Pramod Tandon, Ph. D.  (Jodhpur Univ.)
Professor

Dr. Pramod Tandon, a graduate of Lucknow University did his Ph.D. from Jodhpur University in 1976. He joined as a Lecturer in the Department of Botany at North-Eastern Hill University in August 1977. In 1988 he became a Professor of Plant Physiology in the Department.

On a National Scholarship for Study Abroad of Government of India, he worked as a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at the University of California, Irvine USA during 1979-80. During 1989 to 1995 he was associated in collaborative research with several Universities and National Institute of Agrobiological Resources in Japan leading to a long-term collaboration on Plant Conservation Biotechnology. He has published a number of research papers and articles in journals of both national and international repute. He has edited 3 books on biodiversity and biotechnology that are highly useful to the students, researchers and professionals. Prof. Tandon is a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences and Indian Botanical Society besides being a member of many Academic bodies and National Task Forces. He is the recipient of several awards and recognitions including  Padma Shree, ISCA Millennium Plaques of Honour, Professor R.N. Tandon Memorial Lecture Award of National Academy of Sciences, India Gadgil Memorial Lecture Award of Plant Tissue Culture Association of India, B. P. Pal National Environment Fellowship Award on Biodiversity, Professor Panchanand Maheshwari Medal Award of Indian Botanical Society, T.N. Khushoo Memorial Award, His current research interests iare focused towards conservation of plant diversity of northeast India including molecular characterization and cryo‑preservation; biotechnological applications for mass propagation of some forest plants and preparation of databases on rich bioresources of the northeastern region. 

Prof. Tandon’s group has made significant contribution in mass microporpagation, reestablishment and conservation of Indian endemics from northeastern region, namely Nepenthes khasiana (a unique Indian insectivorous plant), Coptis teeta, Nymphoea tetrogonoloba, Ilex khasiana and several orchids. Besides developing protocols for rapid propagation of some forest trees, the group has developed an embryogenic system for afforestation of Pinus kesiya. The findings on PCR based molecular characterization of rare and endangered plants have lead to the understanding of their rarity in nature and help in developing conservation strategies. He has developed an improved cryoprotectant for vitrification of cells that has wide applicability for plant germplasm. Great innovation was shown in utilizing the solutions similar to ones used for vitrification for incorporation of high molecular weight substances into the permeabilized plant cells. His post-doctoral work relates to changes in mRNA transcripts in chloroplast DNA of higher plants during their evolution.          

He and his associates for the first time reported that in contrast to non‑self‑limiting plant tumor tissues, mite‑incited gall tissues also show hyper auxinity, auxin autotrophy, transplantable and tumefacient properties, and better system for conversion of auxin from precursor molecules than the normal tissues. His findings on unregulated synthesis of very high molecular weight ‘auxin protectors’  in gall tissues put forth the evidence that their high levels account for both unregulated cell division and anaplasia associated with gall tissue. Prof. Tandon is the Coordinator of Bioinformatics Centre funded by Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.  He, in collaboration with other scientists is actively involved in preparation of databases on biodiversity of northeast India.

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He is a Fellow of the Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding and Life Member of the Association for DNA and related Technologies. Professor Misra was Head of the Department of Botany from September 2001 to December 2004 and worked in various academic and administrative capacities including Co-ordinator for UGC-COSIST and DST-FIST programmes. He was Visting Professor at the Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Department of the Tezpur Central University. Eight students have obtained their Ph.D. degrees under his supervision and all of them are well placed; two of them in USA.

Professor Misra was awarded Junior Research Fellowship of the NCER&T, New Delhi. He was awarded Biotechnology National Associateship of the Department of Biotechnology in 1989 and worked at the laboratory of Dr. Sushil Kumar at Biotechnology Centre, IARI. He had further training under the same award at the laboratory of Dr. Philippe Normand at Université Claude Bernard, Lyon, France. Prof. Misra has visited and presented papers/ invited lectures at University of California, USA University of Firenze, Italy and Cary-le-route, France. He has been collaborating with Dr. Philippe Normand, Université Claude Bernard, France and Prof. David Myrold, Oregon State University, USA. He has successfully completed research projects supported by the CSIR, DST, DBT, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (World Bank FREEP), Indo-French Centre for Promotion of Advanced Research and US National Science Foundation. He is Editorial Board Member for the Online Biomarkers Journal and has been a referee for the Canadian Journal of Microbiology, Plant and Soil, Indian Journal of Microbiology, etc. He has published over fifty research papers in peer reviewed national and international journals with impact factors ranging from 1.0 to 4.0 and contributed over 60 nucleotide sequences to the global data banks (GenBank and EMBL). His work has been cited by about two hundred fifty research publications and books. His research contributions include molecular phylogeny of Myrica spp., molecular ecology and diversity of Frankia and its hosts like alder, seabuckthorn, etc. He has extensively worked on various aspects of actinorhizal symbiosis including genus specific primer designing, emendation of family Frankiaceae, co-evolution of host and micro-symbiont, and alginate bead based technique for genetic purification of Frankia.

His current research interests include molecular genetics and diversity of actinorhizal associations with special reference to DNA fingerprinting, molecular phylogeny, molecular marker assisted biodiversity assessment for designing conservation strategy, marker assisted selection of superior genotypes of trees, plantation crops and microsymbionts, molecular ecology and molecular typing of bioinoculants for addressing IPR issues.

Nikhil K. Chrungoo, Ph.D. (Kashmir Univ.)
Professor

Professor Prof. Nikhil K. Chrungoo joined the Department as a lecturer in the year 1988. He received his masters and doctorate degrees in Plant Sciences from the University of Kashmir. Currently he is working as a Professor in this Department since 2001. He was awarded the Biotechnology National Associateship in Plant Molecular Biology for the year 1994-95 by the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India, New Delhi.

Professor Chrungoo has a strong research interest in molecular biology of seed storage proteins and mechanisms of dormancy regulation in plants. Work carried in his laboratory in the department has lead to the isolation, purification and characterization of the main storage protein from grains of common buckwheat, an important pseudocereal because of the high and nutritionally rich protein of its grains. His group has developed a two step protocol for the purification of a 26kD basic subunit of the buckwheat seed storage protein that has 6% lysine content and 2.3% of sulphur amino acids. Prof. Chrungoo's research group has determined the amino acid sequence the protein. The sequence has been deposited in the SWISS-PROT protein sequence databank. The research group has isolated the putative genomic clone for the protein and the 5' flanking region, upstream of the start codon of the buckwheat legumin gene isolated in the laboratory. The nucleotide sequences of the genomic clone and the 5’UTR of the gene have been deposited in the EMBL nucleotide sequence databank. The group has also isolated GBSS-I from the starch grains of common buckwheat. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of 25 residues for the protein has been deposited in the SWISS-PROT protein sequence databank.

Prof. Chrungoo has been nominated as the Asia Pacific representative to the editorial board of Fagopyrum, the official journal of International Buckwheat Research Assiociation. He has held assignments as a visiting fellow at various national as well as international institutes including the Indian Institute of Science, Banglore, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, Slovenia, University of Victoria (Canada), National Institute of Nutrition, Rome and Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana (Slovenia).

Prof. N. K. Chrungoo has completed 6 research projects funded by different agencies of the Govt. of India. One research project funded by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India is currently under operation. This project involves development of molecular profiles for accessions of buckwheat and chenopodium from the Indian Himalayas. Prof. Chrungoo has published more than 40 papers in major National and International Research Journals. The research work carried out by his group has been cited in major national and international journals like Plant Science, Plant Physiology, J. Fd. & Agri. Chem, Journal of Cereal Science, Nutrition Research, Journal of Protein Chemistry, Physiology & Molecular Biology of Plants.

R. C. Laloo, Ph. D. (Gauhati Univ.)
Professor

Presently, involved in following studies pertaining to the broad area of plant ecology (forest ecology & management, biodiversity & conservation and water pollution & management):

1. Effect of anthropogenic disturbance on plant diversity in different types of forests of  Meghalaya, and
2. Impact of coal mining and extraction of limestone on water quality of major aquatic ecosystems of Meghalaya.

The future research work will include conservation of natural resources by formulating appropriate strategies utilizing out come of current research work.

Mumtaz S. Dkhar, Ph. D. (NEHU)
Professor

Professor Dkhar graduated from Lady Keane Girls’ College, NEHU, Shillong. She obtained her postgraduate degree from the Department of Botany, NEHU, Shillong. She obtained Ph. D. degrees from the same Institute under the supervision of Prof. R.R.Mishra, FNASc. Prof. M.S. Dkhar joined the Department as a lecturer in 1988 and as Reader at NEHU in 1993.

She became Professor in 2001. She is actively involved in research in the field of Microbial Ecology.

Her main research interest has been focused on soil biodiversity of wood rotting fungi and microbes of forest and agroecosystems, earthworm-microbes interactions, biodegradation and seed pathology. She is a life member of professional societies like Indian Society of Soil Biology and Ecology, International Society for conservation of Natural Resources (ISCON), Indian Phytological Society and Indian Botanical Society.

Prof. Dkhar has completed two major research projects entitled “Role of earthworms in litter decomposition and dispersal of microbes in maize field” and “Microbial diversity with special reference to wood rotting fungi”. Another major research project entitled “Role of earthworms in soil microbial diversity and leaf litter breakdown in two forest stands of Meghalaya is going on. She has published 30 research papers in reputed national and international journals. She has also co-edited two books and authored a review article in “Biodiversity and its Significance” edited by Y. Abrol, P Tandon and S. Kumaria. Prof. Dkhar has successfully guided 7 research students for their Ph. D. degree and 5 students are currently working under her supervision.

N. Venugopal, Ph.D. (Madras University, Chennai)
Professor

Professor Venugopal joined the Department in 1992 as a lecturer and as a Reader in 2002. He became professor in 2005. Professor  Venugopal continued his research in the broad area of Plant Development and Reproductive Biology.  He is a member of International Association of Wood Anatomists. The Netherlands. With over 20 years of teaching/research experience, Professor Venugopal supervised and produced 5-research student for their Ph.D. Degree.

Currently four research scholars are   working under his supervision on different aspects in  Developmental anatomy and Reproductive Biology of Angiosperms. One research student is working on symbiotic relationship between cyanobacteria and the members of Podostemaceae. His main research interest is in the activity of   vascular cambium and wood formation in relation to dendroclimatology of sub-tropical wet forest trees; reproductive biology of river weed family Podostemaceae, and medicinal plants viz. Panax pseudo-ginseng, Gaultheria fragrantisimma etc.; histochemical and digestive enzymes of some insectivorous plants of northeast India. Professor Venugopal has more than 30 publications in various national and international journals. He has completed one CSIR funded project on “A study on the environmental information in tree rings of some northeastern Himalayan tree species”. He also attended and presented a research paper in the 13th International Conference on Plant Morphology, Anatomy and Systematic at Belgium in 1997.

Saroj K. Barik, Ph. D. (NEHU)
Professor

Dr. S.K. Barik is Professor of Ecology in the Department. He has published 40 research papers, 8 books and 20 technical and research reports. Many of his research papers are highly cited world-wide. He established that gap size mediated micro-environmental heterogeneity plays an important role in segregation of forest species into different guilds during gap phase regeneration in subtropical forest.

His research group has developed and demonstrated a workable protocol for categorization of threatened categories of species based on numeric population data. Using Ecological niche models, Population Viability Analysis models and multivariate statistical models, his group is active in predicting the distributional range and impact of climate change on several forest species belonging to threatened categories. His works on impact of anthropogenic disturbances on plant species diversity and ecosystem functioning have been widely cited. He developed a sustainable land use model as an alternative to shifting cultivation for the mid-elevation zone of Eastern Himalayas. His works on community forestry during past 20 years have contributed substantially to the development research and sustainable forest resource management in north-eastern India. Six students have been awarded Ph. D. degree under his supervision. He was selected as a LEAD Fellow by the Leadership in Environment and Development International, Rockefeller Foundation, USA in the year 2000. He is the Chairperson/Member of several national committees constituted by Government of India.

Uma Shankar, Ph. D. (NEHU)
Professor

Professor Uma Shankar specializes in Plant Ecology with a focus on plant biodiversity, and structure, function and conservation of terrestrial ecosystems. Prof. Shankar’s research encompasses varied ecosystems in all three hotspots of biodiversity in India, viz., the Himalaya, Western Ghats and Indo-Burma.

He developed a package for eco-restoration of Cherrapunji, one of the wettest spots on the earth. He has the distinction of investigating two important pathways of forest management in northeastern India, namely ‘jhum’ and ‘taungya’. His work on non-timber forest products in Biligiri Rangan Hills has received wide international attention and citation. He has been investigating the global hypothesis that successful in-situ conservation of biodiversity rests in a balanced trade-off between the extracted quantities of non-timber forest products that are extracted by the local tribes for subsistence as well as cash income, and renewable productivity of these products. He developed value addition models for amla (Phyllanthus emblica), broomstick (Thysanolaena maxima) and plum yew (Prunus nepaulensis). He devised a technique to precisely quantify the fuelwood pressure on a given forest area with unknown entry/exit points. He recorded the highest tree diversity among Indian sal forests from the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary in Darjeeling. He has been working on the strategies of the tree species during regenerative phase and found in  Dipterocarpus macrocarpus that the seed size (weight-dimension relationships) can predict germination success and early seedling growth, and assort the seeds that would germinate and establish healthy seedlings. He investigated the existence of a ‘neighbour effect’ among sibs growing within a leguminous fruit.
Prof. Shankar has over 50 research publications including an edited book and an edited abstract volume. He has completed several research projects funded by MoEF, IERP, etc. Currently, Prof. Shankar is coordinating a multi-institutional research project funded by the DBT on “Mapping and quantitative assessment of geographical distribution and population status of plant resources of eastern Himalayan region” with collaborators from institutions such as NERIST, RFRI, IBSD, GBPIHED, Assam University, Nagaland University, Mizoram University and Tripura University. He is guiding masters and doctoral students. Under his supervision, six students have completed their master degree dissertations, and one scholar (Ms. Biswarupa Ghosh) has been awarded Ph.D. degree on “Regeneration ecology and sustainability of harvest of bay leaf (Cinnamomum tamala Fr. Nees, Lauraceae) in Meghalaya”. Currently, six research scholars are pursuing doctoral research with him.

Prof. Shankar has spent his career at reputed institutions such as Tata Energy Research Institute (1992-97), G. B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development (1997-2002), George Perkins Marsh Institute at Clark University, USA (2003) and North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong. Prof. Shankar’s research has got wide recognition. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research selected him for independent Research Associate Award in 1992. The Department of Science and Technology awarded him the Young Scientist Project Award under SERCYS scheme in 1993. The Indian National Science Academy awarded him the INSA Young Scientist Medal in 1999 for his study of nutrient cycling and productivity of humid grassland ecosystems and their management. The Council of Science and Technology of Uttar Pradesh recognized his contributions with the CSTUP Young Scientist Award in 2002. Prof. Shankar is a recipient of the BOYSCAST Fellowship of the DST in 2003, Honorary Fellow of the Ashoka Trust for Researches in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore and FNIE from the National Institute of Ecology, New Delhi. The University of Massachusetts, Boston invited him as a short-term scholar in 1996. He is a Fellow of the National Institute of Ecology (FNIE) since 2006. He is a life member of several scientific societies in the country. Prof. Shankar has intensively worked in tandem with the tribal communities in northeastern region of India during last two decades.

L. Kharlukhi, Ph. D. (IARI)
Reader

Dr. L. Kharlukhi did his M. Sc. From North Eastern Hill University in 1977 and obtained his Ph. D. degree from IARI, New Delhi. Dr. Kharlukhi joined the Department as a lecturer in 1988. Subsequently he became a Reader in the Department in the year 1998. His area of research is seed physiology. 

His current research interests include the storability of seeds of certain tree species under controlled conditions and the role of antioxidants in protecting membrane integrity in the ageing seeds of grain legumes. At present there is one research scholar working under his supervision for their Ph. D. degree programme. He has published seven research papers reputed journals.

Yogendra Kumar, Ph. D. (NEHU)
Reader

Dr. Yogendra Kumar joined the department as a Lecturer in 1988. Before joining as lecturer he served as curator herbarium and garden during 1986 and 1987, Dr. Kumar got his  Ph. D. degree in 1984 from North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong. After getting M.Sc. degree  (Botany) in 1987 from Agra University, Dr. Kumar joined Botany Department of North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong as Junior Research Fellow in 1978.

He also worked as Senior Research Fellow of C.S.I.R. and later as Reasearch Associate of U.G.C. during 1986 and helped in teaching Plant taxonomy and phytogeography.
Besides teaching various courses assisted in garden and herbarium establishement. At present Dr. Kumar is working in this department as Reader since 1998. Dr. Kumar has supervised more than 10 students for M.Phil. and Ph. D. degrees. He has published about 50 research papers and 5  books/flora.

Highland Kayang, Ph. D. (NEHU)
Reader

Dr. H. Kayang is a graduate from North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, where he earned his Ph.D in 1993. He joined the Department as a Lecturer in the year 1997 and as a Reader in the year 2006.

Since the inception of his lectureship, Dr Kayang has been actively involved in research in microbial diversity, biodiversity conservation and he has already completed successfully 3 research projects sanctioned by the North Eastern Council, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, Shillong and Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi.

He has done a sizable amount of survey, documentation and inventorisation of the medicinal and aromatic plants and indigenous knowledge systems of the different tribes and communities of the northeast region.

He has to his credit more than 35 research articles published in reputed national and international scientific journals. He also co-edited a book entitled “Biodiversity in Northeast India.” Dr Kayang has prepared for the North Eastern Council, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, Shillong a practical and implementation master plan documents for community based conservation and commercialization of medicinal and aromatic plants in Northeast India.

Three research projects “The establishment of the North Eastern Biodiversity Research Cell for Biodiversity studies for the Northeast region” funded by North Eastern Council, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, Shillong and “The impact of coal mining on water quality and microbial communities of Jaintia Hills district, Meghalaya” funded by Ministry of Environment and Forest and Creation of database on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of Meghalaya funded by National Medicinal Plants Board are currently under operation.

He is a life member of professional societies like Indian Society of Soil Biology and Ecology, University of Agriculture Science, Bangalore, International Society for conservation of Natural Resources (ISCON), BHU, Varanasi, Indian Science Congress Association, Kolkata etc. and also active members in several other societies.

He has successfully guided three research scholars for Ph. D. degree and six research scholars are currently working under his supervision. At present, his area of interest is on inventorisation and creation of data base for micro and macro-fungi of northeast India, the impact of coal mining activities on soil microbial diversity in Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, and his research activities also extent to initiate research directives in the new concept of microbial inoculants for improved plant performance.

Suman Kumaria, Ph. D. (NEHU)
Reader

Dr. Suman Kumaria joined the Department of Botany, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong as a Lecturer in the year 1997. Having a brilliant academic career with a first class throughout she did her Ph. D. from North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong in 1992 on some functional and biochemical aspects of the growth of orchids.

She has been a recipient of merit scholarships during her studies. She is actively involved in research in Plant Biotechnology. She has been supervising students for Ph. D. both as a Supervisor and Joint Supervisor. At present, she has 6 students working under her for Ph.D. Two students have been awarded Ph.D. degree under her supervision as Joint Supervisor. Based on her research work, she has published 21 research papers and articles in journals/books of National and International repute. She has also edited a book on biodiversity entitled ‘Biodiversity and its Significance’. She has successfully completed 2 research projects funded by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), New Delhi as Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator and presently has on-going projects from UGC, DRDO and DBT.

Dr. Kumaria has been engaged in post-graduate teaching and teaches physiology, biochemistry and biotechnology of plants. She is a Fellow of the International Society for Conservation of Natural Resources for her contributions in the field, besides being a member of various academic bodies of the University and the Department. Her current interests include mass propagation and germplasm conservation of plants mainly orchids of Northeast India; physiology and biochemistry of their regeneration. She has developed improved technologies for large-scale propagation of commercially important orchids of Northeast India as part of a research project funded by Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. As a result of which a large number of tissue culture – raised hardened orchid plantlets have been supplied to the rural women folk in Meghalaya for upliftment of their economic status.

Dr. Papiya Ramanujam, Ph.D.(NEHU)
Lecturer (Selection Grade)

Dr. Papiya Ramanujam is a Lecturer (Selection Grade) in the Department. She did her M. Sc. From the North Eastern Hill University Shillong in 1976. She worked on biology of a predominant weed of the region under the supervision of Prof.  P. S. Ramakrishnan and obtained Ph.D. degree from the same university in 1982. Dr. P. Ramanujam served as a Lecturer in the Department of Botany, G. C. College, Silchar from 1982 to 1992, in Pachhunga University College, Aizawl from 1992 to 2004 and in Center for Distance Education from 2004 to 2006. She joined the department in February, 2006.

Now she is working on the ecology of algal communities.  Two research scholars have joined her for pursuing doctoral degree.

Dr. Meera C. Das, Ph.D. (NEHU)
Lecturer

Dr. Meera C. Das passed B.Sc from Lady Keane Girls’ College, Shillong, securing 1st class 2nd in the year 1995. She did her M.Sc from NEHU also securing 1st class 3rd position in the year 1998. She qualified NET (CSIR, fellowship) in the year 2002. She obtained her Ph.D degree from NEHU on the topic “In vitro propagation of Cymbidium devonianum and Dendrobium lituiflorum, rare and threatened epiphytic orchids of North East India” in the year 2007.

As a research scholar, she participated in poster and oral presentations, symposiums and seminars conducted by the orchid society of India.

She joined Mizoram University as lecturer in the Department of Biotechnology from January-March 2007 and joined NEHU as a lecturer in Botany Department on 29th March, 2007. At present she is teaching Plant Development and reproduction and Plant Anatomy in M.Sc. level. She has one International publication and authored one chapter in a book Her current interest include tissue culture, cryopreservation and establishment of cryo-genebank for some threatened and endangered plants of North East India particularly Meghalaya.