Dr. Arun Goyal, Ph.D
(FAMI, FBRS, FABAP, FNABS, FNAAS, FIFIB)
Professor of Biotechnology
Former Head
Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati,
Guwahati, 781039,Assam, Bharat (India)
Tel.: (361) 258 2208 (O); Fax: (361) 2582249, 269 0762
Email: arungoyl@iitg.ernet.in
URL: http://www.iitg.ernet.in/biotech/goyal.htm

I am looking for 3 PhD students under the area 

1)  Bioconversion of Lignocellulosic waste to Bioethanol (at Center for Energy)

2)  Biomass to biovalued products by recombinant enzymes (at Center for Environment)

3)  Protein Crystallography (at Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering) 

The candidate(s) should have a strong and brilliant academic background with an inclination for research. The person should be hardworking with enthusiasm to read, learn, perform and report. The person must have good communication and writing skills.

 

Academic

Education

• 1995 Ph.D. Chemistry (8.33/10.0) (worked on Microbiology and Enzymology), Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, India.
• 1989 M.Tech. Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology (6.96/10.0), Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi.
• 1988 M.Sc. Chemistry, (6.82/10.0), Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi.
• 1986 B.Sc. (Honours) Chemistry (70.6%) Hindu College, University of Delhi, Delhi.
• 1983 12th Class, Delhi Senior School Cetificate Examination, CBSE New Delhi (75.0%), Ramjas Senior Secondary School No. 5, New Delhi.
• 1981 10th Class, Delhi Secondary School Examination, CBSE New Delhi (72.6%), Ramjas Senior Secondary School No. 5, New Delhi

Positions held   

Dec 2015 - contd     Professor HAG (Higher Administrative Grade), Department of Biosciences & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam

Jun 2015 - Jul 2015 Visiting Professor, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal.

May 2015- May 2015 Visiting Professor, Department of Food and Environmental Science, University of Helsinki, Finland.

Dec 2014 - Dec 2014 Visiting Professor, Department of Food and Environmental Science, University of Helsinki, Finland.

Jun 2014 - Jul 2014  Visiting Professor, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal.

Jun 2014 - Jun 2014   Visiting Professor, Department of Food and Environmental Science, University of Helsinki, Finland.

Mar 2013 - Nov 2013 Visiting Professor, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal.

Dec 2009 - Dec 2015  Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India.

Oct 2012 - Oct 2012   Visiting Professor, Department of Food and Environmental Science, University of Helsinki, Finland.

May 2011 - Jun 2011 Visiting Professor, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , University of Lisbon, Portugal.

Jun 2010 - Jul 2010     Visiting Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Plovdiv University, Bulgaria.

Apr  2009 - Feb 2013   Head, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India.

May 2004 - Nov 2009   Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India.

May 2005 - Apr 2006   Vice-Chairman, Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2006.

Aug 2003 - May 2004   Visiting Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India

Sep 2001 - Aug 2003   Post-doctoral Scholar at Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FMV), Technical University of Lisbon (UTL), Lisbon,

                                 Portugal, sponsored through i) 6 year (2001-2007) scholarship awarded by Foundation of Science and   Technology (FCT), Portugal and ii) Interdisciplinary Center for Investigation in Animal Health (CIISA) at FMV, Lisbon.

Sep 2000 - Aug 2001 Post-doctoral Fellow, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FMV), Technical University of Lisbon (UTL), Lisbon, Portugal.

Feb 2000 - Jun  2000  Scientist, Department of Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Scientific Research (BISR), Jaipur, India.

Feb 1999 - Sep 1999 Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University (WSU), Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Nov 1998 - Feb 1999  Visiting Scholar, Neurobiotechnology Center, Ohio State University (OSU), Columbus, Ohio, USA.

Jan 1996 - Oct 1998 Post-doctoral Research Associate, Department of Biochemistry, University College Dublin (UCD), Dublin, Ireland.

 While holding Head of Department position (Dec 2009 -Feb 2013), I also

  i). Executed 6 projects (1 DST, 4 DBT and 1 CSIR) as PI or Coordinator.

 ii). Provided services to Guwahati  Biotech Park (GBP) under various capacities.

iii). Served as Chairman, Institute Purchase committee, IBSD Imphal for 2 years (2011-2013).

iv). Expert, North East for NERBMPC, DBT, Govt. of India New Delhi for 2 years.

 v). Department Expansion Plan (redesigning Research, Teaching and Bioinformartics lab with drawings of civil, electrical & furnishing)

vi). Served as Mentor, DBT-MSc teaching program, Department of Biotechnology,  University of North Bengal, Siliguri, West Bengal.

Vii) Served as Advisory Committee member, DBT-MVSc Programme in Animal Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Guwahati (2011-2013).

 

 

 

Awards/Honours      

·   2016   Malaviya Memorial Award- Senior Faculty (Medal and Cash award Rs 15,000/-) for outstanding contributions to Biotechnology by Biotech Research Society of India. 

·   2016   G.B Manjrekar Award (citation and cash award Rs 20,000/-) for contribution to fundamentals of applied values of Microbiology by Association of Microbiologists of India

·   2013   J.V. Bhat Award (Cash prize Rs. 3,000/-) for Best Paper published in Indian Journal of Microbiology (Springer) in 2012.

·   2012   Cutting edge Research Enhancement and Scientific Training (CREST) Award by Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology for year 2011-2012 for visiting Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lisbon, Portugal (March 2013 to Nov 2013). 

·   2010   Dr. C.V. Raman Award (Citation and Cash Award of Rs 11,000/-) for the 4th IES “National Young Teachers Excellence Award 2010” for excellence in the field of Engineering & Technology  Education, by IES Group of Institutions, Bhopal.

·   2007   J.V. Bhat Award (Cash prize Rs. 3,000/-) for Best Paper published in Indian Journal of Microbiology (Springer) in 2006.

 

Fellowships/Scholarships

·   2012   Awarded FIFIB (Fellow, International Forum on Industrial Bioprocesses) Taipei, Taiwan, Oct. 7, 2012.

·   2011   Elected as FNAAS (Fellow, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, India) Jan 2011.

·   2010   Elected as FNABS (Fellow, National Academy of Biological Sciences) Dec 2010.

·   2009   Elected as FABAP (Fellow, Association of Biotechnology and Pharmacy) for distinguished services to Biotechnology and Pharmacy.

·   2008   Elected as FBRS (Fellow, Biotech Research Society) of India for outstanding research contributions to Biotechnology.

·   2008   Elected as MNASc (Member, The National Academy of Sciences, India). (May 2008)

·   2006   Elected as FAMI (Fellow of Association of Microbiologists of India) in 2006 for contributions to Science & Profession of Microbiology.

·   1988   Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) Fellowship, National Scholarship, [conducted by Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Govt. of India] with 96.1 percentile.

·   1988   University Grants Commission (UGC) Fellowship, Junior and Senior Research Fellowships, on qualifying the National Entrance Test (NET) jointly conducted by University Grants Commission-Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (UGC-CSIR), India.

·   1981   Rai Kedar Nath Memorial Scholarship for 2 years (1981-1983) by Ramjas Foundation, Delhi, India, Merit scholarship, for 2^nd position at school at Delhi Secondary School Certificate Examination (CBSE Delhi, Class 10^th).

 

International Scholaships/Honours

·   2001   Portuguese National Scholarship, for 6 years (Sep. 2001-Aug. 2007) awarded by Foundation of Science and Technology (Fundacao para Ciencia e Tecnologia, FCT), Portugal for post-doctoral research.

·   1999   National Institutes of Health, Fellowship (Feb. 1999 -Oct. 1999), at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA.

·   1998   National Institutes of Health, Fellowship (Oct. 1998 – Feb. 1999), at Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.

·   1996   Scholarship from Forbairt (Irish Research and Technology Council)  for working at University College Dublin, Ireland (Jan 97-Oct 98)

 

Honours/Nominations/Recognitions/Invitations

2016

·   2016   Invited to Co-chair a session of presentations by Young Sceintists during 57th Annual Conference of Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI), November 24-27, 2016, Gauhati University, Guwahati Assam

·   2016   Nominated by Agricultural Recruitment Board (ASRB) as an Advisor on the Selection Committee for conducting Viva-Voce of the candidates from ARS Examination 2015 for the recruitment of posts of Scientist. October 2016.

·   2016   Invited as an “Expert member for Selection Committee” for Faculty selection at Department of Bioenginering at Birla Institute of Technology, MESRA, Ranchi, April 19, 2016. 

·   2016   Invited as an “Member Expert Committee” of NER Twinning RnD program of NERBPMC, Mar 11, 2016.

·   2016   Invited as External Examiner, Doctoral thesis , Department of Biotechnology, IIT Hyderabad, March 10, 2016.  

·   2016   Invited as an “Member of Screening Committee” of NER- Twinning RnD program of NERBPMC to review the project proposals, Feb 2. 

·   2016   Invited as an “Expert member for Selection Committee” for recruitment of Associate Professor at Department of Forestry, North Eastern Reagional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), Jan 29, 2016. 

·   2016   Invited as an “Expert member for Selection Committee” for recruitment of Associate Professor at Department of Human Physiology, Agartala University, Tripura, Jan 15, 2016. 

2015

·   2015   Invited to Co-chair a session during 56^th International Annual Conference of Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI), Dec 7-10, 2015, Jawaher Lal Nehru University, New Delhi.

·   2015   Invited as member “National Jury” for India Innovation Initiative a National-level competition organized jointly by CII with DST, Government of India and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

·   2015   Invited as Expert, member selection committee for faculty members at Department of Molecular Biology & Genetic Engineering, GB Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Uttarakhand, Oct 31, 2015. 

·   2015   Invited as an “Expert member for selection committee” for recruitment of Professor at Department of Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, Agartala University, Tripura, October 9, 2015. 

·   2015   Invited to Chair a session in “Update on Advances in Cancer Rsearch”, Sep 10,  B. Borooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati, Assam, India.

·   2015   Nominated as member, Scientific Advisory committee, Cancer Research Foundation, India.

·   2015   Invited to Chair the session in National Conference on Challenges in Environmental Research, 4-6 June, IIT Guwahati, Assam, India. 

·   2015   Invited to Chair 2 sessions in 2^nd North Eastern Regional Conference on Head and Neck Oncology, May 22-23, 2015, B. Borooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati, Assam, India.

2014

·   2014   Invited as an “Expert member for selection committee” for recruitment of Assistant Professor at Department of Biotechnology, NIT Durgapur, West Bengal, June 5, 2014.

·   2014   Invited as one of the Panel of judges for Best Poster Awards at International Conference on Emerging Trends in Biotechnology (ICETB-2014) and XI Biotech Research Society India, Convention, Nov 6-9, 2014, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

·   2014   Invited as Judge for Best oral presentation at International Conference on Biotechnology and Bioengineering (ICBB-2014), Oct 28-29, 2014, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus, Dubai, UAE. 

 

2013

·   2013   Invited as External Examiner, Doctoral thesis, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Roorkee, March 16, 2013.

2012

·   2012   Nominated as a distinguished member for consultative programme to prepare a “Draft Biotechnology Policy” for the state of Assam by Assam Science Technology & Environment Council (ASTEC) to submit the Draft Biotechnology Policy to the Department of Science & Technology, Government of Assam for necessary approval and implementation.

·   2012   Nominated by DBT as representative for Institutional Bio-safety Committee at North Eastern Hill University, Shillong. (Sep 2012)

·   2012   Mentor, DBT-MSc teaching program, Department of Biotechnology,  University of North Bengal, Siliguri, West Bengal.

·   2012   Member, Advisory committee, DBT–MSc teaching program, Department of Biotechnology,  Univeristy of North Bengal, Siliguri, WB.

·   2012   Invited as External Examiner, Doctoral thesis , Department of Biotechnology, IIT Roorkee, June 2, 2012.  

·   2012   Invited as a member “Expert Committee for North Eastern Region Biotechnology Programmes” by DBT, New Delhi, May 2, 2012. 

·   2012   Invited as member “Purchase Committee” meeting at Guwahati Biotech Park, Guwahati, March 27, 2012.

·   2012   Invited as an “Expert member for selection committee” for recruitment of Faculty members at Department of Biotechnology, IIT Guwahati, March 24, 2012. 

·   2012   Invited as Chairman, “Institute Purchase Committee (IPC)” meeting at Institute of Biotechnology and Sustainable Development (IBSD) Imphal, Manipur, March 17, 2011. 

·   2012   Invited as External Examiner, Doctoral thesis, Department of Chemsitry, IIT Delhi, March 15, 2012.  

·   2012   Invited as an “Expert member for selection committee” for recruitment of Junior Technical Superindendent at Department of Biotechnology, IIT Guwhati, Jan10, 2012. 

2011

·   2011   Invited to Chair the Session on Industrial Biotechnology in an International Conference on “New Horizons in Biotechnology”, Nov. 21-24, 2011, National Institute of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Trivandrum, India.

·   2011   Invited as Chairman, “Institute Purchase Committee (IPC)” meeting at Institute of Biotechnology and Sustainable Development (IBSD) Imphal, Manipur, September 27, 2011. 

·   2011   Invited as Chairman, “Institute Purchase Committee (IPC)” meeting at Institute of Biotechnology and Sustainable Development (IBSD) Imphal, Manipur, August 11, 2011. 

·   2011   Invited as an “Expert member for selection committee” for Asst Prof./Assoc Prof. at Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science and Technology, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Mar 21, 2011. 

·   2011   Invited Reviewer, of Pre-proposals from Department of Biotechnology and Ministry of New and Reneweable Energy (MNRE)

·   2011   Invited as Chairman, “Institute Purchase Committee (IPC)” meeting at Institute of Biotechnology and Sustainable Development (IBSD) Imphal, Manipur, March 7, 2011. 

·   2011   Member, Advisory Committee, DBT supported MVSc program in Animal Biotechnology at College of Veterinary Sciences, Assam Agricultrue University, Khanapara. Dec 2, 2011

·   2011   Invited as Chairman, “Institute Purchase Committee (IPC)” meeting at Institute of Biotechnology and Sustainable Development (IBSD) Imphal, Manipur, Feb 28, 2011. 

·   2011   Nominated as Chairman, “Institute Purchase Committee (IPC)” for 3 years at Institute of Biotechnology and Sustainable Development (IBSD) Imphal, Manipur. 

·   2011   Invited as an “Expert member for selection committee” for recruitment of Ass. Prof. /Assoc. Prof. at Department of Biotechnology, IIT Guwahati, Feb 18, 2011. 

·   2011   Invited as an “Expert member for selection committee” for recruitment of Professor, Associate/Assitant Professor at Department of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Anantapur (JNTUA), Andhra Pradesh, Jan 18, 2011. 

·   2011   Nominated for participation at IIT-DBT meeting on “Enhancing Innovation potential in IIT System” held at IIT Bombay, Jan 6-7 2011. 

·   2011   Invited as an “Expert member for selection committee” for recruitment of Senior Technical Assistant at Biotech Park, Guwahati, Jan 5. 

2010

·   2010   Member, DBT Program Support on “NE Institutions for Conferences and Workshops and for Travel Support to attend conferences Abroad”, (Aug 2010 to Feb 2013).

·   2010   Invited as an “Expert member for selection committee” for recruitment of JRF at Institute of Biotechnology and Sustainable Development (IBSD) Imphal, Manipur, Dec 18, 2010. 

·   2010   Invited to Chair the Session on Microbial Genomics in International Conference on Genomic Sciences (ICGS), Nov. 12-14, 2010, Madurai Kamraj University, Tamil Nadu, India.

·   2010   Invited to Chair Panel of Judges for Best Poster Awards at International Conference on Genomic Sciences (ICGS), Nov. 12-14, 2010, Madurai Kamraj University, Tamil Nadu, India.

·   2010   Invited as an “Expert member for selection committee” for recruitment of Faculty members at Department of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Anantapur (JNTUA), Andhra Pradesh, Oct 29, 2010 

·   2010   Invited as a “Member for Techical Evaluation Committee” for purchase of equipnent at Guwahati Biotech Park Incubation Center (GBPIC), Guwahati, June 29, 2010. 

2009

·   2009   Invited as an “Expert member for selection committee” for recruitment of Assistant Professor at Department of Biotechnology, IIT Guwahati, Dec 01, 2009. 

·   2009   Invited as an “Expert member for screening committee” for applications of “Director Technical” at Biotech Park, Guwahati, Nov 19. 

·   2009   Invited as an “Expert member for selection committee” for Lecturer at Department of Biotechnology, Gauhati University, Nov 16, 2009. 

·   2009   Nominated as a member “Expert Committee for North Eastern Region Biotechnology Programmes” by DBT, New Delhi (Aug 2009)

·   2009   Nominated Member Secretary, Project Approval Committee for “Strengthening of support to universities in North Eastern Region” by DBT, New Delhi (Dec 2008 - Aug 2009)

·   2009   Invited as an “Expert member for selection committee” for recruitment of Senior Research Scientist/Reasearch Scientist at Biotech Park Guwahati, June 30, 2009. 

·   2009   Invited as an expert by The Department of Biotechnology, Government of India for a Brainstorming meeting at Guwahati to evolve Science Promotion Schemes for Colleges in North Eastern States of India. (May 2009)

2008

·   2008            Invited as an expert for Brainstorming meeting on “Cellulose to ethanol” at CSIR, New Delhi. (July, Aug and Nov  2008)

·   2008            Invited as an expert for Discussion Meet on Biofuels at DBT, New Delhi. (July 2008) 

·   2008   Nominated by DBT (GOI) as representative for Institutional Bio-safety Committee at Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam June.

2007

·    2007  Invited to Chair the Session on “Industrial Biotechnology” in an International Conference on New Horizons in Biotechnology, Nov. 26-29, 2007, National Institute of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Trivandrum, India.

·   2007   3-D structure of Lichenase enzyme was selected for Cover Page for Abstract Book of 36^th National Seminar on Crystallography (NSC-36), January 22-24, 2007, University of Madras, Chennai, India.

2006

·   2006   Invited as an “Expert member for selection committee” for recruitment of Senior Technical Assisatant at Department of Biotechnology, IIT Guwhati, Jan 14, 2006. 

 

Courses and Projects Reviewed

·   2009-2016 Reviewed several projects from DBT(150), MNRE (4), DST(2), IITG-TIC (4)

·   2016          Reviewed a PG course on the Subject Biochemistry and paper STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF BIOMOLECULES II                    modules on DNA polymerases and Mutations under e-PG Pathshala for e-Content Creation for Postgraduate Students       scheme of UGC. Prof. Sunil K. Khare, Principal Investigator, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

·   2015          Review of 2nd phase of course “Enzyme Technology (BT 6011)" of BIT Mesra. Under National Mission Project on Education   through ICT, MHRD, Government of India for developing suitable pedagogical methods for various      classes, intellectual                calibers and research in e-learning. Prof. Anup K. Ray, Principal Investigator, Centre for Educational Technology, IIT Kharagpur.

·   2015          Reviewed a PG course on the Subject Biochemistry and paper STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF BIOMOLECULES under e-    PG Pathshala for e-Content Creation for Postgraduate Students scheme of UGC. Prof.Sunil K. Khare, Principal Investigator,             Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

·   2012          Reviewed B.Sc. Biotechnology course Syllabus for Manipur University, Imphal.

·   2010          Reviewed course “Enzyme Technology (BT 6011)" of BIT Mesra, under National Mission Project on Education through ICT MHRD, Government of India For Developing suitable pedagogical methods for various classes, intellectual calibers and research in e-learning. Prof. A.K. Ray, PI, Centre for         Educational Technology, IIT Kharagpur.

·   2010          Reviewed B.Tech. (Biotechnology) Syllabus of Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam  

 

Titles of Theses

·  Ph.D.:   Production, purification, characterization and active site mapping of dextransucrase of Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-512F. (Supervisor: Padma Vibhushan (2009), Padamshree (2003), Prof. Sarvagya Singh Katiyar, Vice Chancellor, (4 consecutive terms, 1994 - 2007), Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur; Professor and Former Head, Department of Chemistry, IIT Kanpur).

·  M.Tech.:       Isolation and purification of coenzymes NADH and ATP from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. (Supervisor: Professor S. Chand, Former Head, Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, IIT Delhi)

 

Area of Research

Microbial Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Protein Engineering, Structural & Functional studies of carbohydrate enzymes.

 

Ongoing Research:

 

A. Isolation of industrial microbial enzymes from microbial diversity of North-East India.

1.    Identification and functional analysis of glucansucrase and fructansurase producing Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Weisella confusa and Weisella cibaria.

2.    Optimization of conditions for culture for maximum secretion of enzyme using Batch fermentation.

3.    Purification of enzyme by fractionation and size exclusion chromatography. Identification of enzyme by activity staining and molecular size analysis by SDS-PAGE.

4.    Linkage analysis of glucans by ¹H & ¹³C NMR and FTIR techniques.

5.    Prodcution and structure characterization of glucans from novel microbes as agents for anticancer, biomedical, functional food and cereal applications. 

6.    Isolation and characterization of probiotic microbes Lactobacillus plantarum & Weisella cibaria for functional food applications.

7.    Production and purification of Prebiotic Isomalto-, Gluco-, Gentio-, Manno- and Xylo-oligosaccharides by enzymes.

8.    Glucan production from fruit waste by Lactic acid bacteria for food applications.   

B.  Molecular, structural, functional and biochemical analysis of Carbohydrate Active Enzymes.

9.    Hemicellulases (L-α-arabinofurnasidase, a family 43 glycoside hydrolase (GH43), glucoronoxylan-xylanohydrolase, (GH30) and β-mannanase (GH26) from Clostridium thermocellum.

10.  Polysaccharide Lyases (Pectate lyase, PL1B, PL9 and Rhamnogalacturonan lyase, PL11) from Clostridium thermocellum.

11.  Pectic methyl esterase of family 8 Carbohydrate esterase (CE8) from Clostridium thermocellum.

12.  Xylanase (GH11) from Pedobacter saltans and xylanase (GH10) from Clostridium thermocellum.

13.  Binding and structure studies of Carbohydrate binding modules (CBM6 and CBM35) of xylanase, arabinofuranosidase and polysaccharide Lyases.

14.  Constructing mutants of carbohydrate binding modules (CBMs) from Clostridium thermocellum by in vitro site-directed mutagenesis to identify amino acids involved in binding the polysaccharides.

15.  Protein engineering of carbohydrate enzymes for developing novel biocatalysts. Protein engineering of GH43 and GH5 for enhancing their enzyme activity and developing chimera.

16.  Crystallization and 3D structure analyses of Xyn30A, GH43, GH81, GH26 and PL1B from Clostridium thermocellum.

17.  Molecular cloning, expression and biochemical characterization of Chondroitin ABC lyase (PL8a) and Heparinase (PL12a) from Pedobacter saltans.

18.  Structure and functional analysis of a novel curdlanase (GH81) with multi-substrate specificity from Clostridium thermocellum.

C. Microbial conversion of cellulosic agrowaste to bioethnol using microbial cultures, natural and recombinant cellulases and hemicellulases for bioethanol production.

19.  Selection of agrowaste on the basis of their structural carbohydrate composition: Estimation of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin of different lignocellulosic leafy biomasses viz., jamun, neem, asoka, bamboo, poplar, wild grass, thatch grass, eucalyptus, mango, water hyacinth, corn cob, sugarcane bagasse and whitetop weed.

20.  Identification of efficient pretreatment process aiding in improved saccharification: Confirmation of structural destabilization with porosity increment and lignin breakdown by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analyses.

21.  Efficiency of fermentation mode in terms of ethanol yield in shake flask: Separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) involving various enzymes viz. T. reesei cellulase, B. subtilis, B. amylofaciens cellulase, recombinant Clostridium thermocellum cellulase, hemicellulase, xylanase and fermentative microbes viz. Zymomonas mobilis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida shehatae. Selection of fermentation by single enzyme-single culture and mixed enzyme-mixed culture system.

22.  Optimization of fermentation process parameters at shake flask level: Standardization of fermentation process parameters viz. concentrations of substrate and enzyme, microbial inoculua, pH and temperature for higher ethanol titre and yield.

23.  Scale-up at bioreactor level and subsequent product recovery with purification: Shake flask fermentation with increased substrate concentration. Scale-up in 7.0 L bioreactor with optimization of process parameters.

      24. Recovery and purification of bioethanol: By distillation, pervaporation, vacuum evaporation. Purification by                 semi-permeable membrane, molecular sieve and pressure reduction.

 

PhD Ongoing (13 as single Supervisor)