Background:

Dr. Vinod Kumar Sahu is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the DST Centre for Policy, IIT Indore, under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. His research primarily focuses on agricultural policy and climate-resilient agriculture.

Dr. Sahu completed his Ph.D. in Agricultural Biotechnology from Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya (JNKVV), Jabalpur, India, where he developed molecular identification techniques for Curcuma species using DNA barcoding. He also holds an M.Sc. in Plant Molecular Biology & Biotechnology from RVSKVV, Gwalior, with research on Fusarium Wilt resistance in chickpea, and a B.Sc. (Ag.) from ITM University, Gwalior.

He has professional experience spanning policy consultancy, agricultural innovation, and entrepreneurship. Dr. Sahu has contributed to agribusiness development through his leadership roles as an Agriculture Consultant with the Directorate of Industries, Government of Uttarakhand, co-founder of AmbronicsPvt. Ltd., founder of Pragati Foundation, and as a DBT-BIRAC Sparsh Fellow.

Achievements and Awards

• Sahu has been recognized with several prestigious national and international honors, including:
• Golden Banana Award for Excellence in Entrepreneur Development by the National Centre for Cold Chain Development (2016).
• Certificate of Appreciation for contributions to the National Conference at RVSKVV, Gwalior (2018).
• Scientist Association Award by GRISAAS 2018, organized by Aastha Foundation.
• ABSTC Scholarship by the International Society for Biosafety Research (ISBR), USA, at the ISBR Conference in Spain (2019).
• Represented Sidhi district at the State Youth Parliament, organized by the Government of Youth Affairs and Sports, India (2019).
• SOLVED Challenge Champion (2021) for Agri Start-up Innovation, sponsored by UNDP and the Ministry of Youth Affairs, India.
• First Rank in Climate Data Hackathon on Climate Resilient Agriculture, sponsored by UNDP and Indian Data Week (2022).
• Runner-up in the Waste to Wealth Ideation 2.0 Program, Career College Bhopal (2022).
• State CM Plantation (VAYU Doot) Award (2022).

Fellowships Awards

• ABSTC Fellowship by ISBR, USA (2019).
• DBT-BIRAC Sparsh Fellowship (2020), incubated at IIMCIP, Kolkata.
• Internship under the Swachh Bharat Mission, Office of the Collector, Gwalior (2017).

Innovations

• Sahu has successfully developed innovative solutions such as:
• Mobile Mini Soil Testing Lab, recognized by UNDP Agri SOLVED Challenge 2021.
• Agri-Tonics Bricks, validated by DBT-BIRAC E-Yuva Program and awarded in the Swachh Bharat Challenge.

Research Contributions

• Submitted 180 accessions of Curcuma sequences to NCBI GenBank and 33 accessions to ICAR-NBPGR.
• Published 8 research papers in national and international journals.
• Authored 1 book, 3 book chapters, and multiple popular articles.

International Exposure

Dr. Sahu has participated in several international programs, including:

• ISBR Symposium 2019, Tarragona, Spain.
• Training on early-sown wheat and high-throughput phenotyping, organized by CIMMYT & BISA (2020).
• Hands-on training on Advanced NGS Technology, organized by ICGEB & SLIBTECH, Sri Lanka (2024).
• Workshop on Precision Medicine Diagnostics, organized by ICGEB China Regional Research Center, Taizhou (2024).

Summary

Dr. Vinod Kumar Sahu exemplifies innovation, dedication, and a vision for impactful contributions to agriculture and biotechnology. His work spans research, policy development, and entrepreneurial innovation, making him a dynamic contributor to sustainable agricultural development.

Background:

Dr. Lochan Singh is selected as DST-STI Post-doctoral Fellow (6th Cohort) at IISc and posted at DST-Center for Policy Research (CPR) at University of Hyderabad (since 28th August 2024). Before joining as fellow, she had worked for nearly 4 years as Assistant Professor cum Research Executive (Contract basis) in Contract Research Organization (CRO) at National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM, an Institute of National Importance) at Kundli, Sonipat, Haryana (India). She completed her PhD in 2020 on topic “DeterminationofPolycyclicAromaticHydrocarbonsinProcessedFood,BeveragesandKitchenexhaust” from the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (AES) at NIFTEM. The work is also recognized in news and other media coverage:
• Kebabs safe but risk varies sample to sample: Study. Published 12.03.23, 03:55 AM, The Telegraph, https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/kebabs-safe-but-risk-varies-sample-to-sample-study/cid/1921913
• Science Last Fortnight: PAHs in Indian Food: Causing cancer?. https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/115/01/0011.pdf

Her M.Sc work (thesis based) at Navsari Agriculture University (NAU, Gujarat) focused on “Isolation and molecular characterization of phosphate solubilizing bacteria from rhizospheric soil”.
Her specialization fields and broad interests encompass multi-disciplinary work in the areas of Policy Research, Start-up ecosystem, Industry-Academia Linkages & Outreach (for sponsored research projects, technology transfer, consultancy), Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (Health,RiskAssessment), Food Processing (Foodcontaminantsandtoxicants, Food Biotechnology, Food Chemistry, Food Sustainability, Wasteutilization), CookingEnvironment(Fumesanddepositions),Analytical Methods, PlantBiotechnology and Phosphate solubilizing microbes. She was also selected/awarded Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Direct Senior Research Fellowship (CSIR-SRF) in 2019 for trans-disciplinary research TDR-81 subject code. She has cleared General Aptitude Test (GATE) in 2013 in Biotechnology subject and also won best poster award (First position) in National conference on sustainability issues in food processing sector (SIFPROS-2015), NIFTEM, Kundli, HR.

She has co-guided one B.Tech and one M.Tech student on their projects during her tenure at NIFTEM on project titles “System for Instantaneous Identification of Milk and Common Milk Adulterants using Neural Networks (SIIMANN) based on Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy” and “Development on plant based cheese analogues”, respectively. She has also developed training module: Training Syllabus for Mission Karmayogi: Capacity Development Plan (Advance Training Module) titled “Schemes of Ministry of Food Processing Industry (MOFPI) and its convergence with other ministries/departments”. She has published 6 book chapters (Publishers: Taylor and Francis, Wiley, Royal Society of Chemistry), 1 book (Lambert Publishing House) and nearly 41 articles in peer reviewed national and international journals such as Trends in Food Science and Technology, Food Chemistry, Risk Analysis, Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, Food Control etc. She is a review editor in Journal “Frontiers in Sustainable Food systems” and has been reviewer to many journals such as Journal of Food Science and Technology, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Molecules, BMC Public Health, Food Chemistry, Discover Food, International journal of biological macromolecules, Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, Food Analytical Methods, RSC Advances, Cogent Food & Agriculture, Heliyon and Food Science & Nutrition. She is a life member of AssociationofFoodScientistandTechnologist(AFSTI) and IndianScienceCongress(ISC), and was affiliate member RoyalSocietyofChemistry(RSC) in 2021. She actively participates and organizes/coordinates webinars, trainings and other outreach activities.

Scientist Ranking:

AD Scientist Ranking: https://www.adscientificindex.com/scientist/lochan-singh/404247

Background:

Diwakar Kumar is a Policy Fellow at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, working at National Institute of Science Education and research Bhubaneshwar. His academic and professional expertise spans public policy, agricultural innovation, rural development, and sustainability. He has previously taught courses in Public Policy, Business Environment, Sustainability, and Business Research Methods at JG University, bringing a multidisciplinary approach to his teaching and research.

His MPhil/Ph.D. research, titled “Agricultural Innovation, Extension, and Policy Measures for Rural Development: A Case Study of Agricultural Universities in Gujarat,” focused on the intersection of policy, technology dissemination, and rural development. Using an ethnography-based case study methodology, the thesis examined the political economy of agricultural advancements and the role of agricultural universities in Gujarat. The research provides valuable insights into the complexities of policy implementation, innovation diffusion, and their impacts on rural communities.

With a keen interest in the political economy of agricultural inputs, his work explores power dynamics, policies, and economic structures shaping the production, distribution, and accessibility of these inputs. My interdisciplinary foundation, exemplified by M.A. in Tribal Law and Governance from the Central University of Jharkhand, that enriches my understanding of social and economic systems.

Background:

Dr. Astha Jaiswal is a DST-STI Policy Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), Central University of Gujarat (CUG), supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. Her work primarily explores ways to improve STEM accessibility and contribute to evidence-based policymaking in India’s STI ecosystem. Dr. Jaiswal has a background in Science policy, technology governance, Responsible Innovation and has actively engaged in policy research, stakeholder consultations, and capacity-building initiatives.

Background:

Dr. Aditi Chauhan is currently serving as a DST-STI Fellow affiliated with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. She is based at the DST Center for Policy Research (CPR), Panjab University, Chandigarh. Prior to this role, she served as a Research Officer at the DPIIT-IPR Chair, PU Chandigarh, for over three years. Dr. Chauhan completed her B.Sc. in Science and M.Sc. in Microbiology at CSK Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Palampur, where she excelled as the university topper in both programs. Recognizing her exceptional academic achievements, she was awarded a Gold Medal and the prestigious DST-INSPIRE Fellowship by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. In 2016, she was honoured with the Academic Excellence Award by Kaptan Singh Solanki, then Governor of Punjab and Haryana. Dr. Chauhan earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Her doctoral research received international acclaim, being ranked among the top 100 works at the 18th World Congress on Gynaecological Endocrinology in Florence, Italy, in 2018. She also secured the 2nd Best Poster Award at the 35th Annual Conference of the Indian Association of Biomedical Scientists. To date, she has authored more than 30 research publications in national and international journals. Her primary research interests lie in Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy; Intellectual Property Rights; and Technology Transfer and Commercialization.