Miss Noha Samuel of Jammu and Kashmir scores 100 percentile with All India Rank three ( AIR 3) in the JEE Mains paper 2A exam held in February & September 2021.The result was declared by the NTA on 5th October 2021. Miss Samuel is a student of DPS, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU).

This is the first time that a student from the JKUT has secured a rank among top three in the JEE Mains. Dr. Ratna Chandra, her mother, is a university Facuty in the School of Biotechnology, SMVDU.The Vice Chancellor, Prof. RK Sinha, congratulated the student for bringing laurels to the state and the university. The Registrar, SMVDU, Sh. Nagendra Singh Jamwal, also congratulated the student for her achievement.

SMVDU Katra,. Ms. Amrita Bhat D/O Sh. Santosha Bhat and Sh. Kanwal Krishan Bhat has successfully defended her doctoral thesis, titled “Advanced Molecular Analysis in Leukemic Patients from North Indian Population” and has become eligible for the award of the degree of Doctoral of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Biotechnology at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra.

Ms. Amrita worked under the supervision of Dr. Rakesh Kumar, School of Biotechnology, SMVDU, Katra. During the oral defense, Padam Shri Prof. RK Sinha, Vice -Chancellor, SMVDU and Prof. V K Bhat, Dean faculty of Sciences and Head, SoBT Dr. Sharada Potukuchi, SMVDU were present, and they congratulated her for the successful Ph.D. Viva-Voce defense.

The researcher has published many research papers in national and international peer reviewed journals. She has received meritorious certificates and awards during her thesis. Her study serves a gap in the literature, as no previous work from the region was cited in literature. The observations of her thesis are major contribution to the literature and she acknowledged the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India [DST/SSTP/J&K/459] for fellowship during her Ph.D. Tenure.

Ms. Jyotsna Sharma has been declared qualified for the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Biotechnology by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra. She worked on the topic “Studies on regeneration, biochemical profiling and bioactivity analysis in selected medicinal plants species” under the supervision of Dr. Raju Shankarayan, Assistant Prof. and Dr. Sharada M. Potukuchi, Head, School of Biotechnology, SMVDU.

Her findings from the study have added new insights in the area of medicinal plant biotechnology by contributing novel information on plants of local importance Nanorrhinum ramosissimum (Kanodi, Khunger booti) and Solanum nigrum (Makoy). She has published her results in research papers in indexed journals of SCI-E and SCOPUS and as book chapters. Her work was also selected for Best Poster presentation at the Indian Science Congress 2016 besides the Young Scientist Appreciation Award for her Oral presentation at Seminar organized by National Commission for Women, Govt. of India.

Padma Shri (Prof.) Dr. R.K Sinha Vice-Chancellor of the University and Prof. Ashok Sharma, Dean, Faculty of Sciences congratulated the scholar for her dedication and wished her all success for future endeavours.

SMVDU Katra, October 12, 2020. Ms. Ruchi Shah has successfully defended her doctoral thesis, titled ‘Genetic Susceptibility in Esophageal Carcinoma patients from Jammu and Kashmir”, and has become eligible for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Biotechnology at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra.

Ms. Shah worked under the supervision of Dr. Swarkar Sharma, School of Biotechnology, SMVDU, Katra. During the oral defence, Padma Shri Prof. RK Sinha, Vice-chancellor, SMVDU, and Prof. Ashok Sharma, Dean, College of Sciences & Head, SoBT Dr. Sharada Potukuchi, SMVDU were present, and they congratulated her for the successful Ph.D. Viva Voce defence.

The researcher has published many research papers in international peer reviewed journals from her thesis. She has received many awards in international & national conferences. Her study serves as the first comprehensive study on Esophageal cancer. The observations of her thesis are a major contribution to the literature from the Jammu and Kashmir region. Dr. Ruchi Shah acknowledged DST, Govt. of India, Women Scientist Scheme-WoS-A for grant and fellowship. She also thanked the DST scheme as it was instrumental in motivating her for the research.

Researchers from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University and Panjab University, Chandigarh led by Dr. Narendra K Bairwa, Assistant Professor, School of Biotechnology, SMVDU and, Dr. Deepak B Salunke, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Panjab University, recipients of Ramalingaswami fellowship, identified the potential antifungal property of a synthetic indoloquinazoline‐based alkaloid, compound (RK64) using yeast as the drug screening platform. The study is published in the Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology July 2021 issue which can be accessed using the following URL https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jbt.22864. The authors of the published study titled “Genetic interaction between F-box motif encoding YDR131C and retrograde signalling related RTG1 regulates the stress response and apoptosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae” Ms. Heena Shoket, Ms. Monika Pandita, Ms. Meenu Sharma, Mr. Ravinder Kumar, Ms. Shreya Wazir, Ms. Aayushi Rakwal, and Mr. Prabhat Kumar are researchers who contributed to the work.

Prof. Vijeshwar Verma, former HOD of SoBT, SMVDU provided bioinformatics support to the researchers. Dr. Deepak B Salunke is also heading the National Interdisciplinary Centre of Vaccine, Immunotherapeutic and Antimicrobials, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India and is supported by UGC (start-up grant), DBT (RLF grant), MHRD's SPARC grant, Panjab University (Alumni association, development fund) as well as Bridging Grant from Australia in collaboration with Prof. Petrovsky of Flinders University. Dr. Narendra K Bairwa and Dr. Deepak B Salunke both are collaborating on the screening of laboratory synthesized molecules for drug repurposing using S.cerevisie as a drug screening platform. The laboratory of Dr. Narendra Kumar Bairwa is supported by DBT, SERB-DST, & SMVDU, for work on gene-gene interactions, genome stability regulation, stress response, and screening of small molecules for drug discovery. Vice-Chancellor, Prof. RK Sinha, Dean, R&D Dr. Rakesh Kumar Jha, Dean FoS, Prof. Ashok Sharma, and Head, SoBT Dr. Sharada M Potukuchi, SMVDU congratulated the authors for carrying out the fundamental and applied for research work.

SMVDU Katra: The Council for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings has selected Mr. Varun Sharma, Research Scholar from the School of Biotechnology, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, to participate in the 70th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting taking place from 28 June to 3 July 2020, in Lindau, Germany, as corresponded by Mr. Wolfgang Haass, Head of Communications, Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. Mr. Sharma has been shortlisted for his application highlighting his Ph.D. research work to understand the genetic heritability of type 2 diabetes in different population groups and its relation with peopling of Jammu and Kashmir and future interests to pursue research in domain of personalized medicine.

Mr. Varun Sharma hails from District Udhampur and has been a Senior Research Fellow of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Govt. of India. His Ph.D. research work was under the supervision of Dr. Swarkar Sharma and Dr. Vinod Singh, Human Genetics Research Group at School of Biotechnology, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University.

Only about 650 most qualified young scientists around the globe, and few from India, have been given the opportunity to enrich and share the unique atmosphere of the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. Excellent young scientists of all-natural science disciplines will participate in it. They will have the unique opportunity to meet around 70 Nobel Laureates for cross-generational and interdisciplinary exchange. Since their beginnings in 1951, the Lindau Meetings have evolved into a unique international forum for scientific exchange. The said meetings are jointly organized by two institutions – the Council and the Foundation. They act in concert to warrant the continuity of the meetings and to advance their constant development. On his selection for this prestigious platform, Mr. Varun said,” he will put forward his research interest of personal genomics and its implication in Indian population with the stalwarts and other young scientists.

Dr. Narendra K Bairwa of the School of Biotechnology, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, attended a two-day virtual workshop (7-10 June 2021) organised by the Genetics Society of America (GSA). The workshop discussed how yeast related experimentation can be harnessed as approaches for bridging research and education. The workshop participants as a community discussed and demonstrated the use of Yeast as a teaching tool for Undergraduate/Postgraduate research-based education. The workshop addressed the use of education research data in addressing the diversity and inclusion aspect of education.

The organizers of the BREW workshop Prof. Mary Miller, Prof. Pam Hanson, Prof. Jill Keeney and Prof. Orana-Cohen Fix from NIDDK, NIH, USA appreciated the participants of the workshop and urged them to incorporate the learning of yeast biology for teaching.Dr. Narendra K Bairwa thanked the organizers for the learning.

SMVDU Katra, December 2019. Dr. Narendra K Bairwa, Faculty, School of Biotechnology (SoBT), Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), presented a research paper entitled “Genetic interactions and Synthetic Growth Defects” in the XI International Conference on the Biology of Yeast and Filamentous Fungi” held at School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad , India, from 27th-29th November 2019. Dr. Bairwa got the opportunity to interact with eminent researchers, scientists and experts across the globe working in the field of fundamental and applied aspects of the Yeast biology. Dr. Narendra Kumar Bairwa acknowledged the support provided by the university, and DBT & DST, GOI for carrying out the research work. Also, his two research scholars, namely Ms. Monika Pandita, SoBT, SMVDU, and Ms. Heena Shoket, SoBT, SMVDU, presented papers, entitled “Gene-Gene interactions and Stress tolerance” and “Genome stability regulators and Stress tolerance ” respectively in the conference. The scholars also thanked their co-supervisors, Dr. Rakesh Kumar and Prof. V. Verma, and funding agencies for the support.

Dr. Narendra K Bairwa, Assistant Prof., School of Biotechnology, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, attended the 2 days virtual workshop from 4-5th June 2021 on iCURE (interdisciplinary Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences) organised by the Arizona State University, USA.

The iCURE programme of NSF, USA, is to impart the course-based research experience to undergraduate students for improving the Undergraduate STEM Education. The iCURE programme director at Arizona State University, Prof. Pamela A Marshall is the recipient of the NSF grant to develop the iCURE curriculum and implementation.Dr. Narendra K Bairwa benefitted from the workshop, and he will incorporate the learning in the teaching curriculum of undergraduates for the students at SMVDU.

SMVDU Katra, September 2019. Ms. Sonali Verma has successfully defended her doctoral thesis, titled ‘Genetic Analysis of Ovarian Cancer Patients in Jammu & Kashmir Population” and became eligible for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Biotechnology by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra. She worked under the supervision of Dr. Rakesh Kumar and Prof. Vijeshwar Verma, School of Biotechnology, SMVDU, Katra. During the oral defence, Prof. R.K. Sinha, Vice-chancellor, SMVDU, and Prof. V.K Bhat, Dean, College of Sciences & Registrar, SMVDU were presented, and they congratulated her for the successful Ph.D. Viva Voce defence. The researcher has published many research papers in national & international peer reviewed journals. Also, she received many awards in international & national conferences. Her study serves as the first comprehensive study in ovarian cancer which filled the gap in the literature. The observations of her thesis are a major contribution to the literature from the JK region. She acknowledged the DST, Govt. of India for the grant for which she worked as a Project Assistant.

Ms. Monika Pandita and Ms. Heena Shoket, Research scholars, working under the guidance of Dr. Narendra K. Bairwa, Assistant Professor in the School of Biotechnology and Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Assistant Professor in the School of Biotechnology published a research paper in SCI indexed journal “Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology” (IF 3.606) titled as “Genetic Interaction between Glyoxylate Pathway regulator UCC1 and La-motif encoding SRO9 regulates stress response and Growth rate improvement in Saccharomyces cerevisiae”. The research article can be accessed using the following URL (http://doi.org/10.1002/jbt.22781).

The research work in the laboratory of Dr. Narendra K Bairwa, is focused on understanding of the gene-gene interaction, genome stability regulation and regulation of stress response at cellular level using Yeast ( S. cerevisiae) as model organism. The most of the biological process and pathways are well conserved from single cell eukaryotes Yeast, to complex multicellular organisms such as Humans. The laboratory of Dr. Rakesh Kumar is focused on the understanding of the role of human’s genes in susceptibility to cancer pathogenesis. The published work highlights the role of metabolic regulator UCC1 gene, conserved across fungal kingdom and its interaction with the conserved La motif RNA binding protein encoding gene SRO9 in regulation of stress response.

The fundamental work published has significance in understanding about the fungal virulence, application to industrial fermentation and screening of the small molecules for cancer therapeutics. The co authors, Ms Shreya Wazir, Ms. Aysuhi Rakewal and Mr. Prabhat Kumar also contributed to the study. The laboratory of Dr. Narendra K Bairwa is supported by the grant from DBT, GOI in the form of Ramalingaswami fellowship (BT/RLF/Re‐entry/40/2012), SERB, DST, GOI (EEQ/2017/0000087) and SMVDU, Katra, Reasi. The Head of the School of Biotechnology, Dr. Sharda M. Potukuchi, Associate Professor, Dean of Sciences, Prof. Ashok Sharma, Head, School of Physics and Dean, R&D, Dr. Rakesh Kumar Jha, Associate Prof. appreciated the authors of the study. The Honourable Vice Chancellor Sir, Prof. RK Sinha congratulated the authors of the study and motivated them to continue to carry out in-house fundamental research work.

In the tradition creating an impact at national and international level; one more faculty member of SMVDU contributed in the area of biological sciences in India. Dr. Narendra K Bairwa, Assistant Professor and Ramalingaswami fellow in the School of Biotechnology, SMVDU, participated 10th Young Investigators Meeting 2018 (YIM2018) organised by India Biosciences with the support of by DBT,Government of India at Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram Kerala and Wellcome Trust India alliance, from 5th -9th March, 2018. The meeting was aimed at bringing researchers, investigators for initiating collaborations in the area of biological sciences in India. It focused on the core issues of recruiting and mentoring of the investigators, sharing of resources and collaboration for the better science, training of the Ph.D. and postdoctoral researchers and future of the biological research in India. The meeting emphasized the importance of biological research for sustainable development, where Dr. Narendra, represented the SMVD University and presented his paper. He shared role of the University in the positive and scientific interventions in the sustainable development of J&K. The participation was marked as important footstep in creating a perception about developing state and hence India.

Scholars of School of Biotechnology at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, brought laurels to university by qualifying UGC-NET Exam in Life Sciences, held in September 2020.

Ms. Savita Sharma and Ms. Mahima Sharma both working under the supervision of Dr. Sharada M. Potukuchi, Faculty & Head, Biotechnology, on various aspects of medicinal plants and their metabolites have cleared the examination securing AIR of 11th and 61st position respectively. Faculty members of School of Biotechnology have been motivating and mentoring the PG and Ph. D. students to appear and qualify in such examinations for brighter future career prospects. Padma Shri (Prof.) Ravindra K. Sinha Vice-Chancellor of the SMVD University, and Prof. Ashok Sharma, Dean, Faculty of Sciences, SMVDU congratulated the scholars.

SMVDU Katra: Dr. Anil Kumar, Assistant Professor in Chemistry, School of Biotechnology attended the 4th European Organic Chemistry Congress held during March 01-03, 2018 in London, UK. Dr. Anil delivered his talk entitled “Octahedral Complexes as Enantioselective Catalysts in Organic Synthesis. The conference was attended by leading experts from academia and industries across the globe. Eminent experts from different countries which include USA, Russia, Denmark, Spain, China, India, South Korea, Germany, Japan, UK, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Egypt, Poland, Slovenia, Taiwan, Texas A&M, Qatar etc. Experts from industries such as Merck Chemicals Ltd, UK also participated in the conference. Recent developments in the field of synthetic organic/medicinal chemistry and Pharmaceuticals were deliberated and discussed during the conference. The visit was funded by SMVD University.

Ms. Anuja Koul W/o Mr. Vicky Razdan and D/o Smt. Basanti Koul and Sh. Nana Ji Koul has successfully defended her Doctoral thesis titled “Phytochemical and Genetic Diversity Assessment on in vitro Regeneration Aspects in Selected Accessions of Bacopa monnieri [L.] Wettst” and has declared qualified for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy [Ph. D] in Biotechnology at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University [SMVDU] Katra.

Ms. Anuja Koul worked under the supervision of Dr. Sharada M. Potukuchi, Associate Professor & Head, School of Biotechnology, SMVDU Katra. Padma Shri (Prof.) R.K. Sinha, Vice Chancellor, SMVDU and Prof. Ashok Sharma, Dean, Faculty of Sciences congratulated Ms. Anuja for her significant scientific contribution to the in vitro strategies developed using cell and tissue cultures of Brahmi a traditionally acclaimed plant possessing memory enhancing properties. The findings of her thesis are also a major contribution for plant conservation and enhanced production of selected secondary metabolites of this medicinally important plant.

Ms. Anuja Koul has published many research papers in National and International Indexed Journals from her thesis. She has presented more than 10 research papers in International and National Conferences and is a recipient of the prestigious Best Poster Award given by the then Vice President of India at ISC-2014 (Indian Science Congress) Conference.