Shilpa Kumari | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

Ms.Shilpa Kumari | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

 

Sharda University, India

Profile

Education

She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Sharda University since 2020, having completed her coursework with an impressive 84.5%. She holds an M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Chandigarh University, where she secured 79.6% in 2019. Prior to that, she earned her B.Sc. from HNB Garhwal Central University, Srinagar, in 2017 with a score of 66.7%. She completed her 12th grade in the Medical stream under CBSE in 2014 with 74.4% and her 10th grade in General Science in 2012, securing 75.5%.

 

Awards

She has been awarded the Sharda University Research Scholarship (SURS) by Sharda University since February 2021. She received a Silver Medal at the 8th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Zoologists and the 5th International Conference on Recent Trends in Life Sciences and Biotechnology held at Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Haryana, in December 2024. Additionally, she was granted International Travel Support from the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, to present her research at the University Malay, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, in August 2024. She secured 2nd Prize at the Anveshan International Convention 2023-2024 (North Zone), organized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) in January 2024. Furthermore, she won the Best Oral Presentation Award at the National Conference on Disease Diagnosis and Drug Development Against Human Pathogens, sponsored by DBT and organized by Muthyammal College of Arts and Science in November 2023.

Book chapters

1. Shilpa Kumari, Neha Verma, Anil Kumar, Sunita Dalal, and Kanu Priya. “Functional
overrepresentation analysis and their application in microbial pathogenesis.” In Systems Biology
Approaches for Host-Pathogen Interaction Analysis, pp. 171-179. Academic Press, 2024.
2. Neha Verma, Shilpa Kumari, Anil Kumar, and Kanu Priya. “Advancements in systems biologybased analysis of microbial pathogenesis.” In Systems Biology Approaches for Host-Pathogen
Interaction Analysis, pp. 181-190. Academic Press, 2024

Publication

NORMA SILVA | Biotechnology | Women Researcher Award

Dr.Norma Silva | Biotechnology | Women Researcher Award

 

The university of Arizona, United States

Profile

Education

She holds a Biotechnology Engineering degree from the Technological Institute of Sonora (1991-1996) and a Master’s in Environmental Sciences and Sustainable Development from the Autonomous University of Sinaloa (2001-2004). She later earned a Ph.D. in Sciences with a Specialization in Biotechnology through the National Program (PNPC) of Biological Sciences of the Northwest, CONACYT, at the Technological Institute of Sonora (2010-2014). Additionally, she has obtained diplomas in teaching, generic competencies, and nutrition

Work experience

She worked as a Laboratory Technician at SABRITAS, S.A. de C.V. (1994-1998), where she was responsible for quality control of physicochemical parameters in raw materials, processes, and packaging lines. From 2001 to 2004, she served as a Professor at Colegio Sinaloa in Culiacán, teaching chemistry, biology, and food analysis. She then worked as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Architecture and Environmental Engineering at the Technological Institute of Cajeme (ITESCA) from 2006 to 2008. Additionally, she held a dual role as a Professor and Academic Administrator in the Department of Biotechnology and Food Sciences at the Technological Institute of Sonora (ITSON) between 2001 and 2014. In 2011, she was an Adjunct Professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey, teaching Organic Chemistry in English. She later joined the University of Sonora (UNISON) as an Adjunct Professor from 2013 to 2016 and again in 2024. From 2017 to 2022, she worked as a Determined Research Professor at UNISON, focusing on biological sciences, particularly in the agri-food field and its connections to public health and the environment. Expanding her research internationally, she became an Associate Researcher at the University of Arizona’s Department of Environmental Sciences from 2021 to 2022. She continued her work there as a Visiting Professor with a Research Scholar position from 2023 to 2024 and is currently an Associate Researcher (2024-2025). Her research at the University of Arizona focuses on the innovation and development of biotechnological products using natural products.

Awards

She has received several distinctions throughout her career, including being recognized as a Distinguished Teacher at the Technological Institute of Sonora in 2006 and 2007. In 2017, she was honored as a Distinguished Citizen in CAJEME by the Interamerican University for Development in Cd. Obregón, Sonora. Her research excellence has been acknowledged by CONACYT’s National System of Researchers, where she was awarded the title of National Researcher Level C from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2018. She advanced to National Researcher Level 1 in the area of Agricultural, Livestock, Forestry, and Ecosystem Sciences from 2019 to 2021 and continued at Level 1 in the area of Biotechnology and Agricultural Sciences for the period from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2026.

Research Experience

She has extensive experience in research and development, demonstrating expertise in implementing technologies and innovative practices to enhance agricultural productivity, food security, and environmental sustainability. Her work focuses on utilizing scientific and technological tools to address complex challenges in the agri-food sector.

She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Laboratory for Research in Food Safety (LANNIA), CONACYT, at the Center for Research in Food and Development (CIAD) (2016-2017), where she worked on the chemical and biological characterization of agro-industry products. Her research experience includes multiple research stays at CIAD: in 2004 at the Environmental Microbiology Laboratory (Culiacán Unit, Sinaloa), where she developed her master’s thesis on disinfection applications in mango products; in 2012 at the Antioxidant Laboratory (Hermosillo Unit, Sonora), where she evaluated the antioxidant capacities of agro-industrial products; and in 2013 at the Environmental Microbiology Laboratory (Culiacán Unit, Sinaloa), where she conducted her doctoral research on the characterization of antiviral studies of agro-industrial products.

Additionally, in 2016, she conducted a research stay at the Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), working at the Center for Genomic Sciences (CCG) in Cuernavaca, Morelos, focusing on the genomic characterization of bacteriophages isolated from agricultural valleys in Southern Sonora, Mexico.

Publication

Lekshmi K. Edison | Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

Dr.Lekshmi K. Edison | Molecular Biology| Best Researcher Award

 

University of Florida, United States

Profile

Education

She earned her Ph.D. in Biotechnology from the University of Kerala, India, in 2019. Prior to that, she completed a Master’s in Biotechnology from Mahatma Gandhi University in 2006 and an undergraduate degree in Zoology from the same university in 2004. Additionally, she holds a Master’s Diploma in Bioinformatics from Bharathiyar University (2015) and a Diploma in Computer Application from C-Dit, India (2014).

Work experience

She is currently a Postdoctoral Associate at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States, a position she has held since 2022. Prior to this, she worked as a Postdoctoral Associate at the College of Medicine, University of Florida, from 2021 to 2022. From 2019 to 2021, she served as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Earlier in her career, she was a Research Fellow at KSCSTE-JNTBGRI, Palode, Kerala, from 2015 to 2019, and a Project Fellow at the Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala, from 2011 to 2013.

Awards

She has received several prestigious honors and awards throughout her career. In 2024, she was awarded the UF Postdoctoral Affairs Spring 2024 Travel Award by the University of Florida and the American Society of Microbiology (ASM) Future Leaders Mentorship Fellowship (FLMF). In 2023, she received the American Society of Virology Postdoctoral Scholar Travel Award. Earlier, she was honored with the Department of Biotechnology-Research Associateship Program Fellowship from the Government of India in 2019. Additionally, she received the Women Scientist’s Back to Lab Research Fellowship from the State Government of Kerala, India, in 2015, and qualified for the National Eligibility Test for Lectureship conducted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Government of India, in 2014.

 OTHER PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS (LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION, ETC)

She has obtained multiple professional certifications and training credentials. In 2024, she completed the HiPerGator Account Training at the University of Florida, along with certifications in NIH Recombinant DNA (rDNA) and Nanoparticle Biosafety/Biosecurity through CITI. She also received training from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) in areas such as working safely with rabbits and ferrets in biocontainment and working with laboratory rats. In 2023, she completed the Life Sciences Responsible Conduct of Research Course, training on COVID-19 vaccine research, and multiple AALAS certifications, including working with the IACUC and poultry in laboratories. Earlier, in 2021, she acquired certifications in laboratory animal science, pain management in research animals, and post-procedure care for mice and rats.

Book Edited

  •  Pradeep NS, Edison LK (Editors). 2022. Microbial Beta Glucanases – Molecular
    Structure, Functions and Applications. In Book Series: Interdisciplinary
    Biotechnological Advances. Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd., Pages 206. DOI
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-6466-4, ISBNs 978-981-196465-7 (Hard cover),
    978-981-196466-4 (eBook).

Book chapters

  • Edison LK, Pradeep NS. Isolation of beta-glucanase encoding genes from actinobacterial
    genus Streptomyces spp. and its overexpression in Escherichia coli heterologous system. In:
    Karthik L, ed. Protocols of Actinomycetes: Microbiology to Gene Editing. 1st ed. Boca Raton,
    FL: CRC Press; 2024:Chapter 11. doi:10.1201/9781003398400-11
  • Nair S, Sahay B, Arukha AP, Edison LK, Crews CD, Morris JG Jr, Kariyawasam S,
    Yamamoto JK. Interferon-γ/IL-2 ELISpot and mRNA Responses to the SARS-CoV2, Feline
    Coronavirus Serotypes 1 (FCoV1), and FCoV2 Receptor Binding Domains by the T Cells
    from COVID-19-Vaccinated Humans and FCoV1-Infected Cats. Methods Mol Biol.
    2024;2768:135-151. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3690-9_9.
  • Ragitha VM, Edison LK. Safety issues, environmental impacts, and health effects of
    Biopolymers. In: Thomas S, Ar A, Jose Chirayil C, Thomas B, eds. Handbook of Biopolymers.
    Springer; 2022. doi:10.1007/978-981-16-6603-2_54-1.

Publication