Page 03 • Laboratory & Sponsored R&D
Research Areas, Grants & Editorial Board
Integrating microbial bioprocessing, circular bioeconomy valorization, and nanobiotechnology to create next-generation functional foods and nutraceuticals.
6 Core Research Thrusts
1. Synthesis of Biopolymers
Microbial and enzymatic synthesis of high-purity dextrans, levan, pullulan, and structurally tailored exopolysaccharides (EPS) using lactic acid bacteria (Leuconostoc & Weissella spp.) with customized rheological, emulsifying, and thermal profiles.
Dextransucrase
Hydrocolloids
Exopolysaccharides
2. Nutraceuticals & Functional Health Drinks
Bioprocess development for non-dairy probiotic fruit beverages (cashew apple, cantaloupe) and ethnic millet fermented functional foods (low-alcoholic Kodo Ko Jaanr), valorizing agro-industrial pectin waste into bioactive nutraceuticals.
Waste-to-Wealth
Millet Fermentation
Pectin
3. Probiotics & Prebiotics Development
Acceptor-reaction synthesis of prebiotic gluco-oligosaccharides (GOS), fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), and pectic-oligosaccharides (POS) that selectively stimulate beneficial Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains while inhibiting enteric pathogens.
Oligosaccharides
Synbiotics
Microencapsulation
4. In vitro Gut Model Studies
Simulated human gastrointestinal digestion (salivary, gastric, and small intestinal phases) and anaerobic colonic fermentation models to quantify short-chain fatty acids (acetate, propionate, butyrate) and microbiota-accessible carbohydrate metabolism.
SCFA Profiling
Gut Microbiome
GI Simulation
5. Bio-flocculants
Biodegradable microbial extracellular polymeric bio-flocculants as sustainable alternatives to synthetic polyacrylamide flocculants for industrial wastewater treatment, dye removal, and downstream cell harvesting.
Green Remediation
Flocculation Kinetics
6. Polymeric & Superparamagnetic Nanomaterials
Synthesis of dextran- and biopolymer-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) for covalent enzyme immobilization, magnetic biocatalyst recovery, and targeted bioactive delivery.
SPIONs
Enzyme Immobilization
Nanocarriers
Sponsored Grants
Extramural R&D Projects (As Principal Investigator)
Principal Investigator (PI)
May 2024 – June 2026
"Waste to Wealth: Transforming Pectin from Agro-Waste to Value-Added Nutraceuticals with Potential Application in Food and Pharma Industry"
Developing eco-friendly extraction and enzymatic depolymerization processes to convert fruit and agricultural residues into bioactive pectic-oligosaccharides with prebiotic and therapeutic properties.
Funding Agency
APSCHE / APHEPB / 2024 (Govt. of Andhra Pradesh)
Ongoing
Principal Investigator (PI)
Sanctioned 2024
"Process Development for the Production of Value-Added, Low-Alcoholic Kodo Ko Jaanr — A Traditional Millet-Based Fermented Functional Food of North East India"
Standardizing microbial starter consortia and controlled fermentation parameters to produce a nutrient-dense, probiotic-rich, low-alcoholic functional millet beverage with extended shelf life.
Funding Agency
Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India
Ongoing
Peer Review & Editorial Leadership
Editorial Board & International Journal Referee
Editorial Board: Current Microbiology (Springer, IF: 2.4)
Serving as an active peer reviewer for over 12 high-impact SCI journals published by Elsevier, Springer Nature, Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), and Taylor & Francis:
Carbohydrate Polymers
Elsevier
Food Hydrocolloids
Elsevier
Trends in Food Sci. & Tech.
Elsevier
Food & Function
RSC
Food Research International
Elsevier
Int. J. Biol. Macromolecules
Elsevier
LWT - Food Sci. & Tech.
Elsevier
Process Biochemistry
Elsevier
Food Bioscience
Elsevier
Journal of Functional Foods
Elsevier
Current Microbiology
Springer
Food & Bioprocess Tech.
Springer
Page 05 • Academic Instruction & Supervision
Teaching, Laboratories & Student Mentorship
Delivering core B.Tech. and M.Tech. biotechnology courses, managing experimental laboratories, and mentoring undergraduate & postgraduate research scholars at NIT Andhra Pradesh.
7 Theory Courses
5 Laboratories
B.Tech. & M.Tech. Theory Courses
Department of Biotechnology, NIT Andhra Pradesh
BT-101
B.Tech. Core
Engineering Biology
Biological systems, biomolecules, cellular energetics, and bio-inspired engineering design.
BT-203
B.Tech. Core
Microbiology
Microbial taxonomy, growth kinetics, nutrition, sterilization, and industrial microorganisms.
BT-204
B.Tech. Core
Cell Biology
Membrane transport, organelle biogenesis, cytoskeleton, cell signaling, and cell cycle regulation.
BT-253
B.Tech. Core
Molecular Biology & Genetics
DNA replication, transcription, translation, operon models, and transmission genetics.
BT-303
B.Tech. Core
Genetic Engineering
Restriction enzymes, cloning vectors, PCR, gene libraries, and recombinant protein expression.
BT-314
B.Tech. Elective
Plant Biotechnology
Plant tissue culture, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, and secondary metabolites.
19PBT111
M.Tech. Postgraduate Course
Microbiology & Biochemistry
Advanced microbial physiology, metabolic pathway engineering, enzyme kinetics, and bioenergetics for postgraduate scholars.
Laboratories Handled
Hands-on Experimental Instruction
Microbiology Laboratory
Aseptic techniques, pure culture isolation, staining & antibiotic assays
BT-206
Cell Biology Laboratory
Phase-contrast microscopy, mitosis/meiosis & cell viability staining
BT-207
Molecular Biology Laboratory
Genomic/plasmid DNA isolation, agarose gel electrophoresis & RNA analysis
BT-256
Genetic Engineering Laboratory
PCR amplification, restriction digestion, ligation & bacterial transformation
BT-308
Bioprocess Engineering Laboratory
Batch/fed-batch bioreactor cultivation, mass transfer & enzyme immobilization
19PBT102
Research Supervision
Student Projects & Thesis Mentorship
B.Tech. • M.Tech. • Ph.D. Supervision
Undergraduate Dissertations
B.Tech. Major Projects Guided
Supervised multiple B.Tech. student batches at NIT Andhra Pradesh on agro-waste pectin valorization, probiotic fruit juice fermentation, bio-flocculant screening, and prebiotic oligosaccharides.
Laboratory Leadership
Lab In-Charge (NIT Andhra Pradesh)
Serving as Faculty In-Charge for the Microbiology Laboratory, Cell Biology Laboratory, and Bioprocess Engineering Laboratory, overseeing equipment procurement and safety protocols.
Prospective Scholars
Opportunities in Biopolymers Lab
Motivated candidates with CSIR-UGC NET / GATE / DST-INSPIRE fellowships interested in Ph.D. or project positions in Biopolymers, Prebiotics & Gut Microbiome are encouraged to reach out via email.
