Neethu Asokan | Microbiology | Excellence in Research Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Neethu Asokan | Microbiology | Excellence in Research Award

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

  • 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.

  • Assistant Professor (Microbiology), DAV University, Punjab (Sep 2022 – Dec 2022)
    Taught courses such as Microbial Physiology, Industrial Microbiology, and supervised M.Sc. student projects.

  • 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.

  • Freelance Research Mentor (2018 – Present)
    Mentored over 15 postgraduate students and provided dissertation guidance, plagiarism checks, and academic consulting.

  • Career Break (2023)
    Took a professional pause to focus on maternity and health while continuing academic writing and professional development.

Research Interest 

  • Industrial Microbiology: Biobutanol production, microbial strain optimization, fermentation technology.

  • Microbial & Nano-biotechnology: Biosynthesis of nanoparticles for medicine/agriculture.

  • Immunology & Molecular Biology: Genetic manipulation and microbial function studies.

  • Bioenergy: Biofuel generation from waste and renewable feedstocks.

  • Environmental & Agricultural Microbiology: PGPR research, bioremediation, soil microbiome studies.

  • Medical Microbiology & Psychomicrobiology: Antibiotic resistance, diabetic foot ulcers, gut-brain axis.

  • Algal Biotechnology: Algal applications in bioenergy and bioproducts.

Author Metrics:

  • Editorial Roles:

    • Guest Editor, American Journal of Biological and Environmental Statistics

    • Reviewer for Springer Nature, BioEnergy Research, 3Biotech, One Earth, Biofuels (Taylor & Francis), and others

  • Recognitions:

    • Best Young Faculty Award, GRABS, 2025

    • Young Scientist Award, ICBEST 2025, SRM

    • National Outstanding Teacher Award – Microbiology, IMRF, 2025

  • Mentorship Awards:

    • InSc Student Project Award Nominee

    • Mentor, SHIYA Innovation Awards (2020)

Top Noted Publication

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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.

 

Suvendu Ojha | Bacteriology | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Suvendu Ojha | Bacteriology | Best Researcher Award

Research Scholar at Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India.

Mr. Suvendu Ojha is a dedicated microbiologist specializing in antimicrobial resistance and bacterial pathogenesis. Currently completing his Ph.D. at BRIC-Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India, his research focuses on efflux-mediated drug resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. With expertise in microbiology, molecular biology, biophysical techniques, and antimicrobial drug discovery, he has contributed to multiple high-impact publications and a patent. His work has led to the identification of FDA-approved drug candidates that restore antibiotic susceptibility in MDR bacteria. He has also actively participated in COVID-19 testing at BSL-3 facilities and presented his research at various scientific forums.

Publication Profile

Scopus

Orcid

Google Scholar

Educational Details

  • Ph.D. in Biotechnology (Microbiology) (Expected: March 2025)

    • Institution: BRIC-Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India

    • Thesis Title: Targeting Efflux-Mediated Drug Resistance in S. aureus to Enhance the Therapeutic Potential of Existing Antibiotics

    • Supervisor: Dr. Tushar Kant Beuria

  • Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Botany (January 2018)

    • Institution: Sambalpur University, India

  • Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Botany (January 2016)

    • Institution: Udayanath Autonomous College of Science and Technology, India

Professional Experience

Junior/Senior Research Fellow (January 2019 – Present)
BRIC-Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India

  • Conducting research on efflux-mediated drug resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, with a focus on developing strategies to restore antibiotic susceptibility.

  • Expertise in microbiology, molecular biology, biophysical techniques, and drug discovery methodologies.

  • Experienced in working with BSL-2 and BSL-3 facilities, including COVID-19 testing.

  • Designed and optimized high-throughput screening assays for identifying novel efflux pump inhibitors.

  • Worked with murine subcutaneous infection models to study bacterial pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions.

Research Interest

  • Investigate efflux-mediated drug resistance in multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens.

  • Develop and repurpose FDA-approved drugs as efflux pump inhibitors to enhance antibiotic efficacy.

  • Explore biofilm inhibition mechanisms in bacterial infections.

  • Understand immune responses and bacterial pathogenesis to design novel therapeutic interventions.

  • Apply biophysical and biochemical techniques to study protein-drug interactions.

Top Noted Publication

1. Efflux Pump Modulation by Montelukast and Its Roles in Restoring Antibiotic Susceptibility in Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

📌 Authors: S. Ojha, S. Sinsinwar, P. Chatterjee, S. Biswal, P. Pradhan, T.K. Beuria
📌 Journal: eBioMedicine (The Lancet)
📌 Volume & DOI: eBioMedicine 114, 105658 (2025)
📌 Summary:

  • Investigates Montelukast, an FDA-approved drug, as a potential efflux pump inhibitor (EPI) in multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MDR S. aureus).

  • Demonstrates that Montelukast enhances antibiotic susceptibility by modulating bacterial efflux pumps.

  • Utilizes biophysical assays and molecular docking to confirm Montelukast’s interaction with bacterial efflux proteins.

  • Implications: Provides a promising combination therapy to counteract antibiotic resistance in S. aureus.

2. Ajoene: A Natural Compound with Enhanced Antimycobacterial and Antibiofilm Properties Mediated by Efflux Pump Modulation and ROS Generation Against M. Smegmatis

📌 Authors: A. Sarangi, B.S. Das, I. Pahuja, S. Ojha, V. Singh, S. Giri, A. Bhaskar
📌 Journal: Archives of Microbiology
📌 Volume & Pages: 206 (12), 1-22 (2024)
📌 Summary:

  • Explores Ajoene, a sulfur-containing compound from garlic, as an efflux pump inhibitor in Mycobacterium smegmatis.

  • Demonstrates dual action of Ajoene:

    • Efflux pump inhibition, leading to increased antibiotic retention inside bacterial cells.

    • Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation, causing bacterial stress and enhanced cell death.

  • Findings suggest that Ajoene has strong antibiofilm properties, making it a promising natural antimicrobial agent for tuberculosis drug development.

3. Thymol as a Biofilm and Efflux Pump Inhibitor: A Dual-Action Approach to Combat Mycobacterium tuberculosis

📌 Authors: B. Shankar Das, A. Sarangi, I. Pahuja, V. Singh, S. Ojha, S. Giri, A. Bhaskar
📌 Journal: Cell Biochemistry and Function
📌 Volume & DOI: 42 (8), e70030 (2024)
📌 Summary:

  • Investigates Thymol, a natural phenolic compound, as a potent efflux pump and biofilm inhibitor against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

  • Shows that Thymol disrupts bacterial biofilms, thereby enhancing antibiotic penetration.

  • Provides mechanistic insights into how Thymol modulates bacterial efflux pumps, improving antibiotic efficacy.

  • Potential application: Could be developed as a natural adjuvant therapy to combat drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

Conclusion

Mr. Suvendu Ojha is a strong contender for the Best Researcher Award due to his pioneering work in antimicrobial resistance, high-impact publications, and expertise in microbiology and drug discovery. His research is highly translational, with potential real-world applications in infectious disease treatment. While he can enhance his profile through greater leadership roles and independent funding, his existing contributions make him a highly suitable candidate for this award.