Department of Microbiology — CBSH, GBPUA&T Pantnagar

The Department

About the Department

Microorganisms, the invisible giants are ubiquitous in nature and are an integral part of the universe significantly affecting our lives. The hidden world of these microscopic organisms is fascinating since, despite their tiny size they play crucial role in the sustenance of agriculture, environment and society. Looking towards their significant impact on day to day life and in agriculture, technology and allied sciences, the department was established in 1960. Master’s and Ph.D. programmes were amongst the first P.G. programmes to be initiated in the university in 1963 and 1967 respectively. Besides P.G. teaching, the under graduate courses are also being taught to the students of B.Tech. Biotechnology, B.F.Sc. and B.Sc. agriculture.

The department received major strengthening support for teaching and research in 1994 from DBT, Govt. of India and from DST-FIST in 2001. Research is also supported through bioefficacy and adhoc projects funded by various funding agencies such as DBT, DST, UCOST, UPCAR, DRDO MoEFCC etc. M.Sc. and Ph. D. course programmes consist of both course work and thesis research work. Besides, teaching and research, the department is also engaged in extension activities of the University.

The main focus of research is on exploration and cataloguing of native microbial genes, enzymes and beneficial micro flora of Uttarakhand for bioprospecting and developing microbe based green technologies. Department is presently functioning with following mandates.

Mandate

Basic and applied aspects of microorganisms, their biopotentiality, conservation and cataloguing for sustainable development of agriculture, environment and society with defined research thrust.

Research Thrust

Exploration of native beneficial microbial gene pool
Repository of useful microorganisms
Bioprospecting of secondary metabolites
Bioremediation of synthetic industrial dyes
Microbial enzymes
Proteomics and metabolomic and soil metagenomic studies
Plant-microbe interaction
Molecular microbial ecology
Polyphasic bacterial taxonomy
Biofuel/Biodiesel production
Development of bioinoculant formulations: Biofertilizer and Biocontrol agents

Expected Outcomes

Exploration of microbial flora for documentation and characterization of novel genes, genomes and proteins for societal upliftment
Commercialization of selected potential microbes for bioremediation of environmental pollutants.
Waste water treatment for irrigation purpose
Conversion of waste into bioenergy : Microbes as alternate energy source using different horticultural and agricultural wastes.
Development of potential microbial consortium for crop improvement and sustainable agriculture.

Academics

Degrees Offered

M.Sc./M.Sc. (Agri.) Microbiology
Ph.D. (Microbiology)

Courses Offered

LIST OF COURSES OFFERED BY THE DEPARTMENT

(A) Under Graduate Courses

S.No.	Course No.	Title of the Course	Credit hr.
1.	BBMN121	Elementary Microbiology	2(1-0-1)
2.	BBMN122	Microbial Preservation Technology	2(0-0-2)
3.	BBMN123	Fundamental Microbiology	2(1-0-1)
4.	BBMN221	Biofertilizer Development Technology	2(0-0-2)
5.	BBM301	Agricultural Microbiology and Bioremediation	2(1-0-1)

(B) Post Graduate Courses

S.No.	Course No.	Title of the Course	Credit hr.
I. M.Sc. courses
1.	BBM 601N	Principles of Microbiology	3(3-0-0)
2.	BBM 605	Soil Microbiology	3(2-0-1)
3.	BBM 606	Microbial Physiology & Metabolism	3(3-0-0)
4.	BBM 607	Microbial Biotechnology	3(3-0-0)
5.	BBM 608	Microbiological Techniques	2(0-0-2)
6.	BBM 610	Application of Microbial Method	2(0-0-2)
7.	BBM 620	Food Microbiology	3(2-0-1)
8.	BBM 640	Industrial Microbiology	2(2-0-0)
9.	BBM 645	Microbial Genetics	3(2-0-1)
10.	BBM 651	Yeast	2(1-0-1)
11.	BBM 687	Master’s Special Problem	1 or 2
12.	BBM 688	Master’s Seminar	1(1-0-0)
13.	BBM 690	Master’s Thesis Research	30
II. Ph.D. Courses
14.	BBM 700	Improvement in Fermentation Technology	2(2-0-0)
15..	BBM 710	Research Techniques in Microbiology	2(0-0-2)
16.	BBM 722	Recent Development in Soil Microbiology	2(2-0-0)
17.	BBM 725N	Microbial Diversity & Taxonomy	2(2-0-0)
18.	BBM 732	Microbial Physiology & Regulation	2(2-0-0)
19.	BBM 750	Plant Microbe Interactions	2(2-0-0)
20..	BBM 787	Doctoral Special Problem	1 or 2
21.	BBM 788	Doctoral Seminar-I	1(1-0-0)
22.	BBM 789	Doctoral Seminar-II	1(1-0-0)
23.	BBM 790	Ph.D. Thesis Research	75

Infrastructure

Facilities

Laboratories

U.G. Teaching Lab
P.G. Teaching Lab
Microbial Genomics Lab
Fermentation Lab
Rhizosphere Biology Lab
Bioinoculants Lab
NMHS Lab
Central facility lab
Net house (02)

Major Equipments

Laminar air flow system
Deep freeze (-20, -80°C)
Gel documentation system
Refrigerator
DGGE system
Water Purification System
UV/VIS Spectrophotometer
Gradient PCR
Microscope with protomicrography attachment,
Phase contrast microscope,
Refrigerated High Speed Centrifuges
Ultrasonicator,
Low temp incubator shakers
Incubator Shaker
Water bath

Faculty

Faculty Members

Dr. Lakshmi Tewari

Professor & Head

+91-9412120605
lakshmitewaribbmgbpuatacin
headmicrobiologygbpuat-cbshacin lakshmimtewarigmailcom

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Dr. Ajay Veer Singh

Associate Professor

+91-9719019798
ajayveersinghbbmgbpuatacin
ajaygbpuatgmailcom

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Students

Student Information

Number of Students

05M.Sc. Students

12Ph.D. Students

Doctoral Degrees awarded since 2020 onwards

S. No.	Student Name	Advisor	Id. No.	Year	Topic
1.	Ms. Pragati Srivastava	Dr. Manvika Sahgal	42511	2020	Identification and Characterization of siderophore producing bacteria from Dalbergia sisscoo Roxb. forest ecosystem
2.	Ms. Vandana Jaggi	Dr. Manvika Sahgal	50931	2020	Functional and molecular characterization of rhizobacterial antagonists against foliar blight pathogens of wheat, Bipolaris sorokiniana and Alternaria triticina
3.	Ms. Neha Bisht	Dr. Lakshmi Tewari	50943	2021	Bioconversion of photooxidatively delignified Woody biomass of Salix alba into bioethanol using C6/ C5 co- sugar fermenting yeast Pichia Kudriavzevii BGY1.
4.	Mr. Viabhav Kumar Upadhayay	Dr. Ajay Veer Singh	50930	2021	Exploration of zinc solubilizing bacteria and their prolific contribution in zinc biofortification of rice grains
5.	Ms. Damini Maithani	Dr. Anita Sharma	49577	2022	Harnessing the untapped cultural diversity of barnyard millet (Echinoichloa frumentacea) rhizosphere for potential biocontrol agents with plant Growth promoting attributes
6.	Mr. Hamant Dasila	Dr. Manvika Sahgal	47018	2022	Combined in vitro/in vivo approach for screening, selection and optimization of Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and its application to enhance agronomic performance of wheat
7.	Ms. Harshita Singh	Dr. Anita Sharma	54161	2022	Biodegradation of Cypermethrin and Profenofos using indigenous bacteria and their subsequent influence on microbial dynamics of rhizospheric soil of wheat and maize
8.	Mr. Amir Khan	Dr. Ajay Veer Singh	49415	2022	Functional annotation of cold-adaptive rhizobacteria for crop productivity, soil quality and microbial dynamics under field conditions of Terai and Indian Central Himalayan regions
9.	Ms. Barkha	Dr. Lakshmi Tewari	54075	2023	Integrated genomic and in-silico studies on bioprocess optimization for detoxification of azo dye polluted textile industry effluent using novel microbial consortia equipped bioreactor
10.	Ms. Vindhya Bundela	Dr. Ajay Veer Singh	56750	2024	Iron and Zinc biofortification potential of endophytic bacterial isolates and their influence on soybean growth and yield
11.	Ms. Shalini	Dr. Lakshmi Tewari	54240	2024	Integrated in situ and omic studies on indigenous microbial consortium development for enhancing phosphorus availability in soil and biocontrol of chickpea wilt disease
12.	Ms. Bharti	Dr. Ajay Veer Singh	52713	2025	Harnessing the Potential of Cold-Adapted Rhizobacteria for Enhancing Crop Yield, Soil Health and Grain Nutritive Value
13.	Ms. Neha Saini	Dr. Ajay Veer Singh	57116	2025	Credibility of Bacillus Strains for Biocontrol of Wheat Foliar Blight Pathogens and its Optimization for Antifungal Metabolite Production.

Students’ Achievements

Placement of students

Dr. Damini Maithani (Id. No. 49577) joined as Assistant Professor at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Agriculture University, Meerut, on January 2025.
Dr. Deep Chand Suyal (Id. No.36770) joined as ARS scientist, at Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India on 14.01.2025.
Dr. Deep Chandra Suyal (Id. No.36770) qualified ARS examination conducted by ASRB and selected as ARS Scientist (Agricultural Microbiology)2025.
Dr. Bharti (Id. No.52713) joined as Assistant professor in Department of Microbiology, Akal college of basic science, Eternal University, Baru Sahib, Himanchal Pradesh. 2025.
Dr. Viabhav Kumar Upadhayay, (Id. No. 50930) joined as Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), Bihar 2025.
Dr.Hemant Dasila (Id. No.47018) joined as Assistant professor in Department of Microbiology, Akal college of basic science, Eternal University, Baru Sahib, Himanchal Pradesh. 2022.
Dr. Digar Singh (Id.No.35325) Assistant professor, Department of Biological sciences and Microbiology, HNBU, Garwal, Srinagar.
Dr. Babita Rana (Id.No.47021) Assistant Professor, Department of Biological sciences and Microbiology, HNBU, Garwal, Srinagar.
Dr. Jitender Saini (Id.No.32930) joined as Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Central University of Haryana in 2016
Dr. Anil Kapri (Id.No.31807) Scientist-C, Food & Agriculture Department Bureau of Indian Standards 9, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi
Dr. Anju Rani(Id.No.32805) Prof. and Head, Department of Microbiology, Graphic Era Deemed to be University, Dehradun.
Dr. Govind kumar (Id.No.40821) ARS scientist at Central institute of subtropical horticulture, Lucknow.
Dr. Priyanka Khati, (Id No.34093) joined as ARS Scientist in VIPKAS, Almora, Uttarakhand.
Dr. Alok Satlewal, (Id No.30888) R&D Centre, Research Manager, Department of Biotechnology, Indian oil corporation, Faridabad, Haryana.
Dr. Megha D. Bhatt, (Id No.35332) Manager of Biotech Research at GSFC Ltd. and Adjunct Professor at GSFC University, Vadodara, Gujrat.
Dr. Seema Rawat (Id. No. 23941) Professor , Department of Life science, Central University Gujrat.
Dr. Ravinder Soni (Id. No. 31693) Assistant Professor Agril. Microbiology, Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh,

Governor’s awards for research work

Mr. Mohd. Sahbaz Anwar, Id. No.36989 : Governor’s Award 2014-15
Mr. Deep Chandra Suyal Id. No. 36770 : Governor’s Award 2016-17
Mr. Saurabh Kumar, Id No.44246 : Governor’s Award 2018-19
Mr. Prasenjit Debbarma, Id No. 49624: Governor’s Award 2018-19

Best thesis award

Dr. Barkha, Id. No. 54075 (Advisor-Dr. Lakshmi Tewari) received Bharat Ratna Pt. Govind Ballabh Pant best Ph.D. Thesis award for the Academic Year 2022-23 on September 04.2024 by G.B.P.U.A.&T., Pantnagar.

Young scientist Awards

Ms. Divya Pant, Id. No. 58478, PhD. student, Department of Microbiology, was awarded the Young Scientist Award for Best Oral Presentation at the Uttarakhand State Council of Science and Technology (UCOST) held at Graphic Era University, Dehradun (28th to 30th November 2025)
Ms. Barkha Sharma, Id no. 54075 was awarded with “Young researcher Award- 2020” in 4th International Conference on Global Approaches in Natural Resource Management for Climate Smart Agriculture (GNRSA-2020) held on February 26-28, 2021 in Meerut, U.P., India.
Ms. Harshita Singh, Id no. 54161 was awarded with “Young Scientist Associate Award-2020” in 4th International Conference on Global Approaches in Natural Resource Management for Climate Smart Agriculture (GNRSA-2020) held on February 26-28, 2021 in Meerut, U.P., India.
Mr. Raj Kumar Pandey was awarded Young Scientist award for best poster presentation on the topic entitled “Microbial Technology for Bioconversion of Renewable Biomass into Fermentable sugars for Sustainable Biofuel Production” in three days National Conference on Science of OMICS for Agricultural Productivity: Future Perspectives, held at G.B. Pant University of Ag. & Tech., Pantnagar, US Nagar Uttarakhand from March 4-6, 2014.
Ph. D. student Mr. Raj Kumar Pandey received the award “Environmental Microbiologist of the year- 2017” for the Ph. D. thesis research work on “Delignification of Bamboo biomass” at World Clean Environment Congress Organized by Scientific and Environment Research Institute Kolkata at India International Centre, New Delhi on June 05, 2017

Awards in conference/ symposium

Deeksha Bharti Ph.D. student, received second and third prize in the poster presentation at the Agriculture Science Congress held in Pantnagar. February 20-22, 2025
Sheetal Alachouni Ph.D. student received third prize in the poster presentation at the Agriculture Science Congress held in Pantnagar. February 20-22, 2025
Best poster award (First Prize) for the research work entitled “Identification and molecular characterization of dye decolourizing microalgae for bioremedial potential” (Authors: Lakshmi Tewari, Ranjana Joshi, Rekha Rawat, Raj Kumar Pandey ) presented in the workshop on ‘Advances in Biotechnology and its Application in Conservation Biology’ organized by Dolphin Institute of Biomedical and Natural Sciences, Dehradun in collaboration with Wildlife Institute of India and Zoological Survey of India, Dehradun during October 16-17, 2014.
First prize awarded to Mr. Raj Kumar Pandey, Ph.D. Scholar for presentation (oral) of the research paper entitled “Optimization of Laccase Production for Biological Delignification of Bamboo Biomass for Sustainable Bioethanol Production” in one day symposium on ‘Topical developments in Biochemistry and Allied Sciences’ on 7th May, 2016, at GBPUAT Pantnagar.
Second prize awarded to Ms. Babita Rana, M.Sc. student for presentation (poster) of the research paper entitled “Mycoremediation of synthetic carcinogenic industrial dyes using white rot fungi” in one day symposium on ‘Topical developments in Biochemistry and Allied Sciences’ on 7th May, 2016, at GBPUAT Pantnagar
Ph. D. student Mr. Raj Kumar Pandey received the award “Environmental Microbiologist of the year- 2017” for the Ph. D. thesis research work on “Delignification of Bamboo biomass” at World Clean Environment Congress Organized by Scientific and Environment Research Institute Kolkata at India International Centre, New Delhi on June 05, 2017
Second prize was awarded for the research work entitled “In vitro decolourization of synthetic textile dyes: Role of Indigenous microbial Cultures and Fungal Laccase Enzyme” (Raj Kumar Pandey and Lakshmi Tewari) presented (oral) in the National Seminar 2016 on “Trends and Advances in Wool and Specialty Hair ”at G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology.

Activities

Events

Visit of Department of Microbiology, by Dr..Deshmukh Arvind Madhavrao , President, Microbiological Society, India (MBSI) and interaction with students on December, 13, 2025.
Guest Lecture delivered by Dr..Deshmukh Arvind Madhavrao , President, Microbiological Society, India (MBSI) on Microbial importance on December, 13, 2025 organized by AMI chapter, Pantnagar, G.B.P.U.A&T.
Hands on Training organized by Dr. Lakshmi Tewari Training Title: “Microbiological Quality Assessment of Drinking Water”. Total No. of Students registered: 16
Guest Lecture delivered by Dr.H.S.Mishra, Scientist, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai on “Characterization of a DNA damage-inducible membrane protein kinase from Deinococcus radiodurans and its role in bacterial radioresistance and DNA strand break repair” in 2022 organized by AMI chapter, Pantnagar, G.B.P.U.A&T.