(arranged alphabetically)

Dr. Aparna Chaudhary CIFE, Mumbai	Dr Aparna Chaudhari is currently working as Principal Scientist and Head of the Fish Genetics and Biotechnology Division at Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai. She has been engaged in research and teaching in this field for over 20 years. She competed her Masters in Biochemistry from Lucknow University in 1988 and conducted her doctoral research in the Microbial Genetics lab of Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow as a CSIR research fellow. About Dr. Chaudhary's LabHer research interests include genetic engineering for various applications including vaccine and biosensor development, molecular interventions for captive maturation, morphotype manipulation of commercially important shrimp species, etc. Molecular genetics and functional genomics are also areas of her interest. She has published over 30 research papers in high impact journals and two book chapters apart from a large number of articles in training manuals published by CIFE, Mumbai. She considers the WSSV DNA vaccine for shrimp developed in her lab as her most important contribution and the vaccine is currently being upscaled for preclinical trials. About CIFE and its FGB division: The Central Institute of Fishery Education (CIFE) hat is a deemed university under Indian Council of Agricultural Research and it offers post-graduate courses including Masters and PhD in fishery sciences.
Dr. Deepak Modi NIRRH, Mumbai	Dr. Modi is leading the Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory at National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (NIRRH) as Scientist E. He is also one of the members of Indian Society for Developmental Biologists. He has awarded by Prof. G. P. Talwar Gold Medal for Middle Career Scientist 2017. About Dr. Modi’s lab: The lab is interested in defining the role of progesterone acting in male system. Based on their recent studies, they are currently trying to identify and characterize a novel trans-membrane receptor for progesterone in human testis and spermatozoa and its signal transduction mechanism. Another area where his lab is focusing is the role of developmental genes in adulthood. As a part of this investigation the lab is trying to decipher the role of homeobox protein HOXA10 in endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation. This study will not only improve the basic understanding of molecular physiology of endometrial receptivity and implantation but also have broad clinical implications such as in diagnosis and management of infertility and contraceptive development. About NIRRH:The National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health is dedicated towards addressing the various issues of reproductive health in accordance with the national needs and priorities. The Institute is one of the few centers in India , which can boast of a team of basic, clinical and operational research scientists working towards maximizing the benefits of research outcomes for public health. The institute envisages achieving excellence in the area of reproductive health research.
Dr. Indu George Dept. of Life Sciences, University of Mumbai, Mumbai	Dr. Indu George is an associate professor at Department of Life sciences at University of Mumbai. She did her Master's in biotechnology from Savitribai Phule Pune University (previously called University of Poona) and Ph.D. in Life Sciences from University of Mumbai. Dr. George is the Head of the University Department of Life Sciences in the University of Mumbai. About Dr. George's lab: The key area of research in Dr. Indu George's laboratory is plant biotechnology. With a well established Plant Ttissue Culture (PTC) laboratory at Department of Life Sciences, University of Mumbai, she and her research team are pursuing many important projects including, micropropagation of rare and economically important plants, secondary metabolitev analysis and biosynthesis of nanoparticles and molecular profiling of plants. The lab also works on anti microbial properties of plants extracts. About Dept. of Life Science, UM: The Dept. of Life Sciences is a dynamic department in the University and popular with students due to the well established labs and infrastructure. The University campus has many departments in close proximity to each other offering studnets the chance to do multi-disciplinary research.
Dr. Mithilesh Mishra TIFR, Mumbai	Dr. Mishra is a Reader and Principal Investigator with Welcome Trust India Fellowship at Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai. Dr. Mishra did his Ph.D. from the National University of Singapore and his Post Doctoral Research at Temasek Lifesciences Laboratory in Singapore. About Dr. Mishra’s Lab: Dr. Mishra’s lab at TIFR, Mumbai, is trying to understand the principle behind molecular mechanism of cell division and its regulation using in vitro and in vivo approaches along with genetics, cellular, molecular and mathematical approaches in a model organism, the fission yeast. As the process of cytokinesis is mechanistically conserved, the results from these studies could be extrapolated to human cells to understand the processes of cell division and its regulation. Cytokinesis failure results in aneuploidy associated with genetic disorders and genetic instability that often leads cancer. Hence, understanding the cytokinesis has important implications for cell division in normal development and disease conditions. About TIFR and DBS: TIFR is the deemed university and research Institution in Mumbai and Hyderabad, operated under the Department of Atomic Energy of the Government of India. TIFR offers students various postgraduate academic programs including, MSc, PhD, Integrated MSc plus PhD through Graduate Studies (GS) exam held each year.
Dr. Narayana Rao MBD, BARC, Mumbai	Dr. Narayana Rao did his master's in Physics from Sri Venkateshwara University. He is a scientific officer in BARC since 1989. About Dr. Rao's Work: Dr. Rao works on the development of experimental systems including a microarrayer, fluid flow processor for microarrays and a liquid handling system. He also works on development of microarray based solutions for identifying and differentiating organisms and detecting disease causing mutation in humans. About BARC: Bhabha Atomic Research Centre was set up by Dr. Bhabha to intensify the effort to exploit nuclear energy for the benefit of the nation. The BARC training school was was established to cater to the manpower needs of the atomic energy research program.
Dr. Nishigandha Naik Haffkine Institute, Mumbai	Dr. Naik is holding a position of I/c Director at Haffkine Institute, Mumbai. Dr. Naik has an immense experience in research. She previously was a principal investigator at CRI division of ACTREC, where she conducted interesting research on microtubule organization in cancer cells and Cancer chemo-preventive effects of certain anti-oxidants such as resveratrol, curcumin. She also worked as Vice President of Indian Association of Cancer Research and Joint Secretary of Indian Society of Cell Biology. About Dr. Naik's Lab: Her research team at Department of Chemotherapy, is working on analysis of kidney stones using conventional biochemical and FT-IR techniques. About Haffkine Institute: Haffkine Institute is a one of the oldest biomedical research institutes in the country. It was established in 1899 and is named after the scientist (Dr. Waldemar Mordecai Haffkine) who invented the plague vaccine. Since then, Haffkine Institute has emerged as a multi-disciplinary Institute engaged in training, research and testing of various aspects of infectious diseases.
Prof. Varsha Kelkar Mane Dept. of Biotechnology, University of Mumbai	Dr. Varsha Kelkar-Mane is an assistant professor and principal investigator at the Department of Biotechnology, University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus. She is one of the members of the Ad- Hoc Board of studies in Biotechnology. Dr. Kelkar-Mane obtained her masters degree in Biochemistry from Institute of Science and Ph.D. from Mumbai University. She was also a Research Fellow at NEERI and a DBT Project Fellow. About Dr. Mane's Lab: Her well established lab at Kalina Campus with her team of PhD students, is working to devise non-invasive microbial sampling techniques, to establish role of microorganisms in degradation and preservation of specific samples of biological and non-biological origin. Another field of interest for her lab is bio-prospecting. She has published some interesting and impactful papers on nanoparticle mediated modulation of amyloid aggregation and on morpho-structural changes in bacteria on exposure to copper ions. About Dept. of Biotechnology, UM: Biotechnology was introduced at the University of Mumbai in the year 1997. The department has also started a PhD program in biotechnology since May 2012. The department is well equipped with the all the necessary instruments and a number of research facilities within the campus as well as out of the campus are made available to the students.
Dr. Vijay Mendhulkar Dept. of Botany, Institute of Science, Mumbai	Dr. Mendhulkar is the professor and the Head of the Department of Botany at The Institute of Science, Mumbai. He did his M.Sc. and M.Phil. from Nagpur University and Ph.D. from Karnataka University. He is a recognized PG teacher and PhD guide for Botany and Biotechnology. About Dr. Mendhulkar's lab: Dr. Mendhulkars's lab is specialized in cytology and genetics. He has published some excellent articles on cytology and genetics, chemical mutagenesis in plant, Secondary metabolite elicitation, Plant tissue culture and nano-biotechnology. Dr. Mendhulkar has been trying to intertwine Biotechnology and Botany with the fascinating results from the biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles to the synthesis of biodegradable polymers in cyanobacteria. About Dept. of Botany, Institute of Science: It is a full- fledged premier post-graduate centre for teaching and research in science. From its inception in 1920 till date, the Institute has earned a very high reputation in scientific research and teaching. The theme of research undertaken at the Institute is to seek solutions to the problems besetting mankind and a great quest to venture into techniques leading to path breaking innovations in the frontiers of Science. The Institute undertakes interdisciplinary and multi-institutional research projects.