CURRENT ACADEMIC ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES
Vidhu Sankar Babu is Additional Professor at the Department of Plant Sciences, Manipal School of Life Sciences.
She is :
Ø Teaching, Research and Grant writing
Ø Cultural Co-ordinator SOLS
Ø Member of Grievance Redressal Committee
Ø Member of the Anti-ragging Committee
Ø Teacher Guardian
Ø Reviewer for School’s Newsletter- ‘Vivus’
Ø Training students for science day, workshop, conference and related activities
Ø Team member of MAHE vision 2020 -Devising strategies to transform MAHE as a global frontrunner in Research and Education.
She won the Best Teacher Award at School of Life Sciences in the academic year 2013-2014.
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
| Degree | Specialisation | Institute | Year of passing |
|---|---|---|---|
| PhD | Botany | Department of Botany, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram | 2006 |
| Qualified CSIR UGC (NET) JRF and SRF | Life Sciences | June 2000 |
Experience
| Institution / Organisation | Designation | Role | Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manipal School of Life Sciences | Additional Professor | 2022 Onwards | |
| School of Life Sciences | Associate Professor | 2016- 2022 | |
| School of Life Sciences | Assistant Professor | 2008 - 2016 | |
| SCMS institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research and Development (SIBB R and D), South Kalamassery, Cochin, Kerala | Scientist B | 2007 - 2008 |
AREAS OF INTEREST, EXPERTISE AND RESEARCH
Area of Interest
Plant Biotechnology, Protoplasting, Plant Physiology, Plant Metabolomics ,Plant Biodiversity tracking & conservation
Area of Expertise
Plant Ecology, Plant Taxonomy, Plant Cytogenetics, Plant Molecular Biology, Plant Biotechnology, Phytochemistry
Area of Research
Plant Biodiversity and Conservation (Notably Rare , Endemic , Endangered, Threatened Orchids in Western Ghats and its spill over zones) Plant Interactomes, Plant Phenology (Behavioural studies) and influencing factors Physiological Responses of Plants towards Climate change
Professional Affiliations & Contributions
Awards and Honors:
- National Eligibility Test of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - University Grants Commission (India) in June 2000 in Life Sciences for eligibility for lectureship and fellowship.
- Junior Research Fellowship (Until April 2003) and Senior Research Fellowship (From May 2003-April 2006) from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Govt. of India.
- Fast Track Young Scientist Grant from Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), DST, Government of India- 2012-2015.
- Seed Money from Manipal Multidisciplinary Development and Research Centre jointly with Manipal Centre for European Studies under the theme “Climate Change” (Duration 1.5 years) 1st May 2010-October 2011 “Assessment of Photosynthetic Efficiency in Orchids to Manage Greenhouse Effects” [MLSC-MCOPS]
- Selected for Refresher course in Plant Taxonomy from December 6th to December 10th, 2010 at Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Pacha, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
- Selected for C-CAMP hands-on Basic Flow Cytometry Course from December 17th -21st, 2009 at National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
- Best Paper Presentation Award at the National Symposium on Innovative and Modern Technologies for Agricultural Productivity, Food Security and Environmental Management held at Saffron Boutique Hotel, Mangalore, Karnataka during July 22-23, 2011 for the paper entitled “Spathoglottis plicata, An orchid with superior decarboxylation efficiency.”
- Best Oral Presentation Award on Eighth National Symposium “Noni for Sustainable Wellness” organized by International Society for Noni Science and World Noni Research Foundation held at GKVK Campus, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka on 29th and 30th October , 2013 for the paper entitled “Time Reliant Functional Assays substantiate Chemopreventive & Radioprotective prospective of Morinda citrifolia.L (Noni) Fruit Extract”
- Best Teacher Award at School of Life Sciences in the Academic Year 2013-2014
- Best Oral Presentation Award for the presentation of the paper entitled "Metabolomics of Morinda citrifolia Infructescence adds novel insights on its Medicinal properties" at Second World Noni Congress entitled "Noni and Medicinal Plants for Inclusive Growth and Wellness" conducted on 19-21st March 2016 jointly organized by International Society for Noni Science, World Noni Research Foundation, Noni Biotech, Chennai and Department of Biotechnology, SRM University, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu. (Oral)
- Science and Engineering Research Board Scheme Extra Mural Research project sanctioned for - Project entitled "Modulation of ‘Moscatilin’ Biosynthetic Pathway in Dendrobium ovatum" as Principal Investigator (Dec 2016-Dec 2019).
Standardisation of the Molecular Diversity in Dendrobium Plant (hybrid vs D ovatum)
Yashika Khandelwal
2013, BSc project. Molecular diversity in Dendrobium species were assessed with DNA barcoding method. Molecular diversity in Dendrobium species were assessed with DNA barcoding method.
Identification of Photosynthetic Diversity in Orchids using Anatomical and Biochemical Parameters
Sayani Datta
2009, VI Semester BSc Biotechnology Project. The study was able to identify the predominant decarboxylating enzyme present in ten selected orchids. Based on the study, it was possible to assign sub-types to plants as PEPCK, NADP ME or NAD ME types.
Molecular Characterization of ACT-1 gene from Stevia rebaudiana
Bobby Mathew
(M.Sc. Project) (December, 2007 - March, 2008). Bertoni: SCMS Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research and Development, South Kalamassery, COCHIN, Kerala
Identification of Polymorphisms in Gloriosa superba population using Molecular markers (RAPD and AFLP) and bioproduction of Colchicine using in vitro strategies.
Deepika Pai. K
(M.Sc. Project) Register Number 071702020 (October 2008-July 2009, II year M.Sc. Medical Biotechnology project).
Relative Assessment of Photosynthetic Efficiency in Tropical Orchids Using Portable Photosynthesis Measuring System.
Shruthi Kumar
(M.Sc project 2012) Register Number: 101703004
Understanding Bioefficacy Of Morinda Citrifolia Fruit On Cancer Cell Lines
Kavitha A
[M.Sc. project] 2011 (Reg. no. 09014703005)
Standardization of chromosome banding techniques in two species of Dendrobium , from Western Ghats .
Vijaylakshmi Jamwal
M.Sc. Student from Jammu University- Jan 2014
To Unravel the Biodiversity of Dendrobium in Western Ghats and their Conservation for ‘Moscatilin’
Abitha Thomas
Structured Ph.D Programme
Elicitor mediated modulation of Candidate genes involved in biosynthesis of Bibenzyl derivatives through hairy roots of Dendrobium ovatum
Ipsita Pujari
Structured Ph.D Programme 2013, Ongoing
Full List
Book Chapter
Ipsita Pujari, Abitha Thomas and Vidhu Sankar Babu (2018) Phytochemistry of Lipids and Pigments in Fruits and Vegetables. Phytochemistry of Fruits and Vegetables, Chapter-1, Brillion Publishing, ISBN: 978-93-874450-00.