Brief CV

Academic Qualifications

• PhD in Environmental Science: CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow  & University of Lucknow, UP, India (2009) 

• UGC-JRF-NET in Environmental Science, University Grants Commission, Govt. of India (2003)

• Master of Environment Management (University First Rank), Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India (2003)

Research Interests: Exploring ecological solutions for attaining the UN-SDGs

• Restoration Ecology & Land System Management: Drivers of land/soil degradation; Restoration of marginal/degraded/polluted land; Biomass production from marginal/degraded land; Pesticides and plastic pollution in agroecosystems; Land system management & UN-SDGs

• Sustainable Agriculture & Agriscape Management: Agrobiodiversity & biocultural diversity; Adaptive & climate resilient, and planet-friendly agriculture for food & nutrition security; Plant-microbe  interactions; Soil carbon sequestration; Resilience; Nature-based solutions (NbS);  Agroecosystem services; Sustainable agriscape management & UN-SDGs

• System Sustainability & Policy Research: Sustainability Science; Environmental governance; Indigenous & local knowledge (ILK); Bioeconomy; Circular economy; Urban complexity; Policy realignment & Localization of SDGs for the sustainable development of India

Teaching & Research Experience

• Teaching Experience (MSc, M.Phil, & PhD): 14 years

• Postdoctoral Research Experience: 15 years

• Research Experience (including PhD): 20 years

Research Guidance (MSc, MPhil & PhD)

• PhD Guided: 8;  Guiding: 5

• MPhil Guided: 7

• MTech Guided:1

• MSc Dissertation: 26

• Summer Research Fellows (INSA, NASI & IASc): 5

Academic Responsibilities

• Member, IQAC Working Committee, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 2024-

• Convenor, MSc Environmental Sciences (Ecological Sciences), IESD, BHU, 2018-2022; 2024-

• Admission Coordinator, Faculty of Environment & Sustainable Development, IESD, BHU, 2024-

• Member, SWAYAM Executive Committee, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 2023-

• Member, Admission Task Force, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 2023

• Member, Teach for BHU Fellowship  (TFB), Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 2022-

• Member, Academic Council, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, 2018-2020

Awards/Fellowships

• Fellow, The National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI), Prayagraj, 2021

• Fellow, The National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, (NAAS), New Delhi, 2018

• Member, The National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI), Prayagraj, 2010

• Associate, The National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, (NAAS), New Delhi, 2014

• Founder Member, Indian National Young Academy of Sciences (INYAS), INSA, 2015-19

• ICAR-Lal Bahadur Shastri Outstanding Young Scientist Award, ICAR, Govt. of India, 2017

• INSA Medal for Young Scientist, Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi, 2013

• Malviya Memorial Young Faculty Award, The Biotech Research Society (BRSI), India, 2016

• HIYOSHI Young Ecologist Award, HIYOSHI Corporation, Japan, 2013 

• NASI-Platinum Jubilee Young Scientist Award, The National Academy of Sciences, India, 2010.

• Fellow, Society for Science of Climate Change & Sustainable Environment (FSSCE), New Delhi, 2020

• Fellow, International Society for Environmental Botanist (FISEB), NBRI, Lucknow, 2017

• Fellow, International Society for Tropical Ecology (FISTE), BHU, Varanasi 2013

• Fellow, Society for Plant Research (FSPR), Meerut, India, 2013

Honorary Recognitions/Academic Involvements

• Founding Chair, Agroecosystem Specialist Group, IUCN-Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM), 2016-

• Visiting Professor: Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China

• Visiting Professor: University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE

• Visiting Professor: Sao Paulo State University, Brazil

• Lead Author: Business & Biodiversity Assessment (Methodological Assessment of the Impact and Dependence of Business on Biodiversity and Nature's Contributions to People), UN-Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services (UN-IPBES), 2023-2025

• Member, Subject Expert Group of Environment and Sustainable Resource Management, Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, Ministry of Education,  Govt. of India, 2023

• Listed in the top 75 global ideas to promote LiFE (Life Style for Environment), LiFE Mission, NITI Aayog, Govt of India, 2023

• Featured in Stanford University's list of the world's top 2%  of Scientists,  2021-2023

• Selection Committee Member, NASI-SCOPUS Young Scientist Award in Environmentally Sound Sustainable Development, Elsevier in collaboration with the National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI), 2022

• Member, the Training Quality Improvement Management Committee (TQIMC), National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), Ministry of Rural Development, Govt of India, Hyderabad, 2022

• Steering Committee Member of the International Union of Biological Science (IUBS), Paris, France, sponsored project to the International Society of Environmental Botanists (IESB), CSIR-NBRI, Lucknow, 2022-

• Invited Expert for the TIMES Higher Education World University Ranking, 2021-2023

• Executive Council Member, Society for Science of Climate Change & Sustainable Environment, New Delhi, 2021-

• Advisor, The National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI)-Varanasi Local Chapter, 2019-

• Member, NASS Journal Scoring Committee (NRM Section), NAAS, New Delhi, 2019-

• District Academic Coordinator (Varanasi), National Children’s Science Congress, 2015-

Academic Distinctions  (Received prestigious Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships)

• CSIR-Nehru Science PDF, CSIR, New Delhi, 2010

• CSIR-Research Associateship, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, New Delhi, 2010

• UGC-Dr DS Kothari PDF, University Grants Commission, New Delhi, 2010

• UGC-SRF, University Grants Commission, New Delhi (2006-2009)

• UGC-NET-JRF, University Grants Commission, New Delhi (2004-2006)

• University First Rank in Master of Environment Management, MG University, Kerala, India, 2003

Involvements with International Organizations for Fostering Global Sustainability

• Member, The Global Academy, Global Goals, 2022-

• Member, National Biodiversity Strategies & Action Plans (NBSAPs), Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 2021-

• Member, Global Land Program, 2018-

• Expert Member, Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), Japan, 2018-

• Expert Reviewer, Foundation For Food and Agricultural Research (FFAR), USA, 2018-

• Nominator, Blue Planet Prize, Asahi Glass Foundation, Japan, 2016-

• Task Force Member, Oil Palm Cultivation on Biodiversity, IUCN, 2017-

• Expert, Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services (IPBES), UN, 2015-

• Expert, UNDP-BES-NET Work, 2016-

• Expert, ‘Land Degradation & Restoration’, UN Conventions to Combat Desertification, 2015-

• Member, International Expert Panel, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic, 2015-

• Expert Reviewer, European Science Foundation, F-67080 Strasbourg Codex, France, 2015-

• Member, Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative, 2014-

• Expert Reviewer, Fifth Assessment Report of Working Group-II of IPCC, 2014-

• Expert Reviewer, AR5 of Working Group-II of IPCC for the Govt. of Netherlands, 2014-

• Subject Expert, National Centre of Science & Technology, Republic of Kazakhstan, 2012-

• Member, South Asian Network for Development & Environmental Economics, Nepal , 2011

• Member, Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM), IUCN, Switzerland, 2010-

• Member, Species Survival Commission (SSC), IUCN, Switzerland, 2017-

• Member, Commission on Education and Communication (CEC), IUCN, Switzerland, 2018- 

• Member, Commission on Environmental, Education & Social Policy (CEESP), IUCN, Switzerland, 2018-

• Member, DIVERSITA in Western Pacific & Asia (DIWAPA), Kyoto University, Japan , 2008- 

Membership in Environmental/Ecological Societies 

• Life Member, Indian Network for Soil Contamination Research (INSCR), New Delhi, India

• Member, British Ecological Society (BES), London, UK

• Member, International Socitey for Tropical Ecology (ISTE), Varanasi, India

• Associate Member, International Society for Development & Sustainability (ISDS), Japan

• Life Member, The Society for Science of Climate Change & Sustainable Environment (SSCE), New Delhi, India

• Life Member,  Prof HS Srivastava Foundation (PHSS), Lucknow, India

• Life Member, Indian Meterological Society (IMS), New Delhi, India

• Life Member, The Biotech Research Society, India (BRSI), Trivandrum, India

• Life Member, Society for Plant Research (SPR), Meerut, India

• Life Member, International Society for Environmental Botanist (ISEB), Lucknow, India

• Life Member, Indian Society for Plant Genetic Resources (ISPGR), New Delhi, India

Involvement in Board of Studies/Curriculum Design/Revision

• External Expert for the Syllabus Revision, MSc in Environmental Sciences, Kerala University of Fisheries & Ocean Studies, Kochi.

• Member, Board of Studies, MA & PhD in Developmental Studies, Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Tamil Nadu.

• Member, Board of Studies, BA (Honors) in Public Policy & Administration, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Bengaluru. 

• Member, Board of Studies, BSc in Environmental Sciences, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala

• Member, Board of Studies, BSc in Environmental Sciences, Integral University, Lucknow

• Member, Doctoral Research Committee (Environmental Sciences), Integral University, Lucknow

Conference/Seminar/Workshop/Training Programs Organized/Session Chaired

• Convener, The World Environment Day Celebration on the theme 'Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience', Organized by The National Academy of Science, India (NASI),  Prayagraj, June 5, 2024.

• Coordinator, One-Day Training Program on 'Teaching Methods and Co-curricular Activities in Higher Education' for TFB Fellows, Organized by IoE,  BHU, May 11, 2024

• Coordinator, Two-Day Training Program on 'Skills for Excelling as a Professional in Higher Education' for TFB Fellows, Organized by IoE,  BHU, April 13-14, 2024

• Organizing Secretary, 'International Conference on Climate Change and Agroecosystems: Threats, Opportunists and Solutions' (INAGMET-2024), Jointly Organized by BHU, IMD, SAFAM and AA at Institute of Environment & Sustainable Development, BHU, Varanasi, February 8-10, 2024.

• Coordinator, Two-Day Training Program on 'Skills for Excelling as a Professional in Higher Education' for TFB Fellows, Organized by IoE,  BHU, November 24-25, 2023

• Coordinator, Webinar for Young Professionals on 'Agroecological Applications for Food and Nutritional Security', Organized by IUCN-CEM Agroecology Specialist Group, Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), October 30, 2023.

• Coordinator, One-Day Training Program for TFB Fellows, Organized by IoE,  BHU, September 30, 2023

• Coordinator, One-Day Training Program for TFB Fellows, Organized by IoE,  BHU, June 7, 2023

• Organizing Secretary, National Conclave on 'Sustainability Challenges of Emerging Economies', Organized by Institute of Environment & Sustainable Development, BHU,  Varanasi, February 24-26, 2023.

• Coordinator, Two-Day Training Program for TFB Fellows, Organized by IoE,  BHU, February 25-26, 2023

• Organizing Secretary, One-day Workshop on 'Sustainable Agricultural Practices for Food Security & Environmental Protection', Organized by the NASI-Varanasi Chapter at Krishak PG College, Rajgarh, Mirzapur, February 13, 2023.

• Session Chair,  'Session-3 : Invited Lectures' during the National Conference on 'Natural Sciences & Sustainable Development: Contestations & Affirmations (NSSECA-2023)', Organized by MMV, BHU,  January 20-21, 2023.

• Session Chair,  'AMI Young Scientist Award' during the 62nd Annual International Conference of the Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI),  Organized by University of Mysore, Karnataka, September 21-23, 2022. 

• Organizing Secretary, One-day Workshop on 'Food & Nutritional Security Challenges Under Changing Climate', Organized by NASI-Varanasi Chapter at Rajiv Gandhi South Campus, Barkacha, Mirzapur, March 30, 2022.

• Organizing Secretary, One-day Seminar on 'Technical & Ethical Considerations in Scientific Writing', Organized by NASI-Varanasi Chapter at ISLS, BHU, Varanasi, October 22, 2021.

• Coordinator, National Webinar on 'Jagrukta Abhiyan for COVID-19 Pandemic', Organized by NASI-Varanasi Chapter,  January 12, 2021.

• Organizing Secretary, IUCN Special Session on ‘Managing Agroecosystem for Food Security and Environmental Sustainability’ during the National Conference on 'Environmental Sustainability: Innovations, Translational Dimensions and Way Forward',  Organized by BBAU, Lucknow, February 11-12, 2020.

• Organizing Secretary, One-day Workshop on 'Sustainable Utilization of Wild Edibles for the Food & Nutritional Security of the Tribal Women', Organized by NASI-Varanasi Chapter at Krishak PG College, Rajgarh, Mirzapur, March 17, 2019.

• Organizing Secretary, 'Graduate Seminar  & Environmental Awareness Programme', Organized by Institute of Environment & Sustainable Development, BHU, Varanasi, February 16-17, 2018.

• Organizing Secretary, National Conference on 'Managing Soil Resources for Sustainable Agriculture', Organized by Institute of Environment & Sustainable Development, BHU, Varanasi, December 9-10, 2016.