Biotechnology for Waste Biomass Utilization

Prakash Kumar Sarangi, PhD, is a scientist with specialization in microbiology at the Central Agricultural University in Imphal, India. Dr. Sarangi’s research is focused on bioprocess engineering, renewable energy, biochemicals, biomaterials, and sustainable development. His expertise is in bioconversion of biomass into biofuels, biochemicals and nutraceuticals, as well as environmental waste remediation. He has taken leading roles as the principal investigator in several R&D projects on biomass conversion, biofuel from renewable resources, and microbial biodegradation into value-added products. He has more than 12 years of teaching and research experience in biochemical engineering, microbial biotechnology, downstream processing, food microbiology, and molecular biology. He is also serving as an editorial board member for many international journals, including PLOS One, 3 Biotech, Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining. He is serving as guest editor for the Journal of Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, Chemical Engineering and Technology and Biofuels, and Bioproducts and Biorefining. He has published more than 60 research articles in peer-reviewed journals and authored more than 25 book chapters. He has presented at many national and international conferences. He is associated with many scientific societies as a fellow member.

Latika Bhatia, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Bioinformatics in Atal Bihari Vajpayee Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur, CG, India. She has 21 years of university teaching experience working at the graduate and post-graduate level in microbiology and biotechnology. Her primary research interest is the development of sustainable processes for bioconversion of lignocellulosics into renewable energy and biochemicals. She has hands-on strategic experience in research projects and taking start-ups to full commercial scale operations. She is a recipient of fellowships from the Indian Academy of Sciences, Indian National Science Academy, and National Academy of Sciences. She has published more than 30 research articles in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters and monographs, and books, and she has delivered many conference papers. She has also convened several national-level conferences and workshops and has completed many consultancy and research projects. Dr. Bhatia is reviewer for PLOS and other journals and is a member of national advisory committees of eminent universities. Dr. Bhatia has been a resource person and a keynote speaker and has chaired sessions at more than 10 national and international conferences and in UGC-HRD short-term courses. She has several awards and honors to her credit. She has been invited to deliver a technical talk in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS, New Delhi) as well as at many national and international conferences.