Biographical note

Ashok Kumar is Assistant Professor in the Department of Biotechnology and Bionformatics, at Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, India. His research areas are microbial biotechnology, biocatalysis, biopolymers, enzyme immobilization, bioenergy, and CO2 conversion Dr. Swati Sharma (MSc, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni Solan H.P. India; PhD. University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia) is Assistant Professor at University Institute of Biotechnology, the Chandigarh University Mohali, India. She worked as a visiting researcher in the College of Life and Environmental Sciences at Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea. She has also worked as a program co-coordinator at the Himalayan Action Research Center (HARC), Dehradun, and Senior Research Fellow at the India Agricultural Research Institute in 2013-2014. Presently, Dr. Sharma's research is in the field of bioplastics, hydrogels, keratin nano-fibers and nano-particles, biodegradable polymers and polymers with antioxidant and anticancer activities and sponges. Dr. Swati has published numerous books and papers in various internationally reputed journals. Susheel Kalia is Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Chemistry, at the Army Cadet College Wing of the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, India. He was a Postdoc Researcher in 2013 and a Visiting Professor at the University of Bologna, Italy in 2020. Kalia has published over 85 research articles in international journals, as well as co-editing 20 books, authored 11 book chapters, and received more than 8,000 citations over his academic career. His research interests include polymeric bio- and nanocomposites, surface modification, conducting polymers, nanofibers, nanoparticles, nano ferrites, hybrid materials, and hydrogels. Dr. Kalia is Series Editor of a book series on polymer and composite materials, and an editorial board member of the International Journal of Plastics Technology. In addition, he is a member of several professional organizations, including the Asian Polymer Association, Indian Cryogenics Council, the Society for Polymer Science, the Indian Society of Analytical Scientists, and the International Association of Advanced Materials.