Assistant Professor at Sri Sathya Sai University For Human Excellence, India.
Assist. Prof. Dr. Neethu Asokan is a dedicated academician and researcher in the field of Microbiology, with significant contributions to Industrial Microbiology, Microbial Biotechnology, Bioenergy, and Environmental Microbiology. With over 6 years of teaching experience across prestigious institutions in India, she has been recognized with several national awards including the Best Young Faculty Award and Young Scientist Award in 2025. A gold medalist in both M.Sc. and M.Phil. Microbiology, she combines excellence in teaching, research, and mentorship. Her recent collaborative work with the USDA-ARS, USA, exemplifies her global engagement in scientific innovation. She is currently serving as Assistant Professor of Life Sciences at Sri Satya Sai University for Human Excellence, Karnataka, India.
Publication Profile
Scopus
Orcid
Education
Ph.D. Microbiology, Periyar University, Tamil Nadu, 2021
M.Phil. Microbiology, Periyar University, Tamil Nadu, 2016
M.Sc. Microbiology, Periyar University, Tamil Nadu, 2015
B.Sc. Biochemistry & Industrial Microbiology, Kerala University, Kerala, 2013
Professional Experience
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Assistant Professor (Lifesciences), Sri Satya Sai University for Human Excellence, Karnataka (Nov 2024 – Present)
Teaches B.Sc and M.Sc. students in subjects like Cancer Biology, Plant Biotechnology, and Environmental Sciences. Supervises M.Sc. projects and manages evaluations and academic events.
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Assistant Professor (Microbiology), DAV University, Punjab (Sep 2022 – Dec 2022)
Taught courses such as Microbial Physiology, Industrial Microbiology, and supervised M.Sc. student projects.
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Assistant Professor (Microbiology), Sacred Heart College, Tamil Nadu (Jun 2019 – May 2021)
Conducted research in biofuel production and bioremediation. Mentored projects, coordinated events, and handled academic administration.
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Freelance Research Mentor (2018 – Present)
Mentored over 15 postgraduate students and provided dissertation guidance, plagiarism checks, and academic consulting.
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Career Break (2023)
Took a professional pause to focus on maternity and health while continuing academic writing and professional development.
Research Interest
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Industrial Microbiology: Biobutanol production, microbial strain optimization, fermentation technology.
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Microbial & Nano-biotechnology: Biosynthesis of nanoparticles for medicine/agriculture.
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Immunology & Molecular Biology: Genetic manipulation and microbial function studies.
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Bioenergy: Biofuel generation from waste and renewable feedstocks.
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Environmental & Agricultural Microbiology: PGPR research, bioremediation, soil microbiome studies.
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Medical Microbiology & Psychomicrobiology: Antibiotic resistance, diabetic foot ulcers, gut-brain axis.
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Algal Biotechnology: Algal applications in bioenergy and bioproducts.
Author Metrics:
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Editorial Roles:
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Guest Editor, American Journal of Biological and Environmental Statistics
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Reviewer for Springer Nature, BioEnergy Research, 3Biotech, One Earth, Biofuels (Taylor & Francis), and others
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Recognitions:
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Best Young Faculty Award, GRABS, 2025
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Young Scientist Award, ICBEST 2025, SRM
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National Outstanding Teacher Award – Microbiology, IMRF, 2025
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Mentorship Awards:
Top Noted Publication
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Applications of immobilized Bacillus subtilis in biobutanol production, purification and fuel characteristic analysis
Contemporary Advances in Science and Technology, 2025
DOI: 10.70130/CAST.2025.8101
Role: Methodology, Writing – original draft, Validation
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Combined Interaction Between Azospirillum species and Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM) Fungi on Agricultural Crops
Microbial Fertilizer Technology for Sustainable Crop Production, 2024
Role: Book chapter author
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Actinobacterial enzymes—An approach for engineering rhizosphere microorganisms as plant growth promoters
Rhizosphere Engineering, 2022, Elsevier
DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-323-89973-4.00025-9
Role: Contributing author
Conclusion
Assist. Prof. Dr. Neethu Asokan clearly embodies the criteria for the Excellence in Research Award due to her:
- Strong interdisciplinary research foundation
- Award-winning teaching and mentorship
- Notable national and emerging international presence
- Demonstrated innovation in microbiology and sustainability
With continued focus on global collaborations, increased publication metrics, and patentable research outcomes, she has the potential to become a leading figure in applied microbiological sciences.