Shillong, Oct 24: Six North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) faculty members who were recently elected as fellows of renowned national academies and societies across India were honoured by the university on Wednesday.
“This recognition highlights the growing prominence of NEHU in diverse fields of scientific research and its commitment to advancing knowledge through impactful research,” a press statement by the university said.
Prof S K Barik of the Department of Botany has been elected as a Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi. His research focuses on plant diversity, conservation biology, and ecological restoration in the context of the rich biodiversity of the northeastern Himalayas.
Prof S R Joshi from the Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics and Prof S Kumaria from the Department of Botany have been elected as Fellows of the National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI), Prayagraj. Prof Joshi is renowned for his contributions to microbial biotechnology, with a particular focus on the applications of microbial diversity in bioremediation while Prof Kumaria’s research spans plant tissue culture, medicinal plants, and conservation and propagation of orchids and other endangered plant species endemic to the northeastern region.
Prof Uma Shankar, also from the Department of Botany, has been elected as a Fellow of the Eastern Himalaya Society for Spermatophyte Taxonomy (EHSST), Siliguri. His research is dedicated to plant taxonomy, ecology, and the documentation of the rich flora of the Eastern Himalayas.
Prof Timir Tripathi from the Department of Zoology has been elected as an Associate Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi. His internationally recognized research in biochemistry and molecular biology focuses on the study of protein structure and function, particularly those linked to diseases.
Dr Rajesh Bajpai, from the Department of Environmental Studies, has been elected as a Fellow of the Botanical Society of India, Lucknow. His research encompasses environmental ecology, with a particular emphasis on plant-environment interactions and the assessment of environmental stressors on native plant species.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla lauded the achievements of the faculty and emphasized the significance of this recognition for NEHU and its academic community. “The election of our esteemed scientists as fellows of such prestigious academies and societies is a testament to the commitment of NEHU to research excellence and innovation. Their work reflects their dedication to advancing their respective fields and embodies the broader mission of NEHU to contribute to scientific progress in the northeastern region. This milestone is a source of pride for the NEHU community and serves as an inspiration for our students and researchers, encouraging them to aspire for excellence in their academic and research activities,” he said.
The election of these scientists as fellows in their respective academies and societies is a reflection of their pioneering contributions to scientific research and their dedication to addressing key challenges in the fields of biodiversity, biotechnology, biochemistry, and environmental sustainability, the statement said. NEHU takes pride in their achievements, which underscore the role of NEHU as a leader in promoting research excellence in the northeastern region, it added.
