Hrudayanath Thatoi is a Professor in the Department of Biotechnology, North Orissa University, Odisha, India. He has around 15 years of teaching and 25 years of research experience. His research interests are microbial biotechnology, biofuel production, bioremediation, biodiversity conservation, mangrove biology, medicinal plants and bioactivity studies, ethnopharmacology etc. Prof. Thatoi obtained his M. Phil and Ph.D. from Utkal University, Odisha, India and his research work was based on N2 fixation in legume plants under dual inoculation of Rhizobium and VAM fungi and contributed significantly towards development of technology for mine waste reclamation in iron and chromite mine soils. Prof. Thatoi has handled many research projects of state Government and Central Government organizations like University Grant Commission-Department of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India, Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of Odisha, Department of Forest, Govt. of Odisha etc. Prof. Thatoi has published more than 200 research papers in various national and International reputed journals and around 30 book chapters. Prof. Thatoi has also authored around 15 books by different notable publishers. So far 14 students have already obtained Ph.D. under his guidance. Prof. Thatoi has contributed immensely to the field of microbiology and biotechnology throughout his research and teaching career.Sonali Mohapatra is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biotechnology at College of Engineering and Technology, Bhubaneswar, an autonomous college of Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Odisha, India. She has completed her B.Tech and M.Tech in the field of Industrial Biotechnology with distinction from Dr. MGR University, Chennai, India and is in the verge of submission of Ph.D thesis to Biju Patnaik University and Technology, Odisha. She has around seven years of research and teaching experience. She is a Fellow recipient of Eurasian Academy of Environmental Sciences (FEAES) and Society of Innovative Educationalist & Scientific Research Professional (FSIESRP).Her area of research focuses on fermentation technologies and waste management strategies. Her specific area of research includes conversion of lignocellulosic biomasses into bioenergy using various fermentation techniques. She has guided 06 M.Tech student and 20 B. Tech students for their dissertation work in the field of Microbial Fermentation and Environmental Technology. She has received various national and international awards for excellence in research and teaching. She has published 16 research articles in reputed international journals along with 8 book chapters. She has also filled an Indian patent in the field industrial waste utilisation for value added products. She has also co-authored a book entitled “Microbial Fermentation and Enzyme Technology” published by CRC Press.Swagat Kumar Das is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biotechnology at College of Engineering and Technology, Bhubaneswar, an autonomous college of Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Odisha, India. He obtained his B. Pharm degree from BPUT, Rourkela; M.Tech Biotechnology degree from Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal and Ph.D. degree from Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, India. He is a Fellow recipient of Eurasian Academy of Environmental Sciences (FEAES) and Society of Innovative Educationalist & Scientific Research Professional (FSIESRP). He has more than 10 years of research and teaching experience. His research interest includes phytochemical screening and bioactivity studies leading to possible drug development from mangrove plants for treatment of diabetes and Oxidative stress. His post PhD research area also focused on green synthesis of nanoparticles and evaluation of their pharmacological potentials. He has guided 07 M.Tech and 25 B.Tech students for their dissertation work. He has published more than 20 research papers in various National and International journals and 7 book chapters. He has co-authored three books on Practical Biotechnology (I.K. International Publications), Practical Pharmacological Biotechnology (Springer) and Practical Environmental Biotechnology (Springer).
