Academic Qualifications (Throughout First Division)
PhD in Botany: Dr. RML Avadh University, Ayodhya, UP, India (2008)
M.Sc. Botany (First Division), Dr. RML Avadh University, Ayodhya, UP, India (2002)
B.Sc. in Botany & Chemistry (First Division), Dr. RML Avadh University, Ayodhya, UP, India (1999)
Experience (More than ten years)
CSIR-Pool Scientist at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow
Consultant at Council of Science & Technology, Uttar Pradesh (CSTUP), Lucknow, India
Young Scientist at National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India
Research Associate at Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow, India
UGC-DSK-PDF at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow
Research Interest
Phytomanagement of polluted sites, especially phytoremediation and revegetation of fly ash deposits, red-mud dumpsites, coal mine spoil, heavy metal contaminated sites and degraded lands through ecologically and socio-economically valuable plants with the least risk, minimum inputs, and low maintenance for regaining ecosystem services and supporting a bio-based economy. Environmental Impact Assessment, Using metallophytes for phytomining, Saleable phytoproducts from heavy metal-polluted sites, Adaptive Phytoremediation Practices, Assisted Phytoremediation, Climate Resilient Phytoremediation, Carbon sequestration in waste dumpsites, Phytomanagement of Urban Polluted Ecosystem, Biomass/biofuel production from degraded and polluted land, Bioeconomy-Based Phytoremediation, fostering affordable green technology for remediation and management of polluted lands with multiple benefits such as pollutant remediation, soil carbon sequestration, fiber production, essential oil production, biomass production, biofuel production, etc.
Awards
Outstanding Research Achievement Award-2021 received for significant academic and research contribution by Honorable Professor Sanjay Singh, Vice Chancellor, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow on the occasion of 73nd Republic Day, 26/01/2022.
Outstanding Research Achievement Award-2020 received for significant academic and research contribution by Honorable Professor Sanjay Singh, Vice Chancellor, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow on the occasion of 72nd Republic Day, 26/01/2021.
Young Scientist Award from Council of Science & Technology, UP, on behalf of UP Government, June 2014
Young Scientist Award under Fast Track Scheme, DST-SERB, Govt. of India, April 2013
CSIR-Senior Research Associateship award from CSIR, New Delhi, April 2017
Dr.DS Kothari Post-doctoral Fellowship Award by UGC, New Delhi, September 2009
Merit Scholarship by Director of Education, Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (U.P. Board), during Intermediate and Graduation, November 1995
Recognition
Listed as the world's top 2% Scientist, based on Stanford University and Elsevier Data [2020-2024].
Fellow of International Society of Environmental Botanists (FISEB), National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, 2022-
Elected Member (MNASc), National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI), May 2013
Panel Member, the Academy Council of the Czech Academy of Sciences appointed as a Panel Member of the Earth and environmental sciences panel in the Phase I of the Evaluation of research and professional activity of research-oriented institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences for the period 2015–2019. Ref. No.: KAV-3114/OPV/2020
Evaluator, the Academy Council of the Czech Academy of Sciences appointed as an Evaluator in the Phase 1st of the Evaluation of the Research and Professional Activities of the Institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic, for 2010–2014
Expert reviewer for the first order draft of the chapters of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) thematic assessment of invasive alien species and their control (IPBES invasive alien species assessment)
Editorial Affiliations
Associate Editor: Land Degradation and Development, Impact Factor= 4.7, Print ISSN: 1085-3278, Wiley, 2020-
Editor: Restoration Ecology Impact Factor: 3.2, ISSN: 1061-2971, Society for Ecological Restoration and British Ecological Society, Wiley, 2021-
Associate Editor: Environment, Development and Sustainability, Impact Factor= 4.9, ISSN 1387-585X, Springer, 2020-2024
Associate Editor: Ecological Processes Impact Factor= 4.8, ISSN 2192-1709 (Online), Springer, 2021-2023
Academic Editor: PLOS One Impact Factor= 3.7, eISSN 1932-6203, PLoS, 2022-
Editorial Board: Environmental Management, Impact Factor=3.5, ISSN: 0364-152X, Springer, 2020-
Advisory Board: Ambio, Impact Factor= 6.5, The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, ISSN: 0044-7447, Springer, 2021-
Editorial Board: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Impact Factor=2.7, Print ISSN: 0007-4861, Springer, 2018-
Editorial Board: Discover Sustainability, Impact Factor=2.6, Electronic ISSN: 2662-9984, Springer Nature, 2022-
Advisory Board: Clean- Soil Air Water, Impact Factor=1.7, Print ISSN:1863-0650, Wiley, March 2024
Professional Affiliations
President, Society for Green Development, Lucknow, India, 2024-
Member (MNASc), National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI), 2013-
Life Member, International Society of Environmental Botanists, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India, 2010-
Life Member, Science Awareness Society, Lucknow, India, 2007-
Life Member, The Ethnobotanical Society, Lucknow, India, 2016-
Member, Society for Ecological Restoration (Membership Number: 75260345) 2024-02-21 to 2025-02-21
Member, Commission on Ecosystem Management, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Switzerland, 2017-
Commission Member–IUCN CEM South Asia 2017-
Commission Member–IUCN CEM Agro-ecosystems Specialist Group 2017-
Commission Member–IUCN CEM Ecosystem Restoration Thematic Group 2017-
Commission Member–IUCN CEM Sustainable Use & Management of Ecosystems Thematic Group 2017-
Member, Global Land Programme, Bern, Switzerland, 2020-
Member, Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), Japan, 2020-