About the Author

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Prof Chaitanya G Joshi presently serves as Director, Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat. Earlier, he worked as Professor of Animal Biotechnology at the Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat. He has completed his Ph.D. in 1995 from Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Science University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He has more than 30 years of research experience in microbiology and molecular biology. His research interests lie in animal genomics, metagenomics, and transcriptomics. He has published 150+ articles in peer-reviewed journals, 12 complete genomes, 5 patents, and 1 book. He serves as a member of editorial board and reviewer of a number of peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Madhvi Joshi is currently working as Scientist D and Joint Director at Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat. She received her Ph.D. in Bioscience in 2011 at Saurashtra University, Rajkot, Gujarat. Her research primarily focuses on translational biotechnological research leading to product/ process/ prototype development. Her major research interest areas include microbial genomics, clinical genomics for rare and inherited diseases and the development of DNA based diagnostics for one health. She has more than 12 years of research experience and guided 9 M Phil students. She has published 17+ articles in peer-reviewed journals and filed patents. She is in charge of the third largest microbial repository in the country.Dr Poonam Bhargava is currently working as Principal Scientific Officer at Gujarat Council on Science and Technology (GUJCOST), Gandhinagar, Gujarat. She is looking into the outreach activities and promotion of science and technology in the state. Earlier she worked as a scientist in Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, Gandhinagar, Gujarat India. During her tenure as a Scientist she was into research on Next GenerationSequencing, Microbiology and Upscaling of microbial Cultures. She is also the recipient of Young Scientist Award of DST, Government of India where she worked on the "X-Ray Crystallographic studies of alr0803". She completed her PhD from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India in 2007 under the able guidance of Prof LC Rai. Her PhD work included proteomic analysis of cyanobacterial stress response. She has 30 international publications and two books to her credit. Meghna Bhatt has worked with Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission, Gujarat, India as Research fellow. During this time sheacquired hands-on experience on DNA extraction, DNA banking, Molecular identification, cryopreservation and maintenance ofmicrobial cultures in live form. She has completed her M.Phil inBiotechnology under the guidance of Dr. Madhvi Joshi. Her M.Philwork was focused on DNA Barcoding of wild mushrooms ofGujarat.She has extensive teaching experience in high school and collegeEnvironment. She has 3 international publications and 2 books to her credit.Dr. Manju Shri received her Ph.D. in Sciences, from Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, (National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow) in 2014. Her research primarily focuses on Heavy metal stress in rice plants. Her major research interest areas include Plant biotechnology, Tissue culture and heavy metals stress in rice. She has more than 10 years of research experience. She has published 15+ articles in peer-reviewed journals. Earlier she worked as a Research Associate in Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. She had also worked as DST Young Scientist (SERB funded project ) at Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar Mr. Mohammed Shaad N Kadri worked as Senior Research Fellow at Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC). He has worked as a research fellow in the first ever Biotechnology service providingunit where he used to deal with industries and academic people and provided Biotechnology services to them. He also worked in a project that dealt with finding biomarkers for Indian Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer patients. He completed his Masters from Charotar University of Science and Technology (CHARUSAT)