Major Honours

TN Khoshoo Memorial Award (2022)

Awarded by the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru, in recognition of significant contributions to biodiversity exploration and freshwater ecosystem research.

Read more: News coverage

Member, National Academy of Sciences India (NASI), Prayagraj (2024)

Elected as a member of India’s oldest science academy for contributions to diatom taxonomy, ecology, and environmental science.

Editorial Leadership

I serve on the editorial boards of several international journals:

• Editorial Board Member, Scientific Reports (since 2025)
• Editor (Diatom Section), Phytotaxa (since 2024)
• Associate Editor, Discover Environment (since 2025)
• Associate Editor, Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution (since 2025)

These roles reflect my expertise in taxonomy, ecology, and environmental monitoring, as well as long-term contributions to the global diatom research community.

National Committees & Advisory Roles

I have been invited to serve on multiple national scientific committees:

• Research Advisory Council Member, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (2025–2028)
• Member, DST Programme Advisory Committee (Device Development Programme)
• Selection Committee Member, IndiaBioscience Outreach Grants
• Expert Committee Member, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Young Scientists Conclave
• National Organising Committee, Year of Awareness on Science & Health (YASH), NCSTC–DST
• Co-organiser, 17th Young Investigators’ Meeting (YIM), Agra (2025)

These roles involve advising on national research directions, fostering young scientists, and strengthening science communication.

Featured Recognition

• Featured in the Tinkle children’s magazine for introducing diatoms to students in an engaging way
• Profiled in IndiaBioscience’s Dhvani series for contributions to regional-language science outreach
• Research featured in national newspapers and science media for new species discoveries and environmental insights

International Fellowships & Visits

• Visiting Fellow, Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa
• Exchange Visitor, Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences
• Postdoctoral Fellowships in USA and South Africa
• Visiting researcher at multiple global institutes across North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia

These visits have helped build long-term research collaborations in taxonomy, ecology, and paleoscience.

Professional Recognition

• Reviewer for more than 20 international journals
• Reviewer for DST, SERB, CSIR, MoES research proposals
• Contributor to national science education as a member of NCERT’s Curriculum Development Group (Science, Classes 6–12)