Dr. Rajinder Kaur is a Visiting Scholar in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Idaho, Moscow, USA and Research Scientist at GeneShifters LLC, USA. She earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology from Chandigarh University, Mohali, India, in 2023, supported by a National Fellowship from the University Grants Commission, New Delhi (2018–2023). She holds an M.Sc. in Biochemistry from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (2017), where she received a Merit Award, and a B.Sc. in Microbiology (Hons.) from Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla (2015), where she was awarded a Gold Medal for academic excellence. Dr. Kaur specializes in plant-microbe interactions and sustainable agriculture, with expertise in metabolomics, statistical analysis, and the development of biofertilizers. Her research focuses on phosphate-solubilizing bacteria, molecular cloning, and metabolic engineering to enhance plant growth, particularly in the Poaceae family. Her work includes isolating and characterizing microbial strains, conducting in-vivo studies, and developing novel encapsulated biofertilizers, for which she holds two Indian patents. Dr. Kaur has published over 15 research papers in high-impact journals, including Frontiers in Microbiology, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, and Archives of Microbiology, and has contributed to book chapters on topics such as biofertilizers, probiotics, and nanotechnology. She has presented her research at international conferences, including BIOSPECTRUM and the Association of Microbiologists of India. As an invited reviewer for journals like Current Microbiology and Microorganisms, she contributes to advancing scientific discourse. Dr. Kaur’s work continues to drive innovations in sustainable agriculture, focusing on eco-friendly bioformulations to enhance crop productivity. Dr. Vagish Dwibedi works as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biotechnology at Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali, India. He received his Ph.D. on joint research at Thapar University, Patiala, and NIPER, Mohali. With more than eight years of experience in R&D in biotechnology, Dr. Dwibedi has worked in various academic, industrial, and international research environments.With a robust background in plant–microbe interactions, microbial biotechnology, and applied biosciences, work with theme areas like microbial ecology, sustainable agriculture, food safety, and bioactive compound isolation. His earlier role as a Visiting Scientist at the ARO–Volcani Centre (Israel) included research on soil and environmental microbiology, and his industrial experience in drug screening and development of bioassays further enhances his practical acumen. Dr. Dwibedi’s recognised contributions—evidenced by over 64 scientific publications, two Indian patents, and national-level innovation awards—reflect his ability to integrate academic research with translational applications. His broad perspective on microbial functions, product development, and sustainable biotechnologies will enrich the book’s scientific depth, making it a valuable reference for both researchers and practitioners. Dr. Santosh Kumar Rath is a medicinal and natural product chemist with more than 10 years of experience in research, academia, and industry. Dr. Rath received his doctorate from AcSIR at CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-IMMT), Bhubaneswar, India. Presently he is working as Pharmaceutical Chemist at the Department oqwawaf Pharmacy, SoPPHI, DIT University, India. Formerly, he also worked as an Associate Professor and Research Head at the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Danteshwari College of Pharmacy, Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, India (2020-2022). Dr. Rath received Research Associateship from CSIR in 2018 and Senior Research Fellowship (ICMR-SRF) from ICMR, New Delhi India in 2013. Dr. Rath worked as Research Associate (CSIR-RA) in the School of Chemistry & Biochemistry at Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala, India (2018-2020). He did his doctoral research at the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu, India. He has published more than 35 research papers in highly reputed international journals, 12 book chapters, along with 3 edited books (2 Springer, 1 Taylor & Francis CRC publisher) and 2 Indian patents. His areas of research are Medicinal Chemistry, Natural Product Chemistry, Organic Synthesis, and Phyto-based Nano drug delivery, in which Dr. Rath is expertise in the isolation, identification, and characterization of bioactive secondary metabolites, and structural modification of major chemical constituents from plants as well as fungal sources. He is acquainted with various chromatographic techniques such as column, Preparative TLC, and HPLC for separating and purifying compounds. Dr. Rath is well aware of the interpretation of spectroscopic data viz., 1D and 2DNMR, MASS, IR, etc. His research involves multistep synthesis of biologically active synthetic and/or natural product-based hybrid scaffolds for lead identification in special targets for neurological disease, cancer, HIV, COVID-19, and infectious diseases. His research mainly focuses on synthesizing novel P-gp and bacterial efflux pump inhibitors, besides synthetic modifications of the bioactive natural products for better activity/reduction of toxicity profiles. Currently, he is developing new synthetic methodologies for the C-H functionalization of heterocycles and other medicinally relevant small molecules. He contributed substantially to many research projects and is also having collaborative research work with many other research groups. The contributions, dedication, and brilliance of Dr. Rath in natural product drug discovery and organic synthesis are truly commendable. His contributions aim to serve as an inspiration to all scientific fraternity and inculcate scientific temperament to others to think innovatively. Azamal Husen is a Foreign Delegate at Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita, Ethiopia. He has served as Professor & Head, Department of Biology, University of Gondar, Ethiopia and also as Visiting Faculty of the Forest Research Institute, and the Doon College of Agriculture and Forest at Dehra Dun, India. He has more than 20 years’ experience of teaching, research, and administration. He specializes in plant production and adaptation to harsh environments, plant responses to nanomaterials, biogenic nanomaterial fabrication and their cutting-edge applications, herbal medicine, and clonal propagation and improvement of tree species. He has conducted several research projects sponsored by various funding agencies, including the World Bank, the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), the Indian Council of Forest Research Education (ICFRE); and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Husen has published extensively including research papers, review articles and book chapters, edited books of international repute, presented papers in several conferences, and produced over a dozen manuals and monographs. He received four fellowships from India and two recognition awards from the University of Gondar, Ethiopia, for excellent teaching, research, and community service. An active organizer of seminars/conferences and an efficient evaluator of research projects and book proposals, Husen has been on the Editorial board and the panel of reviewers of several reputed journals. He is a Fellow of the Plantae group of the American Society of Plant Biologists, and a Member of the International Society of Root Research, Asian Council of Science Editors, and INPST. Husen is Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Plant Physiology.
