MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY

AREAS OF CURRENT RESEARCH

1. Microbiology: Diversity on microbes (soil, water, plants, symbionts and antagonists), Optimisation and purification of microbial bioactive compounds, Industrial and pharmacological applications.
2. Molecular Biology: Gene sequencing, Metagenomics, Functional genomics and Gene expression studies.
3. Entomology: Insect diversity, Morpho-molecular taxonomy and phylogeny of insect groups, Biochemistry and toxicology in insect pests, Mites and aphids of agricultural importance, Insect- Microbe symbiosis, Insect- Plant interactions.

EXTERNALLY FUNDED PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN BY THE RESEARCH GROUP

1. Yeast strain from mangrove sediments as single cell protein and process optimization for mass production as a nutraceutical Funding agency: DST SERB - SURE.
2. Metagenomics and bioprospecting of selected wetlands in North Kerala. Funding agency: KSCSTE, Thiruvananthapuram.
3. Diversity and bioactivity studies of Yeasts from the mangroves of Kerala coast with potential industrial applications.  KSCSTE, Thiruvananthapuram.
4. Biosystematic studies of predatory mites (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) associated with economically important plants of North Kerala. DST, Government of India.
5. Development of Microbial consortia as Bioremediators from the Mangroves of Northern Kerala. KSCSTE, Thiruvananthapuram. 
   
6. Molecular barcoding and phylogenetic assessment of selected insect pests (Lepidoptera: Hemiptera) of major cucurbits cultivated in Malappuram District, Kerala. KSCSTE, Thiruvananthapuram.
7. Molecular barcoding and biodiversity analysis of aquatic beetles of the Order Coleoptera (Arthropoda: Insecta) of Northern Kerala. University Grants Commission, New Delhi.
8. Biodiversity analysis and Molecular barcoding of the Order Odonata (Arthropoda: Insecta) of Northern Kerala. KSCSTE, Thiruvananthapuram. 
9. Innovative Research Project under XII Plan, UGC, New Delhi. 

POST DOCTORAL FELLOWS (PDF) ONGOING

	Dr. Vidya P.   Qualifications: M. Sc. (Biotechnology), Ph. D. (Applied Zoology), PDF      Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.     CMN PDF      Topic:       Development of cake yeast with probiotic, antiviral and immunostimulatory properties

Ph. D. SCHOLARS (ONGOING)

	Ms. Kiran Kishore    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.    CSIR SRF      Title of Thesis:      Phylogenetic and functional characterization of actinomycetesfrom the mangrove sediments of North Kerala
	Ms. Parvathy Nandakumar T.    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.    CSIR SRF      Title of Thesis:      Assessment of community structure and xylan utilization potential of mangrove bacteria along the coastal belt of     North and Central Kerala
	Ms. Alina Ann Joseph    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.    KSCSTE Research Fellow      Title of Thesis:     Diversity and functional characterisation of  microbes associated with fungus cultivating termites
	Ms. Aiswarya P.    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.    CSIR SRF      Title of Thesis:     Diversity and bioactivity assessment of microbes from selected wetlands of North Kerala
	Ms. Maneeshma K. M.    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.    DST SERB JRF      Title of Thesis:      Diversity assessment of mangrove sediment yeasts and development of selected strain as SCP for mass production
	Ms. Anagha A.    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.    CSIR JRF      Title of Thesis:     Diversity, distribution and functional characterization of sediment microbes from selected wetlands of North Kerala
	Ms. Anjana A.    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.    CSIR JRF      Title of Thesis:     Functional assessment of bacteria collected from polluted soil and their potential applications in bioremediation

POST DOCTORAL FELLOWS (PDF) COMPLETED

Dr. Vidya P.   UGC DSK- PDF    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.    Topic: Purification and characterisation of lipase from mangroves sediment yeasts and gene expression           Dr. Sheeja U. M. M. Sc., M. Phil., Ph. D. (Zoology)   DST WOS-A PDF     Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   Topic: Biosystematic studies of predatory mitesassociated with economically important plants of North Kerala                       Dr. Vidya P. M. Sc. (Biotechnology), Ph. D. (Applied Zoology)   KSCSTE WSD BLP PDF    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.    Topic: Diversity & bioactivity studies of yeasts from the mangroves with potential industrial applications

Ph. D. COMPLETED

	Dr. Rukhsana K., M. Phil., Ph. D.    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.      Title of Thesis:      Studies on the phylogenetic relationship among theHymenopteran parasitoids using COI gene sequences     Date of Award: 09.09.2016     Current Position: Environmental Engineer, Nautica Environmental Associates, UAE
	Dr. Jisha Krishnan E. K., M. Phil., Ph. D.    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.        Title of Thesis:      Molecular characterization and molecular phylogenetic assessment of selected families of Odonates     Date of Award: 18.07.2019     Current Position: Assistant Professor (contract), MES Keveeyem College, Valanchery)
	Dr. Priya Bhaskaran K. P., M. Phil., Ph. D.     Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.      Title of Thesis:      Molecular barcoding and phylogenetic analysis of the insect pests of Cucurbitaceae     Date of Award: 28.02.2020     Current Position: Teacher, PKMMHSS, edarikkode, malappuram
	Dr. Bindu P. U., Ph. D.    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.       Title of Thesis:       Molecular phylogenetic analysis of true bugsof North Kerala using mitochondrial gene sequence      Date of Award: 29.01.2021     Current Position: Assistant Professor (contract), Vimala College, Thrissur
	Dr. Akhilesh V. P., Ph. D.     Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.        Title of Thesis:      Mitochondrial COI gene based molecular phylogenetic analysis of economically important insects from selected      coleopteran families of North Kerala     Date of Award: 25.02.2021     Current Position: Senior Analyst, Amplicon Biolabs
	Dr. Sreevidhya P., Ph. D.    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.     Title of Thesis:    Morphotaxonomy and molecular phylogeny of rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) of North Kerala   Date of Award: 17.12.2021   Current Position: Assistant Professor (contract), SD College, Alappuzha
	Dr. Surya P., Ph. D.    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.         Title of Thesis:     Phylogenetic analysis of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in North Kerala based on mitochondrial  CO gene  sequences    Date of Award: 12.09.2024      Current Position:
	Dr. Maiby Thankachan (Sr. Mable Rose AC), Ph. D.    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.        Title of Thesis:       Morphological characterisation of cephalic sensilla with respect to mammalian host preferences in mosquitoes     Date of Award: 27.09.2024          Current Position: HSS Teacher, St. Theresa's HSS, Shoranur

M. Phil. COMPLETED

	Dr. Jisha Krishnan E. K., M. Phil., Ph. D.     Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
	Ms. Remya P. K.       Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
	Ms. Reshma K.     Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
	Ms. Greeshma V.     Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
	Ms. Archana M. N.     Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.