Garima Awasthi, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. In recent years, she has published more than 40 scientific articles in indexed and peer-reviewed international journals on heavy metal stress in plants, mainly on arsenic problems in rice, which have been widely cited. She has been an evaluator of scientific articles and manuscripts for various international scientific publishers. The line of research that she develops is multidisciplinary in the areas of plant abiotic and biotic stress, nanotechnology, plant physiology, and proteomics. She has collaborated with various educational institutions and research centers, as well as with the industrial sector. Dr. Awasthi has taught various courses and seminars and has participated in national and international scientific conferences. Likewise, she has advised students for the development and completion of bachelor’s degrees, master of science degrees, and doctor of science theses in the life sciences discipline. She earned her PhD in Biological Sciences from CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI) in 2016. She also worked as SERB-National Post Doc fellow at University of Lucknow from 2016-18.Payal Lodha, PhD, is a full-time Professor in the Department of Botany, University of Rajasthan Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, where she isalso serving as convenor of the Board of Studies (Botany). She served as a pool officer (scientist, CSIR), assistant professor, and associate professor in the department before taking charge as professor. She has more than 30 years of research experience in the field of plant-nematode interactions. She has published more than 60 research and review articles in high-impact international and national journals. Professor Lodha was also deputed by the University of Rajasthan to assist the Govt. of Rajasthan to organize the International Rajasthani Conclave–2000 (IRC–2000). She was selected to present a paper at the 2004 World Congress on In-Vitro Biology at San Francisco, California, USA, in 2004. She is a fellow of the Botanical Society, treasurer of ISCA Jaipur Chapter 2013–2015, and convenor at the Indian Science Congress Association Jaipur Chapter 2015–2021. She has organized more than ten national and international conferences. She is also the member of the Indian Botanical Society, Indian Society of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Indian Phytological Society, and Indian Science Congress. She was awarded her PhD in Botany from the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur in 1991.Gajendra Pal Singh, PhD, is working as Professor in the Department of Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India, where he worked as Associate Professor (2009 to 2012) and Assistant Professor (1996 to 2009). His area of research interest is the rapid response time of the algal community to changing environmental conditions and the effect of various mutagens on growth and productivity of algal products. He has more than 30 years of teaching and research experience. He has published more than 100 research papers in peer-reviewed national and international journal of high repute. He has organized four international and three national conferences. In addition to being a researcher, he is an active administrator and has held various reputed positions. He is a member of many international and national professional bodies, including International Society for Life Sciences, Indian Botanical Society, Indian Botanical Society, and Indian Science Congress Association. He has delivered 15 keynote lectures and invited talks at international and national conferences. More than 36 students have completed their master’s dissertations and doctoral work under his exemplary guidance. He is an active board member and reviewer for national and international journals.
