Faculty profile

Ashis Kumar Das completed his masters from Ballygunj Science College, Calcutta, and obtained his PhD from National Institute of Immunology New Delhi, India. He has been a Post Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology, SHPH, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimoore, USA and WHO Fellow at the Malaria Branch, Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia USA. He is presently an Assistant Professor in the Biological Sciences Group, BITS, Pilani. His research interests include Molecular and Immuno Parasitology, Molecular Diagnostics and Industrially oriented projects dealing with different aspects of vector design, cloning and expression.

Sanjay Kumar Verma obtained his masters degree from Banaras Hindu University with specialization in cyanobacteria and applied phycology before completing PhD in the area of Environmental Biotechnology from the same university. He worked as post Doctoral fellow at University of Hyderabad in the area of microbial and molecular genetics. Dr.Verma has handled several research projects related to bioremediation and biodegradation of toxic industrial waste, Development of recombinant bacterial biosensor for environmental application. Currently he is working as group leader (Head) of Biological Sciences Group and Centre for Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani.

Ramkrishna Sen did his B.Sc. (Hons.) in Chemistry and B.Tech. (Chemical) from Calcutta University, M.Tech. in Biotechnology with specialization in Biochemical Engineering from Jadavpur University, Calcutta and PhD (Biotechnology) from I.I.T., Madras. His PhD thesis was entitled: enhanced Production of Surfactin, a Potent microbial Surfactant by Bacillus subtilis. He did his post-doctoral research as a Project Associate (DBT) on Riboflavin Production. He also worked on bioconversion of hydantoin and process optimization for Bt-toxin when working as a Lecturer in CBT, Anna University, Madras. He worked also as a guest faculty in Madras and Pondicherry Universities, as the Dy. Manager & Manager (R&D: Biotechnology) in a reputed Pharmaceutical Industry (Cadila) and successfully implemented two commercial projects on Nutraceutical and Streptokinase and also worked on process optimization and scale-up for some recombinant proteins including r-human insulin, r-GCSF and r-AMA-1. At present, he is working as an Assistant Professor in B.I.T.S. Pilani and is currently involved in process development research for Nutraceutical, Biodiesel, Biorefining of fuels and Biosurfactants for MEOR and other industrial applications.

Vidya Rajesh is a biotechnologist with excellent academic background and 4 years of teaching and research experience. Currently pursuing Ph.D in molecular parasitology and study of vaccine candidates of human malarial parasite. Combine resourcefulness and problem solving skills with academic knowledge to consistently deliver improved research and production results. Team player dedicated to quality, continuous improvement and bottom-line objectives.

Neeru sood is a postgraduate in Botany from Punjabi University, Patiala. She received her Ph.D. from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana in 1998, where she worked on hardening of micropropagated clones . Then after joined Oswal group of companies in Punjab, as Plant Biotechnologist and has on her credit the independent setting up and successful running of Plant tissue culture Lab for large scale production of new high sugar varieties of sugarcane on the basis of the protocols standardized by her during her Ph.D program. She is presently working a lecturer at BITS, Pilani and her current research area is Plant molecular biology and Tissue culture of medicinal plants.