine ecology. Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholar and former scientist with the Indian Antarctic Mission, bringing over 16 years of higher education, scientific research, and administrative experience. Proven track record in species discovery, securing competitive national funding, institutional governance, and public science communication.
MAJOR SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES
Antarctic Flora: Discovered Bryum bharatiense (Moss) in the Antarctic Tundra during the 36th Indian Antarctic Expedition.
Novel Marine Algae (Indian Coast): Discovered and described six new species: Ulva paschima, Cladophora goensis, Ulva uniseriata, Hypnea indica, Hypnea bullata, and Acetabularia jalakanyakae.
First Hemispheric Record: Documented marine bacterium Planomicrobium okeanokoites in the Southern Hemisphere.
Environmental Ecology: Resolved the biological cause of Kerala’s "blood rain" phenomenon by identifying aerial spores of Trentepohlia annulata.
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS & EXPERIENCE
Central University of Punjab, Bathinda | Professor of Botany MAY 2010 – PRESENT
Member of the Executive Council and Academic Council.
Directing academic research in Taxonomy, Phylogenetics, and Molecular Phylogeography.
Leibniz-Zentrum für Marine Tropenforschung, Bremen, Germany | NAM-ZMT Guest Scientist NOV 2018 – FEB 2019
Sabbatical research on DNA barcoding and marine experimental ecology.
Indian Antarctic Mission, Bharati & Maitri Stations | Expedition Scientist DEC 2016 – APR 2017
Sabbatical research focusing on Antarctic flora ecology.
Global Fellowships & Training
Marine Biological Association, Plymouth, UK: Summer Fellow, Algal Taxonomy (2013).
Friday Harbor Lab, University of Washington, US: Summer Fellow, Marine Botany (2007).
IIT Bombay: CSIR JRF focusing on Algae-based desalination (2003–2005).
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY & GLOBAL POSITIONS
UPSC: Appointed Advisor (2024).
United Nations: Reference Group Member, UN-SDG-7 2026 goal profile.
International Science Council, Paris: Member of the high-profile advisory committee (2021).
Linnean Society of London: Elected Fellow (2022).
IUCN, Geneva: Member (2022).
AAAS-TWAS: Science Diplomat Alumni (2020).
RESEARCH GRANTS & GUIDANCE
Funding Ecosystem (Principal Investigator)
Secured 17 major research projects (DST-INSPIRE, SERB, MoES, CSIR, UGC) totaling over INR 1.54 Crores.
Acquired 9 teaching/training grants (UGC-MHRD SWAYAM, Science Academies) totaling INR 61.6 Lakhs.
Intellectual Offspring (Research Supervision)
PhD: 9 Awarded, 9 Undergoing.
Post-Doctoral: 1 Completed.
M.Phil / M.Sc.: 15 M.Phil Awarded, 38 M.Sc. Awarded.
PUBLICATIONS & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Total Peer-Reviewed Publications: 135.
Click here to view the full dynamic publication record
Authored Books: 7.
Intellectual Property: Indian Provisional Patent No. 202211011272.
Selected Syntheses
Bast, F., et al. (2014). Strong endemism of bloom-forming tubular Ulva in Indian west coast, with description of Ulva paschima Sp. Nov. PLoS ONE 9(10).
Kundu, P., & Bast, F. (2021). Molecular data reveals two new species of Hypnea from India. Botanica Marina 64(2).
Bast, F., Kubota, S. & Okuda, K. (2014). Phylogeographic Assessment of Panmictic Monostroma Species from Kuroshio Coast, Japan Reveals Sympatric Speciation. Journal of Applied Phycology.
Saini KC, et al. (2023). First report of Planomicrobium okeanokoites associated with Himantothallus grandifolius from Southern Hemisphere. PLoS ONE 18(4).
Bast, F. (2021). Perception of Online Learning Among Students From India Set Against the Pandemic. Frontiers in Education 6(317).
HONORS & RECOGNITION
President’s Inspired Teacher, Invited In-Resident Intern with President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan (2015).
Teaching Innovator Award, Ministry of Education, Government of India (2020).
DST-INSA-INSPIRE Faculty Award for Phylogenetic Diversity of Seaweeds (2012).
University First Rank with Gold Medal, BSc Microbiology, Kannur University (2000).