Pratyush Kumar Das | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Pratyush Kumar Das | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Pratyush Kumar Das, Centurion University of Technology and Management, India

Dr. Pratyush Kumar Das is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Phytopharmaceuticals, School of Agricultural and Bioengineering, Centurion University of Technology and Management, India. He holds a Ph.D. in Biotechnology and specializes in environmental and plant biotechnology, nanotechnology, and molecular biology. With experience in both academic and research institutions, Dr. Das focuses on innovative approaches to environmental remediation, secondary metabolite analysis, and gene delivery systems. He is a recipient of multiple national and international awards for his research contributions and is an affiliate member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, London.

Profile

Scopus

Summary:

Assist. Prof. Dr. Pratyush Kumar Das exhibits a strong profile for the Best Researcher Award with a solid educational foundation and extensive research experience across several important fields of biotechnology. His innovative work on environmental and plant biotechnological solutions, coupled with numerous awards and leadership roles, demonstrate both depth and breadth in research capabilities. His focus on applied science addressing environmental challenges and pest management aligns well with contemporary research priorities.

🎓 Education

Dr. Pratyush Kumar Das holds a Ph.D. in Biotechnology, awarded in 2022 by Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar. He completed his M.Sc. in Industrial Biotechnology from the same university in 2012, following a B.Sc. in Biotechnology from Utkal University in 2010. He began his academic journey with higher secondary education in PCBM from CHSE in 2007 and matriculated under the CBSE board in 2005.

💼Experience

Dr. Das is currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Phytopharmaceuticals at the School of Agricultural and Bioengineering, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Paralakhemundi, Odisha, a role he has held since August 2023. Prior to this, he worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the DBT-Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar from October 2021 to July 2023, focusing on the development of cationic polymers for pest control in rice plants. He also served as Research Head in the Department of Training & Innovation at Heredity Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., where he was involved in student training, webinars, certification courses, in-house research, and project proposal writing. His doctoral research and teaching experience spanned over four and a half years at Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan, where he also earlier held the position of Senior Laboratory Assistant. Additionally, he worked as a Research Associate at Nitza Biologicals Pvt. Ltd., Secunderabad, gaining industry-level exposure to R&D, workshops, and training.

🔬Research Focus

Dr. Das’s research interests span Environmental Biotechnology, Plant Biotechnology, Industrial Biotechnology, Molecular Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology. His work involves heavy metal analysis, environmental remediation using plants, microbes, and nanoparticles, soil and water quality assessments, and studies on environmental toxicity. In plant biotechnology, his focus includes secondary metabolites, plant stress physiology, and biochemistry. He is skilled in enzyme kinetics, antibiotic production, and fermentation processes. His molecular biotechnology expertise includes DNA/RNA isolation, gene analysis through PCR and RT-PCR, and RNAi technology. In nanotechnology, he explores nanoparticle synthesis, antimicrobial properties, gene delivery applications using polymeric nanoparticles, and nano-based environmental remediation.

🛠️Skills

Dr. Das brings a versatile skill set in laboratory techniques, research design, student mentoring, project management, and scientific communication. His practical competencies include biochemical and molecular analyses, fermentation technology, polymer development for agricultural use, and nanomaterials characterization. He has also played leadership roles in educational innovation and training programs, alongside contributing to scientific conferences and proposal development for funding.

🏆Awards

Dr. Das has earned numerous accolades for his research presentations and innovations. He received the Best Paper Award at the 7th International Conference on Bioenergy, Environment, and Sustainable Technologies in January 2025 and another Best Paper Award at the 2nd International Conference on Frontiers in Industrial Biotechnology the same month. His innovative work was recognized with a 3rd Place Best Innovative Idea Award at the DBT-ILS Innovation Challenge in May 2023. He won the American Chemical Society Best Poster Award at ISCBC-2022 and multiple Best Oral and Poster Presentation Awards at both national and international conferences from 2017 to 2021. Notably, he was also honored with the Global Peer Review Award 2018 by Publons for being among the top 1% reviewers in Pharmacology and Toxicology.

📚 Publications

  • Title: Identification and analysis of the GATA gene family in onion (Allium cepa L.) in response to chromium and salt stress
    Authors: Bose, Chirasmita; Das, Pratyush Kumar; Roylawar, Praveen B.; Nanda, Satyabrata; Gawande, Suresh Janardhan
    Year: 2025
    Journal: BMC Genomics

  • Title: DsRNA-based Spray Formulations to Control Pest Infestations in Rice Plants: Mechanism, Constraints and Way Forward
    Authors: Gupta, Vishal Kumar; Joseph M, Anto Simon; Tripathy, Satabdi; Kaur, Ramandeep; Das, Pratyush Kumar
    Year: Not specified (assumed recent)

Conclusion:

Dr. Pratyush Kumar Das is highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award due to his multidisciplinary research approach, consistent recognition through awards, and leadership in academic and research settings. By expanding his publication record in top-tier journals and increasing international collaborations, he could further enhance his research stature. Overall, he is a strong candidate who represents the qualities and achievements expected of a distinguished researcher in the current scientific landscape.

Nunzio Alberto Fazio | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

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 Dr. Nunzio Alberto Fazio | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

 Dr. Nunzio Alberto Fazio ,University of Catania, Italy

Dr. Nunzio Alberto Fazio is a Ph.D. researcher in Agro-Food Biotechnology at the University of Catania, Italy. His work focuses on the selection and application of indigenous yeasts to enhance the quality of local wines, particularly from the Etna region. With a strong background in agricultural biotechnology, microbiology, and fermentation science, Dr. Fazio has collaborated with leading institutions in Spain, France, and the U.S. He is skilled in advanced laboratory techniques and committed to developing sustainable solutions in the agri-food sector through innovative research and biotechnology.

 

Profile

Scopus

Summary:

Dr. Nunzio Alberto Fazio is a well-qualified candidate for the Best Researcher Award, given his innovative research in biotechnology and sustainable wine fermentation. His technical expertise, international collaborations, and impactful publications underline his academic excellence and relevance in the field. His research bridges science and sustainability, offering solutions for enhancing regional wine production through indigenous microbial resources.

 

🎓 Education

Nunzio holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Technologies and a Master’s degree in Agricultural Biotechnology from the Università degli Studi di Catania, where he graduated with distinction (110/110 cum laude). His academic journey culminates in a Ph.D. in Agro-Food Biotechnology with a research focus on indigenous yeasts for enhancing local wines. His educational path includes international experiences in Spain, France, the United States, Portugal, and the Czech Republic through various Erasmus+ and visiting student programs.

💼Experience

Nunzio’s professional experience spans across multiple international institutions, contributing to his expertise in agri-food biotechnology. He has participated in internships and research projects in Czechia, Spain, France, and the U.S., where he focused on forestry, viticulture, wine biotechnology, and microbiological analysis. His work includes forest pest control, reforestation, laboratory-scale fermentation, and the use of unconventional yeasts in wine production.

🔬Research Focus

Nunzio’s research is dedicated to the investigation and application of indigenous yeasts to enhance the quality and authenticity of local wines. His Ph.D. work involves identifying and selecting S. cerevisiae and non-Saccharomyces yeasts from Sicilian wineries, particularly around Etna Volcano, aiming to develop commercial starter cultures for local wine fermentations. His research includes microbiology, genetic analysis, micro-fermentation trials, and sensory evaluations to optimize wine production.

🏆Awards

He is recognized as an International Soil Scientist Award nominee and has co-authored publications focusing on exploiting conventional and unconventional yeasts for winemaking. His notable research publication includes “Inside Current Winemaking Challenges: Exploiting the Potential of Conventional and Unconventional Yeasts.”

Skills

Nunzio Alberto Fazio is proficient in laboratory analysis, including microbiological, analytical, and molecular techniques such as MALDI-TOF, HPLC, PCR, and DNA extraction. He is skilled in project management, statistical analysis, data interpretation, and fermentation management. His expertise extends to genomics, bioinformatics tools, and software such as Microsoft Office Suite and R. Additionally, he demonstrates strong organizational and soft skills, including documentation management, time management, problem resolution, and cultural sensitivity.

Publications

  • Fazio, N.A., Pino, A., Foti, P., Torija, M.-J., Caggia, C.
    Title: Screening and characterization of indigenous Saccharomyces cerevisiae and non-Saccharomyces yeasts isolated from Sicilian vineyards
    Journal: Food Bioscience, 2024, Volume 62, Article 105282
    Citations: 0
  • Fazio, N.A., Russo, N., Foti, P., Caggia, C., Randazzo, C.L.
    Title: Inside Current Winemaking Challenges: Exploiting the Potential of Conventional and Unconventional Yeasts
    Journal: Microorganisms, 2023, Volume 11, Issue 5, Article 1338
    Citations: 12

 

Conclusion:

Dr. Fazio’s strengths in research innovation, technical expertise, and international collaboration position him as a leading contender for the Best Researcher Award. Focusing on increasing industry engagement, developing patents, and expanding his citation record would further solidify his candidacy, making him an even more distinguished researcher in the biotechnology community.