Food microbiologist and Incubation Manager with 9+ years of research experience spanning traditional fermented foods, dairy microbiology, and bioactive peptide research. PhD in Rural Development and Agricultural Production (specialisation: Food Microbiology) from North-Eastern Hill University, with research focused on value addition of traditional Khasi and Jaintia rice cakes and probiotic fermentation. Currently manages the DBT-BIRAC Bio-NEST Bioincubation Centre at NIPER Guwahati, mentoring biotech and pharma startups. Active peer reviewer across Elsevier, Springer Nature, and Wiley journals, and Review Editor/Guest Editor at Frontiers in Food Science and Technology. Research interests include fermented food technology, probiotics, dairy science, and the underexplored bioactive potential of traditional Northeast Indian fermented foods (Tungrymbai, Pusla, Putharo, Pusyep, Chubitchi).
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER) Guwahati
Guwahati, India
BioNEST NIPER Guwahati Incubation Centre
Young Scientist Award
Swedish South Asian Network on Fermented Foods (SASNET-FF), Lund, Sweden
Awarded at the 11th International Conference on Fermented Foods, Health Status, and Social Well-being, organized by the Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Production, North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, in association with SASNET-FF, held 21-22 November 2023 at NEHU, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.
Young Scientist Award
Microbiologists Society, India (MBSI), Mumbai, India
Awarded during the academic year 2022-2023 in recognition of contributions to microbiology research, particularly in the field of fermented foods and probiotics.
Best Research Publication Award
Web of Microbiologists (WoM), Ahmedabad, India
2021 WoM Best Research Publication Award for the paper "Exploring potentials of antioxidative, anti-inflammatory activities and production of bioactive peptides in lactic fermented camel milk," published in Food Bioscience, Issue 44, Article 101404. Awarded for outstanding contribution to microbiology.
1st Prize, Oral Presentation
11th International Conference on Fermented Foods, NEHU Shillong & SASNET-FF, Shillong, India
Awarded for the presentation "Evaluating the Impact of Lactobacillus and Saccharomyces on Growth Efficiency, Hematological Parameters, Serum Biochemistry, Fecal Microbiota, and Metagenomic Profiling," 21-22 November 2023.
1st Place (Young Investigator)
Gut Microbiota and Probiotic Science Foundation (India), Delhi, India
Awarded for the presentation "Influence of Supplementation of Lactobacillus and Saccharomyces on Growth Performance, Blood Profile, Cholesterol Contents, and Metagenomic Analysis in Broilers," 25-26 March 2023.
National Fellowship for Scheduled Tribe Students (NFST) - PhD
Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, Delhi, India
National Fellowship for Scheduled Tribe Students for Higher Education, awarded for Doctor of Philosophy studies, 2019-2021. Student Award Number: 201718-NFST-MEG-01298.
National Fellowship for Scheduled Tribe Students (NFST) - MPhil
Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, Delhi, India
National Fellowship for Scheduled Tribe Students for Higher Education, awarded for Master of Philosophy studies, 2017-2019. Student Award Number: 201718-NFST-MEG-01298.
1st Prize, Oral Presentation
North-Eastern Hill University & SASNET-FF, Shillong, India
27th International Conference of the International Academy of Physical Sciences, "Advances in Food Science and Technology" (AFSTECH-2021), 26-28 October 2021. Title: Sensory and Biofunctional Analysis of Traditional Rice Cakes from the Khasi and Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pearl Millet.
1st Prize, Oral Presentation
Mohanlal Sukhadia University (MLSU), Udaipur, Udaipur, India
International Conference on "Recent Trends and Innovations in Microbiology," 15 July 2021. Title: Comparative and Biofunctional Study of Traditional and Laboratory-made Pusla, Pusyep, and Putharo Rice Cakes of Meghalaya.
3rd Prize, Oral Presentation
BRIATS, Allahabad, India
22nd Indian Agricultural Scientists and Farmers' Congress, "Post-Harvest Technology and Management for Empowering the Rural Society and Employment Generation," 22-23 February 2020.
2nd Prize, Poster Presentation
NEHU Shillong & SASNET-FF, Shillong, Meghālaya, International
Awarded for the poster "Exploring Safety, Probiotic Potential, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Yeast and Lactobacillus Isolated from Fermented Foods in North-Eastern India," 21-22 November 2023.
1st Prize, Poster Presentation
Indian Dairy Association, Anand, India
India Dairy to the World: Opportunities & Challenges," Gandhinagar, 16-18 March 2023. Title: Influence of Limosilactobacillus fermentum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the Growth Performance, Hematological Traits, and Metagenomic Analysis of Caeca Microbiota of Broiler Chickens.
1st Prize, Poster Presentation
Tezpur University, Tezpur, India
International Conference on Sustainable Approaches in Food Engineering and Technology, 24-25 June 2021. Title: Bio-Functional and Microbial Analysis of Traditional Rice Cakes of Khasi and Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya using S. cerevisiae and Pearl Millet.
Best Exhibition Stall Award
North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, International
Held under the aegis of Biotech KISAN Hub, NEHU Tura Campus, during the National Seminar on Conservation of Biodiversity (NSCB 2022), funded by the Department of Biotechnology, 02-03 September 2022.
1st Prize, Best Exhibitor
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India
Awarded at the North-Eastern Research Conclave, held 20-22 May 2022 at IIT Guwahati, Assam, India.
1st Prize, Fermented Food Contest
Anand Agricultural University, Anand, India
Fermented Foods, Health Status, and Social Well-being," Anand, Gujarat, 13-14 December 2019, organized by SASNET-FF. Product: "Chubitchi" - a functional fermented rice beverage of Garo Hills, Meghalaya.
Top 10% Nationally, National Standard Examination in Biology
Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT), Kanpur, India
National Standard Examination in Biology (NSEB) 2010-2011, Class XII Level, out of 98 candidates enrolled, held at Lady Keane College, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.
1st Place, Regional Meet Game and Sports
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), Chaudhapunia, Guwahati, India
Regional Meet Game and Sports, held 26-27 October 2006 at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Chaudhapunia, North Lakhimpur, Shillong region, India.
Junior Research Fellowship
North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, International
Junior Research Fellowship awarded under the DBT-funded project "Deployment and Piloting of Improved Indigenous Fermented Food Products, 'Chubitchi' and 'Tungrymbai,' for Sustainable Livelihood in Meghalaya, North-East India," 2021-2023.
Umbrella Scheme Post-Matric Scholarship
Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, Delhi, India
Umbrella Scheme for Education of Scheduled Tribe Students, Post-Matric Scholarship, awarded during Master of Science studies, 2014-2016.
Manager
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER) Guwahati, Guwahati, India
06 Mar 2025 - present
Consultant Microbiologist (Part-Time) - quality control and compliance
MeghFarm Processing Hub, Muktidata Multipurpose Co-operative Society, Shillong, India
20 Jun 2025 - 19 Jun 2026
Technician or Assistant
Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) - PRIME Start-up Hub, Shillong, International
04 Nov 2024 - 03 Mar 2025
Laboratory Technical Officer - bio-fertilizer and bio-pesticide production
Larry Organic, Larry Enterprise, Shillong, India
01 May 2024 - 31 Oct 2024
Laboratory Technical Officer (Consultant, Part-Time) - quality control
Larry Organic, Larry Enterprise, Shillong, India
01 Feb 2024 - 30 Apr 2024
Junior Research Fellow - DBT-funded fermented foods research project
North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, International
28 Oct 2021 - 30 Apr 2024
PhD, Rural Development and Agricultural Production - Food Microbiology
North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, International
19 Feb 2019 - 12 Sep 2023
MPhil, Rural Development and Agricultural Production - Food Microbiology
North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, International
20 Feb 2017 - 20 Oct 2018
Graduate Student or Post Graduate
North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, International
20 Aug 2014 - 20 Aug 2016
Undergraduate Student
St. Anthony's College, Shillong, Shillong, International
06 Apr 2011 - 09 Jul 2014