Dr. B.K. Das, Director attained his Ph.D. in 1998 from Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology and later on completed Post-Doc at FRS Marine Lab, Aberdeen, Scotland (2006-2007). An influential figure in fisheries science, He has served as President of the Inland Fisheries Society of India and a member of the Professional Fisheries Graduates Forum (PFGF). His research contributions include research on Hilsa and river dolphin conservation, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in fisheries, and cage culture diversification, improving Hilsa fish stocks across the Farakka Barrage on the Ganga River, and ranching in Hilsa upstream. He has worked on fisheries development in Bihar's Kothia Maun and major river valley projects like the Sardar Sarovar Reservoir and Narmada in Gujarat. The innovative ""Waste to Wealth"" project explores using black soldier fly larvae and silkworm pupae in collaboration with the Insect Institute and Central Silk Board.With more than 32 awards and honours, his notable recognitions include the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for postgraduate research (1999), the Lal Bahadur Shastri Young Scientist Award (1999-2000), the Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Award for Best Indian Fisheries Scientist (2011), the Krushi Ratna Award from Orissa Krushak Samaj (2016), and the prestigious Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award for Outstanding Research in Agricultural Sciences (2020). In recent years, He received Lifetime Achievement Awards from VDGood Technology and the International Academy of Science and Research in 2023. He hasextensive international exposurewith institutions like WorldFish, IUCN, FAO, and the World Bank, and countries like Malaysia, Bangladesh, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, and Australia. Dr. Das is associated with many collaborative projects with global organizations including GIZ, TWAS, NACA, and SAARC.With over 495 international publications, his scholarly output includes 37 books, 27 book chapters, 5 technical bulletins, 15 radio talks, and 29 documentary films. They have also guided 25 Ph.D. and 35 Master's students, along with postdoctoral and international students. His technological innovations include the commercialization of seven products, such as the CIFRI PEN HDPE®, CIFRI GI CAGE®, and CIFRI CAGEGROW®, registering four designs with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and seven patents. He also signed 11 MoUs with government departments, three for commercial ventures, and several for consultancy, research, and academic collaborations. His leadership in fisheries science and numerous contributions to both national and international projects reflect a commitment to innovation and sustainable development in the fisheries sector.Dr. Vikash Kumar, currently working as a senior scientist at a research institute (ICAR, Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Kolkata, India), completed his bachelor's in fisheries science (B.F.Sc.) at the College of Fisheries, Central Agricultural University, India. He obtained his master's in fisheries science (M.F.Sc.) degree in Fish health specialization from ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (ICAR-CIFE), India. Later, he moved to Belgium and completed his PhD at the Laboratory of Aquaculture & Artemia Reference Center (ARC), Ghent University, Belgium. During his study period, he received Government of India funding, based on his performance in class, to pursue bachelor's, master's and PhD programs. He has learned Transcriptomic, Proteomic, Cellular biology, Histology, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and other techniques.He has published over 50 research papers in peer-reviewed journals, 10 book chapters, and > 20 popular articles. He has also presented the scientific outputs of his research at international congresses (World Aquaculture Conference, European Aquaculture, etc.). He received two patents (Method for producing synergistic microbial composition to promote fish health and disease protection; Means to detect whether acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease-causing Vibrio parahaemolyticus is virulent or non-virulent).He has supervised fivemaster's students (Mr. Bipul Kumar Dey, Bangladesh; Ms. Thi Ngoc Phuong Tran, Vietnam; Mr. Alexander Goossens 2020, Belgium; Angana Mondal 2024, India and SaikatBarui 2024, India). He served as an associate editor and member of the editorial board for several reputed journals, including Frontiers, MDPI, Aquaculture, Fish and Shellfish Immunology, Microbiology Letters, etc. He was awarded the Best Scientist Award (ICAR, Government of India), Best Speaker awards (College of Fisheries, India; Indian Virological Society; Conference Mind; Asian Fisheries Society Indian Branch and Society of Fisheries and Life Sciences), Young Scientist Award (College of Fisheries, India) and International Achievement Award (Society of Fisheries and Life Sciences).
