Padmesh P Pillai

Biography

Dr. Padmesh did M.Sc in Botany from University of Kerala, M.Tech in Biotechnology from Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai and PhD in Biotechnology from University of Kerala. He started his career in 1995 as Senior Scientific Assistant (on contract)at Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram,an autonomous institute under KSCSTE, Govt of Kerala. Since 1999 he was scientist on regular service at JNTBGRI and for one year at Centre for Water Resources Development and Management, Calicut (under work arrangement) before joining CUK in June 2016.He was rank holder in M.Sc, qualified CSIR-UGC Junior Research Fellowship (thrice),GATE and ARS-NET of ASRB, Govt of India. He was recipient of Biotech industrial training fellowship from BCIL, Govt of India and completed six months industrial training at SPIC Science Foundation, Chennai. He was awarded young scientist award in Life Sciences by STEC, Govt of Kerala, in the 11 th Kerala Science Congress. He has one Indian process patent sealed, 2 book chapters, and 26 research papers in peer reviewed International and National journals. He had completed 14 research projects as PI/ Co-PI, funded by DBT, DST, NMPB, Govt of India and KBC, Govt of Kerala. Currently, he is PI to one project and Co-PI in another 3 projects, funded by DBT, Govt of India. He had formal collaborations with CSIR-NCL, Pune, RGCB, Thiruvananthapruam, Madras Christian College, Chennai, UAS, Bangalore, NIT-Calicut, M/s Natural Remedies Pvt Ltd., Bangalore and currently with IISER-TVPM and IISc, Bangalore. He had attended brainstorming meetings in the area of DNA fingerprinting, bioprospecting of natural resources and biodiversity characterization, on invitation from DBT, Govt of India.As Course Director, he had conducted two STTC’s of 2 week and 3 week durations, for PG students and teaching faculty in 2011 and 2015, funded by KBC, KSCSTE and DBT, Govt of India, respectively.

Research Interest

Genetic diversity analysis using molecular markers, association of chemical and genetic diversity in medicinal and aromatic plants,secondary metabolic pathway analysis, biochemical and molecular mechanism ophytoremediation, phylogeography of plants