I am serving as Scientist F in the Microbiology and Fermentation Technology Department (MFT) at CSIR‑CFTRI, India, where I lead multidisciplinary research at the intersection of metagenomics, fermentation science, and functional foods. My work focuses on how food‑derived glycans and microbial metabolites shape gut–liver and gut–brain axis signaling, with an emphasis on mechanistic pathways that influence immunity, metabolism, and neurobiology. My group has identified and characterized several novel enzymes from metagenomic libraries, including a polygalacturonase that generates pectic oligosaccharides capable of modulating mucosal immunity and influencing bidirectional gut–brain communication. I have authored reviews on extremozymes in food processing, histamine signaling and IL‑33–mast cell regulation in allergy, and diet–microbiome interactions, contributing to a deeper mechanistic understanding of how gut microbiota regulate immune and inflammatory pathways. My current research advances fermented foods and postbiotic formulations designed to regulate metabolic and immune pathways, We are trying to address the questions • What is the effect of prebiotics and dietary fibers supplementation on structure and functional dynamics of gut microbiome? • Elucidation of mechanism of pectin derived oligosaccharide in prevention of allergic disease
Central Food Technological Research Institute
Mysore, Karnātaka, International
Microbiology & Fermentation Technology
best young scientist
El-Minia University, Egypt
Best young scientist award during 8th African crop science society conference, Oct 2007, ar El-minia University Egypy
United Nations University-Kirin Fellowship
National food research Institute- Tsukuba Japan
Selected for UNU-Kirin fellowship and worked on acid resistance mechanism of food pathogens from April 2012-April2013 at National Food Research Institute, Japan
DBT-Rapid Grant
Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi
Research grant on "Biocontrol of Plant Pathogenic Erwinia by manipulation in quorum sensing signals" was received under Rapid Grant, from DBT India, from 2006-2009
ICMR-DHR Long term International Fellowship (2023-24)
ICMR-DHR, Delhi, India
I used gnotobiotic mouse models to dissect how gut bacteria interact with different millets, enabling a controlled, mechanistic understanding of diet–microbiota crosstalk. This platform allowed me to map how specific microbial consortia respond to millet‑derived fibers, polyphenols, and complex glycans, and how these interactions shape metabolic outputs, mucosal immunity, and gut–brain signaling.
University Lecturer
Department of Biotechnology, Kumaun University
01 Jul 2005 - 01 Aug 2009
Graduate Student or Post Graduate
GB Pant University of Agriculture and technology
01 Jul 2002 - 01 Jul 2005