Biographical note

Dr Vijai G. Gupta is an Assistant Professor of Biotechnology at MITS University of India. Currently he is working as Research Scientist at National University of Ireland in Galway. Dr. Gupta’s present work is focused on the development and optimization of novel Enzyme-based bioconversion systems for biorefining and bioenergy. He has been honored with several awards, including the prestigious Indian ICAR Senior Research Fellowship and Indian Young Scientist Award. He has submitted 33 new fungal nucleotide sequences and deposited 147 fungal strains in International databases. His work with Fusarium spp., Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Penicillium spp. and Trichoderma spp. is augmented by contributions to biotechnological development, molecular diversity, secondary metabolites and industrial applications Dr. Gupta is the editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Plant Pathology and a regional editorial board member of 8 other respected journals. He is the author of 40 journal articles and 27 book chapters. Gupta has also written and edited books and series from reputed publishers, including CRC Press, Taylor and Francis, USA; Springer, USA; Elsevier, USA; Nova Science Publisher, USA and LAP Lambert Academic Publishing, Germany. Dr. Anita Pandey is a Microbiologist at the G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development in Almora, Uttarakhand, India. Her research focuses on the bioprospection of microbial diversity in the Indian Himalayan region (IHR). Specifically, her research areas of interest have included extremophiles, rhizosphere, biodegradation, fermented foods, water microbes, and plant-based antimicrobials. She has also developed microbial formulations for conservation of medicinal plant species and established a microbial culture collection in her laboratory. MSc, PhD and Postdoc scholars work in her research group. Dr. Pandey has several recognitions to her credit, such as the National Young Woman Bioscientist Award by DBT, Govt. of India, New Delhi and Vishisht Mahila Vaigyanik Sammaan (Eminent Woman Scientist Recognition) by USERC, Govt. of Uttarakhand, India.